My 2026 Hugo Ballot

 To paraphrase one of the short story entries, I’m only voting for the works I think are worthy of awards (positive compatibility score). 

For some of the categories, I’m voting “these are the only works in this subgroup that I believe deserve recognition” and I included No Award after them. 

For other categories, I’m voting “these are the works I liked, I do not care about the others.” Didn't bother to include No Award.

And I skipped categories where I’m too lazy to do enough research to inform my vote. 

Now I’m going back to re-reading Dungeon Crawler Carl a few more times and working on my courtroom novel, but I might blog some more about Worldcon and my adventures there (and leading up). 

Best Novel:

1. Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (William Morrow; Gollancz)
2. Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US)
3. No Award

Best Novella

1. What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher (Nightfire; Titan UK)
2. The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom; Arcadia UK)
3. Cinder House by Freya Marske (Tordotcom; Tor UK)
4. No Award

Best Novelette

1. “Never Eaten Vegetables” by H.H. Pak (Clarkesworld, Issue 220)
2. No Award

Best Short Story

1. “Wire Mother” by Isabel J. Kim (Clarkesworld, Issue 229)
2. “Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything” by Effie Seiberg (Diabolical Plots, May 16, 2025)
3. No Award

Best Related Work

1. Last War in Albion: “The Cuddled Little Vice (Sandman)” by Elizabeth Sandifer (Eruditorum Press)
2. Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler by Susana M. Morris (Amistad)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

1. KPop Demon Hunters, screenplay by Danya Jimenez & Hannah McMechan, Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans; directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans (Sony Pictures Animation for Netflix)

Best Poem 

I always love a good Sea Witch, but the customer support log witches made me smile bigger.

1. “Hex Supply Customer Support Log” by Elis Montgomery (Strange Horizons, Issue 25 August 2025)
2. “How to Become a Sea Witch” by Theodora Goss (The Orange & Bee, Issue 5)
3. “Care for Lightning” by Mari Ness (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 62)
4. “The World to Come” by Jennifer Hudak (Strange Horizons, Issue 22 December 2025)
5. “Landing: Seattle” by Brandon O’Brien (Seattle Worldcon 2025 Opening Ceremony)
6. “The Mourning Robot” by Angela Liu (Uncanny Magazine, Issue 66) 
7. No Award

Lodestar Award for Best YA Book

1. They Bloom at Night by Trang Thanh Tran (Bloomsbury US; Bloomsbury UK)
2. Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee (Feiwel & Friends)

Astounding Award for Best New Writer:

1. H.H. Pak (2nd year of eligibility)
(Since I’m voting for their story I might as well)

NOT VOTING ON THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES

Best Series

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

Best Game or Interactive Work

Best Editor Short Form

Best Editor Long Form

Best Professional Artist

Best Semiprozine

Best Fanzine

Best Fancast

Best Fan Writer

Best Fan Artist