2012 Hugo Award Longlist

The story revealed by the 2012 Hugo Longlist is how quickly the Game of Thrones television series became a dominant force among Hugo voters. Although the show only appeared one time on the official list of finalists where the entire first season of the show was nominated in the Long Form Dramatic presentation category, a perusal of the longlisted entries shows that two individual episodes garnered enough nominations to be eligible for finalist slots in the Short Form Dramatic Presentation category, and three others were close behind. Because the producers of the show apparently elected to have the entire season of the show considered in the Long Form category, the individual episodes were declared ineligible and replaced on the ballot by other entries, but this means that fully half of the episodes of the first season of Game of Thrones were popular enough to be nominated to the longlist, which is quite an impressive achievement.

I noted when I put together the 2013 Longlist that as I work further back in time that the records concerning the nominees will become less and less comprehensive. In 2013, the names of the editors and other participants in the longlisted nominees for the categories of Semi-Prozine, Fanzine, and Fancast were left out of the official records reported by the 2013 Hugo Administrators. In 2012, the names of some of the editors and participants in those categories who appeared on the list of finalists were left out of the reported post-Award statistics. This is not an insurmountable problem, as this data can still be found elsewhere, but it is notable how quickly the records seem to be deteriorating in quality as I work my way backward in time. One entry in the fanzine category has me somewhat puzzled, as it is listed in the official post-Award statistics only as "el" with nothing further provided. I have looked for "el" in the context of fanzines, but this sort of search returns so many Spanish language fanzines that figuring out which one is the right one. There is also the possibility that this entry is an error, and "el" is a truncated portion of the name of some fanzine that got accidentally trimmed off somewhere. Either way, this is likely to remain a mystery unless someone who was directly involved can shed some light on the issue.

Addendum: David D. Levine has shed some light on the "el" mystery. It appears likely that "el" is actually "eI" a fanzine published and edited by Earl Kemp that enjoyed a ten year run before folding up shop in 2012.

Best Novel

Finalists:
Among Others by Jo Walton [winner]
A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
Deadline by Mira Grant
Embassytown by China Mieville
Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey

Longlisted Nominees:
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Children of the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente
Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
The Kingdom of the Gods by N.K. Jemisin
Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine
The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Rule 34 by Charles Stross
The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss
Zoo City by Lauren Beukes

Best Novella

Finalists:
Countdown by Mira Grant
The Ice Owl by Carolyn Ives Gilman
Kiss Me Twice by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Man Who Bridged the Mist by Kij Johnson [winner]
The Man Who Ended History: A Documentary by Ken Liu
Silently and Very Fast by Catherynne M. Valente

Longlisted Nominees:
The Adakian Eagle by Bradley Denton
The Alchemist by Paolo Bacigalupi
Angel of Europa by Allen M. Steele
The Ants of Flanders by Robert Reed
Gravity Dreams by Stephen Baxter
Lord John and the Plague of Zombies by Diana Gabaldon
Martian Chronicles by Cory Doctorow
The Rat Race by Cherie Priest
With Unclean Hands by Adam-Troy Castro

Best Novelette

Finalists:
The Copenhagen Interpretation by Paul Cornell
Fields of Gold by Rachel Swirsky
Ray of Light by Brad Torgersen
Six Months, Three Days by Charlie Jane Anders [winner]
What We Found by Geoff Ryman

Longlisted Nominees
The Book of Phoenix (Excerpted from the Great Book) by Nnedi Okorafor
The Choice by Paul McAuley
Citizen-Astronaut by David D. Levine
Ghostweight by Yoon Ha Lee

Laika's Ghost by Karl Schroeder (reviewed in Clarkesworld: Issue 100 (January 2015))

A Long Walk Home by Jay Lake
The Migratory Pattern of Dancers by Katherine Sparrow
The Old Man and the Martian Sea by Alastair Reynolds
Sauerkraut Station by Ferrett Steinmetz
The Summer People by Kelly Link
A Small Price to Pay for Birdsong by K.J. Parker
White Lines on a Green Field by Catherynne M. Valente

Best Short Story

Finalists:

The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees by E. Lily Yu

The Homecoming by Mike Resnick
Movement by Nancy Fulda
The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu [winner]

Shadow War of the Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue by John Scalzi

Longlisted Nominees
After the Apocalypse by Maureen McHugh
The Bread We Eat in Dreams by Catherynne M. Valente
The Drowner by Paedar O'Guilin
Goodnight Moons by Ellen Klages
Her Husband's Hand by Adam-Troy Castro
The Invasion of Venus by Stephen Baxter
Mama, We Are Zhenya, Your Son by Tom Crosshill
The Server and the Dragon by Hannu Rajaniemi

Shipbirth by Aliette de Bodard (reviewed in Asimov's Science Fiction: Vol. 35, No. 2 (February 2011))

Tidal Forces by Caitlin Kiernan
Tying Knots by Ken Liu
Unlimited Delta by Robin Walton
Younger Women by Karen Joy Fowler

Best Related Work

Finalists:

The Anticipation Novelists of 1950s French Science Fiction: Stepchildren of Voltaire by Bradford Lyau [ineligible]

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, 3^rd Edition edited by John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls, and Graham Sleight [winner]

Jar Jar Binks Must Die . . . and Other Observations About Science Fiction Movies by Daniel M. Kimmel

The Steampunk Bible: An Illustrated Guide to the World of Imaginary Airships, Corsets and Goggles, Mad Scientists, and Strange Literature by Jeff VanderMeer and S.J. Chambers

Wicked Girls by Seanan McGuire

Writing Excuses, Season 6 by Mary Robinette Kowal, Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells

Longlisted Nominees:
Evaporating Genres: Essays on Fantastic Literature by Gary K. Wolfe
In Other Worlds: SF and the Human Imagination by Margaret Atwood

Masters of Science Fiction and Fantasy Art: A Collection of the Most Inspiring Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Gaming Illustrators in the World by Karen Haber

Musings and Meditations by Robert Silverberg
Murray Leinster: The Life and Works by Jo-An J. Evans and Billee J. Stallings
Nested Scrolls: The Autobiography of Rudolf von Bitter Rucker by Rudy Rucker
Pardon This Intrusion: Fantastika in the World Storm by John Clute
Sightings: Reviews 2002-2006 by Gary K. Wolfe

Spectrum 18: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art by Arnie Fenner and Cathy Fenner

Whedonista: A Celebration of the Worlds of Joss Whedon by the Women Who Love Them by Lynne M. Thomas and Deborah Stanish

Best Graphic Story

Finalists:
Digger by Ursula Vernon [winner]

Fables, Volume 15: Rose Red by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham

Locke & Key, Volume 4: Keys to the Kingdom by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez
Schlock Mercenary: Force Multiplication by Howard Tayler
The Unwritten, Volume 4: Leviathan by Mike Carey and Peter Gross

Longlisted Nominees:
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 8 by Joss Whedon
Doorways by George R.R. Martin and Stefano Martino
Fables, Volume 16: Super Team by Paul Cornell and Jimmy Broxton
Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin, Daniel Abraham, and Rafa Lopez
Finder: Voice by Carla Speed McNeil
Freakangels, Volume 5 by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield
Gunnerkrigg Court, Volume 3: Reason by Thomas Siddell
Habibi by Craig Thompson
Knight and Squire by Bill Willingham and Joao Ruas

Best Dramatic Presentation: Long Form

Finalists:
Captain America: The First Avenger
Game of Thrones (Season 1) [winner]
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2
Hugo
Source Code

Longlisted Nominees:
The Adjustment Bureau
Attack the Block
Contagion
Cowboys and Aliens
Kick-Ass
Misfits, Series 1
Paul
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
Thor
X-Men: First Class

Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form

Finalists:
Community: Remedial Chaos Theory
Doctor Who: The Doctor's Wife [winner]
Doctor Who: The Girl Who Waited
Doctor Who: A Good Man Goes to War
The Drink Tank's Hugo Acceptance Speech
Game of Thrones: Baelor [ineligible]
Game of Thrones: Fire and Blood [ineligible]
Game of Thrones: The Pointy End [ineligible]

Longlisted Nominees:
Being Human: The Wolf Shaped Bullet
Doctor Who: The Wedding of River Song
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Fringe: The Day We Died
Fringe: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
Game of Thrones: A Golden Crown
Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming
Supernatural: The French Mistake

Best Professional Editor: Short Form

Finalists:
John Joseph Adams
Neil Clarke
Stanley Schmidt
Jonathan Strahan
Sheila Williams [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Scott H. Andrews
Ellen Datlow
Gardner Dozois
Liz Gorinsky
Susan Marie Groppi
Ann Leckie
George R.R. Martin
William Schafer
Catherynne M. Valente
Gordon van Gelder
Ann VanderMeer
Jeff VanderMeer

Best Professional Editor: Long Form

Finalists:
Lou Anders
Liz Gorinsky
Anne Lesley Groell
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
Betsy Wollheim [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Ginjer Buchanan
Julie A. Crisp
Moshe Feder
David G. Hartwell
Jeremy Lassen
Nick Mamatas
Beth Meacham
Devi Pillai
Eric Reynolds
Jacob Weisman
Toni Weisskopf

Best Professional Artist

Finalists:
Daniel Dos Santos
Bob Eggleton
Michael Komarck
Stephan Martiniére
John Picacio [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Vincent Chong
Julie Dillon
John Foster
Donato Giancolo
John Howe
Kekai Kotaki
Alan Lee
Chris McGrath
Lee Moyer
Randall Munroe
Ted Nasmith
Raymond Swanland
Michael Whelan

Best Semi-Prozine

Finalists:

Apex Magazine edited by Jason Sizemore, Lynne M. Thomas, and Catherynne M. Valente

Clarkesworld edited by Neil Clarke, Sean Wallace, and Jason Heller [nomination declined]

Interzone edited by Andy Cox
Lightspeed edited by John Joseph Adams
Locus edited by Liza Groen Trombi and Kirsten Gong-Wong [winner]

New York Review of Science Fiction edited by Kris Dikeman, Avram Grumer, David G. Hartwell, and Kevin J. Maroney

Longlisted Nominees:
Ansible edited by David Langford
Beneath Ceaseless Skies edited by Scott H. Andrews
Daily Science Fiction edited by Michele-Lee Barasso and Jonathan Laden
Electric Velocipede edited by John Klima
Escape Pod edited by Mur Lafferty
Fantasy Magazine edited by John Joseph Adams
Salon Futura edited by Cheryl Morgan
Shimmer edited by Beth Wodzinski
Strange Horizons edited by Niall Harrison
Weird Tales edited by Marvin Kaye

Best Fanzine

Finalists:
Banana Wings edited by Claire Biraley and Mark Plummer
The Drink Tank edited by James Bacon and Chris Garcia
File 770 edited by Mike Glyer

Journey Planet edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, Emma J. King, Helen J. Montgomery, and Pete Young

SF Signal edited by John DeNardo, J.P. Frantz, and Patrick Hester [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Argentus edited by Steven H Silver
Challenger edited by Guy H. Lillian, III
Chunga edited by Randy Byers, Andy Hopper, and Carl Juarez
The Coode Street Podcast by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe
A Dribble of Ink edited by Aidan Moher
eI edited by Earl Kemp
Pat's Fantasy Hotlist edited by Patrick St. Denis
SF Commentary edited by Bruce Gillespie
SF in SF edited by Jean Martin
StarShipSofa by Tony C. Smith
The Wertzone edited by Adam Whitehead
Yipe! edited by Kevin Roche

Best Fan Writer

Finalists:
James Bacon
Claire Brialey
Christopher J. Garcia
Jim C. Hines [winner]
Steven H. Silver

Longlisted Nominees:
Mike Glyer
Mette Hedin
David Langford
Guy H. Lillian, III
Cheryl Morgan
James Nicoll
Abigail Nussbaum
Mark Plummer
Abigail St. Denis
Adam Whitehead

Best Fan Artist

Finalists:
Brad W. Foster
Randall Munroe
Spring Schoenhuth
Maurine Starkey [winner]
Steve Stiles
Taral Wayne

Longlisted Nominees:
Alan F. Beck
Kurt Erichsen
Dave Hicks
Dick Jenssen
Sue Mason
Dan Steffan
D. West
Delphyne Woods
Frank Wu

Best Fancast

Finalists:
The Coode Street Podcast by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe

Galactic Suburbia Podcast by Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts, produced by Andrew Finch

SF Signal Podcast by John DeNardo and J.P. Frantz, produced by Patrick Hester

SF Squeecast by Elizabeth Bear, Paul Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. Thomas, and Catherynne M. Valente [winner]

StarShipSofa by Tony C. Smith

Longlisted Nominees:
Adventures in Sci Fi Publishing Podcast by Shaun Farrell
Drabblecast by Norm Sherman, Nathaniel Lee, Charity Helton, and Nicky Drayden
The Drink Tank Review of Books by Christopher J. Garcia
Eric in the Elevator by Eric Zuckerman

Escape Pod by Mur Lafferty

Fanboy Planet Podcast by Ric Bretschneider
Geek Girl Crafts Podcast by Jade Falcon and Sandy J-T
I Should Be Writing by Mur Lafferty
The Nerdist by Chris Hardwick
Podcastle by Anna Schwind, Dave Thompson, and Ann Leckie
Radio Free Skaro by Warren Frey and Steve Schapansky
The Writer and the Critic by Kirstyn McDermott and Ian Mond
Writing Excuses by Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

Finalists:
Mur Lafferty
Stina Leicht
Karen Lord
Brad Torgersen
E. Luly Yu [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Zen Cho
Ernest Cline
Ty Franck
Mark Hodder
Kat Howard
Kameron Hurley
Brit Mandelo
Sylvia Moreno-Garcia
Erin Morgenstern
Shauna Roberts

Go to previous year's longlist: 2011
Go to subsequent year's longlist: 2013

Go to 2012 Hugo Finalists and Winners

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