Comments: In 1980 the "Best Related Work" category (technically, the "Best Nonfiction Book" category) was added to the slate of Hugo Awards, and it promptly took its amorphous undefined shape with a slate of nominees that included an encyclopedia, two art books, a memoir, and an essay collection. The encyclopedia won. This category has always been something of a conundrum. The sorts of related books that reflect on the field of science fiction and fantasy, but are not themselves fiction, do deserve recognition. But having them all in one category seems to create a hodgepodge slate of unrelated kinds of books requiring the voters to essentially compare apples and oranges and decide which is better. On the other hand, I can understand the desire to avoid a proliferation of too specific categories, resulting in (as has happened with some Locus Award categories) a single series, editor, or author dominating the award.
In the Best Dramatic Presentation category the science fiction horror film Alien won, beating out some decent competition including Star Trek: The Motion Picture. However, the most important thing about the 1980 Best Dramatic Presentation ballot is that The Muppet Movie was nominated for the award. Because of this nomination, I can declare that the Muppets, and all things they appear in, are science fiction or fantasy, and hence are suitable for review on a science fiction and fantasy blog.
Best Novel
The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke
Other Nominees:
Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip
Jem by Frederik Pohl
On Wings of Song by Thomas M. Disch
Titan by John Varley
Best Novella
Enemy Mine by Barry B. Longyear
Other Nominees:
The Battle of the Abaco Reefs by Hilbert Schenck
Ker-Plop by Ted Reynolds
The Moon Goddess and the Son by Donald M. Kingsbury
Songhouse by Orson Scott Card
Best Novelette
Sandkings by George R.R. Martin
Other Nominees:
Fireflood by Vonda N. McIntyre
Homecoming by Barry B. Longyear
The Locusts by Larry Niven and Steve Barnes
Options by John Varley
Palely Loitering by Christopher Priest
Best Short Story
The Way of Cross and Dragon by George R.R. Martin
Other Nominees:
Can These Bones Live? by Ted Reynolds
Daisy, In the Sun by Connie Willis
giANTS by Edward Bryant
Unaccompanied Sonata by Orson Scott Card
Best Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Book
The Science Fiction Encyclopedia edited by Peter Nicholls
Other Nominees:
In Memory Yet Green by Isaac Asimov
The Language of the Night by Ursula K. Le Guin edited by Susan Wood
Wonderworks by Michael Whelan
Best Dramatic Presentation
Alien
Other Nominees:
The Black Hole
The Muppet Movie
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Time After Time
Best Professional Editor
George H. Scithers
Other Nominees:
Jim Baen
Ben Bova
Edward L. Ferman
Stanley Schmidt
Best Professional Artist
Michael Whelan
Other Nominees:
Vincent Di Fate
Steve Fabian
Paul Lehr
Boris Vallejo
Best Fanzine
Locus edited by Charles N. Brown
Other Nominees:
File 770 edited by Mike Glyer
Janus edited by Janice Bogstad and Jeanne Gomoll
Science Fiction Review edited by Richard E. Geis
Thrust edited by Doug Fratz
Best Fan Writer
Bob Shaw
Other Nominees:
Richard E. Geis
Mike Glyer
Arthur D. Hlavaty
David Langford
Best Fan Artist
Alexis Gilliland
Other Nominees:
Jeanne Gomoll
Joan Hanke-Woods
Victoria Poyser
Bill Rotsler
Stu Shiffman
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Barry B. Longyear
Other Nominees:
Lynn Abbey
Diane Duane
Karen Jollie
Alan Ryan
Somtow Sucharitkul
What Are the Hugo Awards?
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