Comments: As the Nebula Award nominating process is much less subject to the kind of political manipulation that tainted the 2014 Hugo Awards, the resulting slate of nominees is a much more solid crop than the wildly uneven Hugo ballot. And among the Nebula nominees is Charles E. Gannon's novel Fire with Fire. This is notable because Gannon's novel was published by Baen books, proving that in a fair selection process, a Baen author can be nominated for awards. This simple fact pretty much demolishes the oft-repeated whine heard from Baen authors like Larry Correia that there is some sort of cabal preventing them from getting their just recognition in the awards arena. But sadly for them, the truth is that there is no conspiracy that keeps them from putting trophies on their shelves. The fact is, their books just aren't particularly noteworthy.
Sure, Correia sells a lot of books, as do many other Baen authors. But so does Dan Brown, and no one thinks he should be getting any literary awards. Simply put, when Baen authors write good books, such as Fire with Fire, they get nominated for awards. When they write mediocre material, like the entirety of Correia's ouevre, they don't. And the hard truth is that by wheedling his way into a Hugo nomination, Correia has reduced his standing as an author and damaged what limited credibility he may have had, possibly permanently. Gannon, on this other hand, has enhanced his stature. The answer to the question "how do you get nominated for awards" is simple: You write stories that are worthy of awards. To date, Correia and his buddies haven't done that.
Best Novel
Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Other Nominees:
Fire with Fire by Charles E. Gannon
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
Hild by Nicola Griffith
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata
A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
Best Novella
The Weight of Sunrise by Vylar Kaftan
Other Nominees:
Annabel Lee by Nancy Kress
Burning Girls by Veronica Schanoes
Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente
Trial of the Century by Lawrence M. Schoen
Wakulla Springs by Andy Duncan and Ellen Klages
Best Novelette
The Waiting Stars by Aliette de Bodard
Other Nominees:
In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind by Sarah Pinsker
The Litagation Master and the Monkey King by Ken Liu
Paranormal Romance by Christopher Barzak
Pearl Rehabilitative Colony for Ungrateful Daughters by Henry Lien
They Shall Salt the Earth with Seeds of Glass by Alaya Dawn Johnson
Best Short Story
If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love by Rachel Swirsky (reviewed in 2014 Hugo Voting - Best Short Story)
Other Nominees:
Alive, Alive Oh by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley
Selected Program Notes from the Retrospective Exhibition of Theresa Rosenberg Latimer by Kenneth Schneyer
Selkie Stories Are for Losers by Sofia Samatar (reviewed in 2014 Hugo Voting - Best Short Story)
The Sounds of Old Earth by Matthew KresselRay Bradbury Award
Gravity directed by Alfonso Cuarón; written by Alfonso Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón
Other Nominees:
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor directed by Nick Hurran; written by Steven Moffat
Europa Report directed by Sebastián Cordero; written by Philip GelattHer directed and written by Spike Jonze
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire directed by Francis Lawrence; written by Simon Beaufoy and Michael de Bruyn
Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro; written by Travis Beacham and Guillermo del Toro
Andre Norton Award
Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson
Other Nominees:
The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty
Hero by Alethea Kontis
September Girls by Bennett Madison
The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson
When We Wake by Karen Healey
Go to previous year's nominees: 2013
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 2015
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