2005 Hugo Longlist

In 2005, pursuant to Article 3.3.17 of the constitution of the World Science Fiction Society, the Hugo Administrators elected to add the additional Hugo category of "Best Website". The interesting thing about this category is not its existence, or who won, but what it reveals when we look back upon it just over ten years later. Several of the websites nominated in 2005 are defunct of no longer in existence: Infinite Matrix and Trufen were last updated in 2008, and the Internet Review of Science Fiction was last updated in 2010, with a farewell message. Both Sci Fiction (the winner in the category) and SciFi Weekly were sections of the website for the Sci Fi (er, SyFy) channel that are no longer supported. The Alien Online went out of existence and its URL was taken over by a website that promotes "out of this world businesses". Out of the fifteen websites that made it to the Hugo Longlist in 2005, six are effectively gone.

The fact that six of the fifteen websites on the Hugo Longlist have faded from existence is not particularly damning for the category. After all, Semi-Prozines and Fanzines come and go with a fair amount of regularity and those categories are well-entrenched. To be perfectly honest, the fact that nine websites out of fifteen are still functional eleven years after the 2005 Hugo Awards is somewhat surprising to me given the attrition the internet experiences on a regular basis. This, I think, is a testament to the fact that not only did individuals within and related to the science fiction genre jump into the internet early, they did so with a determination and dedication that many others lack. On the other hand, many of the websites in question were essentially an ancillary effort attached to a previously existing work - Locus Online is simply an extension of Locus Magazine, Neil Gaiman's website is simply a means for him to communicate with his fans and promote his works, and the FANAC History and NEFSA sites are mostly just online iterations of their parent organizations. While many efforts were made to put science fiction related material onto the internet, the efforts were, it seems, aimed at merely translating what already existed into a web form. The websites essentially represent an iterative evolution of science fiction activity rather than a revolutionary change.

I have to wonder how many of these websites would be nominated now if the category were revived today. My guess is that the answer is "not many". Some, like Locus Online, have remained important outlets for news and information about science fiction and science fiction fandom, but many of the others, although still plugging away, have been eclipsed by other options. I suspect that many of the Best Websites in a 2017 version of the category would overlap substantially with the Best Fanzine, Best Semi-Prozine, and Best Fancast categories, as those are the websites that most of the Hugo voters seem to turn to on a regular basis. The evolutionary process has seen the traditional elements of science fiction short fiction publishing, news reporting, and fandom networking move onto the internet. To a certain extent, one could say that the voting in those categories mostly obviates the need for a free-standing Best Website category.

Best Novel

Finalists:
The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
Going Postal by Terry Pratchett [nomination declined]
Iron Council by China Miéville
Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross
Joanthan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke [winner]
River of Gods by Ian McDonald

Longlisted Nominees:
Air by Geoff Ryman
Camouflage by Joe Haldeman
Century Rain by Alastair Reynolds
The Family Trade by Charles Stross
A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett
The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay
Light by M. John Harrison
Newton's Wake by Ken MacLeod
Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart
Stamping Butterflies by Jon Courtenay Grimwood


Best Novella

Finalists:
The Concrete Jungle by Charles Stross [winner]
Elector by Charles Stross
Sergeant Chip by Bradley Denton
Time Ablaze by Michael Burstein
Winterfair Gifts by Lois McMaster Bujold

Longlisted Nominees:
Appeals Court by Charles Stross and Cory Doctorow
Arabian Wine by Gregory Feeley
The Bad Hamburger by Matthew Jarpe and Jonathan Sheen
Between Worlds by Stephen Baxter
Keepsakes by Mike Resnick
Mayflower II by Stephen Baxter
Our Lady of American Sorrows by Jay Lake
Shadow Twin by Gardner Dozois
The Tribes of Bela by Albert Cowdrey
Under the Flag of Night by Ian McDowell
Viator by Lucius Shepard
The Wreck of the Godspeed by James Patrick Kelly

Best Novelette

Finalists:

Biographical Notes to 'A Discourse on the Nature of Causality, with Air-Planes,' by Benjamin Rosenbaum by Benjamin Rosenbaum

The Clapping Hands of God by Michael F. Flynn
The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link [winner]
The People of Sand and Slag by Paulo Bacigalupi
The Voluntary State by Christopher Rowe

Longlisted Nominees
Dancer in the Dark by David Gerrold
Flat Diane by Daniel Abraham
The Fear Gun by Judith Berman
The Little Stranger by Gene Wolfe
Men Are Trouble by James Patrick Kelly
Pat Moore by Tim Powers
PeriAndry's Quest by Stephen Baxter
Q by John Grant
Quarry by Peter Beagle
Reports of Certain Events in London by China Miéville
The Third Party by David Moles
The Word That Sings the Scythe by Michael Swanwick

Best Short Story

Finalists:
The Best Christmas Ever by James Patrick Kelly
Decisions by Michael A. Burstein
A Princess of Earth by Mike Resnick
Shed Skin by Robert J. Sawyer
Travels with My Cats by Mike Resnick [winner]

Longlisted Nominees
Angel's Daughter by Jay Lake
Embracing-the-New by Michael Rosenbaum
Faces by Joe Haldeman
Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Nameless House of the Dread Desire by Neil Gaiman
Opal Ball by Robert Reed
Pulp Cover by Gene Wolfe
Singing My Sister Down by Margo Lanagan
The Slow Train by Don Sakers
Ten Sigmas by Paul Melko
Tourism by M. John Harrison
The Wolfman of Alcatraz by Howard Waldrop

Best Related Work

Finalists:
The Best of Xero by Pat Lupoff and Dick Lupoff

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction edited by Edward James and Farah Mendlesohn [winner]

Dancing Naked: The Unexpurgated William Tenn, Volume 3 by William Tenn
Futures: 50 Years in Space: The Challenge of the Stars by David A. Hardy and Patrick Moore
With Stars in My Eyes: My Adventures in British Fandom by Peter Weston

Longlisted Nominees:

The Art of Discworld by Paul Kidby

The DC Comics Encyclopedia by Michael Teitelbaum and Scott Beatty
The Deceiving Eye, the Art of Richard Wescox by Randy Dannenfelser
The Gernsback Days by Mike Ashley and Robert A.W. Lowndes
Marvel 1602 by Neil Gaiman
Projections: Science Fiction in Literature edited by Lou Anders
Relativity by Robert J. Sawyer
Spectrum 11 by Cathy Fenner and Arnie Fenner
The True Knowledge of Ken MacLeod by Andrew Butler and Farah Mendlesohn
Up Through an Empty House of Stars by David Langford

Best Dramatic Presentation: Long Form

Finalists:
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Incredibles [winner]
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow
Spider Man 2

Longlisted Nominees:
Battlestar Galactica: Pilot
Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars
Finding Neverland
Hellboy
Hero
I, Robot
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Shaun of the Dead
Shrek 2
Team America: World Police

Best Dramatic Presentation: Short Form

Finalists:
Battlestar Galactica: 33 [winner]
Angel: Not Fade Away
Angel: Smile Time
Lost: Pilot
Stargate SG-1: Heroes, Parts 1 and 2

Longlisted Nominees:
Agatha Heterodyne, Girl Genius (Radio Play)
Angel: Damage
Angel: Origin
Justice League Unlimited: The Return
Lost: Walkabout
Noreascon Closing Ceremony
Smallville: Run
Star Trek Enterprise: E²
Stargate Atlantis: Rising
Wonderfalls: Karma Chameleon
Wonderfalls: Wax Lion

Best Professional Editor

Finalists:
Ellen Datlow [winner]
Gardner Dozois
David G. Hartwell
Stanley Schmidt
Gordon van Gelder

Longlisted Nominees:
Lou Anders
Ginjer Buchanan
Peter Crowther
Gavin J. Grant
Nalo Hopkinson
Kelly Link
Shawna McCarthy
Patrick Nielsen Hayden
David Pringle
Juliet Ulman
Sheila Williams

Best Professional Artist

Finalists:
Jim Burns [winner]
Bob Eggleton
Frank Kelly Freas
Donato Giancola
John Picacio

Longlisted Nominees:
David Cherry
Alan Clark
Kinuko Craft
Vincent di Fate
Les Edwards
David A. Hardy
Domonic Harman
Stephan Martiniére
John Jude Palencar
Omar Rayyan
Michael Whelan

Best Semi-Prozine

Finalists:
Ansible edited by David Langford [winner]
Interzone edited by David Pringle and Andy Cox

Locus edited by Charles N. Brown

The New York Review of Science Fiction edited by Kathryn Cramer, David G. Hartwell, and Kevin J. Maroney

The Third Alternative edited by Andy Cox

Longlisted Nominees:
Internet Review of SF edited by Stacey Janssen
Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet edited by Gavin Grant and Kelly Link
N^th Degree edited by Michael D. Pederson
On Spec edited by Diane Walton
Portti edited by Raimo Nikkonen
Postscripts edited by Peter Crowther and Nick Gevers
SF Chronicle edited by John Douglas and Ian Randal Strock
Speculations edited by Kent Brewster and Susan Fry
Tähtivaeltaja edited by Toni Jerrman
Talebones edited by Patrick Swenson

Best Fanzine

Finalists:
Banana Wings edited by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer
Challenger edited by Guy H. Lillian, III
Chunga edited by Randy Byers, Andy Hooper, and Carl Juarez
Emerald City edited by Chreyl Morgan
Plokta edited by Alison Scott, Steve Davies, and Mike Scott [winner]

Longlisted Nominees:
Alexiad edited by Joseph T. Major
Ansible edited by David Langford
Argentus edited by Steven H Silver
Bento edited by Kate Yule and David D. Levine
File 770 edited by Mike Glyer
The Prydonian Renegade edited by Gary S. Blog and Tom Beck
SF Commentary edited by Bruce Gillespie
SF Revu edited by Gayle Surrette
Trap Door edited by Robert Lichtman
Zoo Nation edited by Peter Young

Best Fan Writer

Finalists:
Claire Brialey
Bob Devney
David Langford [winner]
Cheryl Morgan
Steven H Silver

Longlisted Nominees:
Matthew Cheney
John Flynn
Christopher J. Garcia
Mike Glyer
John Hertz
Guy H. Lillian, III
Joseph T. Major
Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Mark Plummer
Pete Young

Best Fan Artist

Finalists:
Brad Foster
Teddy Harvia
Sue Mason [winner]
Steve Stiles
Frank Wu

Longlisted Nominees:
Sheryl Birkhead
Kurt Erichsen
Alexis Gilliland
Bill Neville
Marc Schirmeister
Sue Shiffman
Dan Steffan
Taral Wayne
D. West
Alan White

Best Web Site

Finalists:
eFanzines edited by Bill Burns
Emerald City edited by Cheryl Morgan
Locus Online edited by Mark R. Kelly
Sci Fiction edited by Ellen Datlow, managed by Craig Engler [winner]
Strange Horizons edited by Susan Marie Groppi

Longlisted Nominees:
The Alien Online edited by Ariel
FANAC History Site webmaster Edie Stern
Infinite Matrix edited by Eileen K. Gunn
The Internet Review of Science Fiction edited by by Stacey Janssen
Neil Gaiman's Site/Weblog by Neil Gaiman
NESFA
Science Fiction Weekly
SciFi.com
SF Revu edited by Gayle Surrette
The SF Site edited by Neil Walsh
Trufen.net/Victor Gonzalez edited by Victor Gonzalez

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

Finalists:
Elizabeth Bear [winner]
K.J. Bishop
David Moles
Chris Roberson
Steph Swainston

Longlisted Nominees:
Barth Anderson
Tony Ballantyne
Jay Caselberg
Susanna Clarke
Karen D. Fishler
Deidre Saoirse Moen
Chris Moriarty
Amy Sisson
Jack Skillingstead
Isaac Szpindel

Go to previous year's longlist: 2004
Go to subsequent year's longlist: 2006

Go to 2005 Hugo Finalists and Winners

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