Comments: Do you want to start an argument among science fiction fans? Bring up 1960 Best Novel winner Starship Troopers. For bonus points, bring up the 1997 film very, very loosely based on the book. The controversy over the winning novel aside, the remaining field of award winners are decidedly uncontroversial. Flowers for Algernon is regarded as a classic, so much so that it is often used as assigned reading for high schoolers, many of whom don't even realize they are reading science fiction. The same can be said for the Twilight Zone television series, which is beloved by large numbers of people who don't regard themselves as science fiction fans. One mildly quirky thing about the slate of nominees in this year is how many of the Best Novel nominees had alternate titles. I'm not sure what the significance of this is.
But Starship Troopers. Yeah, that book starts arguments.
Best Novel
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein
Other Nominees:
Dorsai! (aka The Genetic General) by Gordon R. Dickson
The Pirates of Ersatz (aka The Pirates of Zan) by Murray Leinster
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
That Sweet Little Old Lady (aka Brain Twister) by Mark Phillips
Best Short Story
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes (reviewed in The Hugo Winners, Volume 1 and The Science Fiction Hall of Fame: Volume I, 1929-1964)
Other Nominees:
The Alley Man by Philip José Farmer
Cat and Mouse by Ralph Williams
The Man Who Lost the Sea by Theodore Sturgeon
The Pi Man by Alfred Bester
Best Dramatic Presentation
The Twilight Zone (season one)
Other Nominees:
Men Into Space (complete series)
Murder and the Android
The Turn of the Screw (live television adaptation)
The World, the Flesh, and the Devil
Best Professional Magazine
Fantasy & Science Fiction edited by Robert P. Mills
Other Nominees:
Amazing Stories edited by Cele Goldsmith
Astounding edited by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Fantastic Universe edited by Hans Stefan Santesson
Galaxy edited by H.L. Gold
Best Professional Artist
Ed Emshwiller
Other Nominees:
Virgil Finlay
Frank Kelly Freas
Mel Hunter
Wally Wood
Best Amateur Magazine
Cry of the Nameless edited by F.M. Busby, Elinor Busby, Burnett Toskey, and Wally Weber
Other Nominees:
Fanac edited by Terry Carr and Ron Ellik
JD-Argassy edited by Lynn A. Hickman
Science-Fiction Times edited by James V. Taurasi, Sr., Ray Van Houten, and Frank R. Prieto, Jr.
Yandro edited by Robert Coulson and Juanita CoulsonWhat Are the Hugo Awards?
Go to previous year's nominees: 1959
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 1961
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