Comments: In 1973, after complaining about being overlooked for years, Isaac Asimov finally won a Hugo Award, taking home the trophy for his novel The Gods Themselves. Also in 1973, the Best Professional Magazine Award was eliminated and replaced by the Best Professional Editor Award, which went to Ben Bova who had taken over the reins at Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact in 1972 following the death of John W. Campbell, Jr.
The nominee list for this year also highlights yet again what a prolific writer Robert Silverberg has been throughout his career, as once again he had two novels and a short story nominated for awards. Given how often he shows up on the nominee lists, I have to wonder if Silverberg actually slept during the 1970s, or just kept writing twenty-four hours a day for weeks on end.
Best Novel
The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
Other Nominees:
The Book of Skulls by Robert Silverberg
A Choice of Gods by Clifford D. Simak
Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg
There Will Be Time by Poul Anderson
When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One by David Gerrold
Best Novella
The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin (reviewed in The Hugo Winners, Volume 3, Book 2)
Other Nominees:
The Fifth Head of Cerberus by Gene Wolfe
The Gold at the Starbow's End by Frederik Pohl
Hero by Joe Haldeman
The Mercenary by Jerry Pournelle
Best Novelette
Goat Song by Poul Anderson (reviewed in The Hugo Winners, Volume 3, Book 2)
Other Nominees:
Basilisk by Harlan Ellison
A Kingdom by the Sea by Gardner Dozois
Painwise by James Tiptree, Jr.
Patron of the Arts by William Rotsler
Best Short Story
(tie) Eurema's Dam by R.A. Lafferty (reviewed in The Hugo Winners, Volume 3, Book 2)
(tie) The Meeting by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth (reviewed in The Hugo Winners, Volume 3, Book 2)
Other Nominees:
And I Awoke and Found Me Here on the Cold Hill's Side by James Tiptree, Jr.
When It Changed by Joanna Russ
When We Went to See the End of the World by Robert Silverberg
Best Dramatic Presentation
Slaughterhouse-Five
Other Nominees:
Between Time and Timbuktu (television movie)
The People (television movie)
Silent Running
Best Professional Editor
Ben Bova
Other Nominees:
Terry Carr
Edward L. Ferman
Ted White
Donald A. Wollheim
Best Professional Artist
Frank Kelly Freas
Other Nominees:
Vincent Di Fate
Jack Gaughan
Mike Hinge
John Schoenherr
Best Fanzine
Energumen edited by Michael Glicksohn and Susan Wood Glicksohn
Other Nominees:
Algol edited by Andrew Porter
Granfalloon edited by Ron and Linda Bushyager
Locus edited by Charles Brown and Dena Brown
SF Commentary edited by Bruce Gillespie
Best Fan Writer
Terry Carr
Other Nominees:
Charles Brown
Richard E. Geis
Susan Glicksohn
Sandra Miesel
Rosemary Ullyot
Best Fan Artist
Tim Kirk
Other Nominees:
Grant Canfield
Bill Rotsler
Jim Shull
Arthur Thomson
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Jerry Pournelle
Other Nominees:
Ruth Berman
Geo. Alec Effinger
George R.R. Martin
Robert Thurston
Lisa Tuttle
What Are the Hugo Awards?
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