2013 Hugo Nominations Break Record

For the fifth consecutive year Worldcon members have cast a record-breaking number of Hugo nominating ballots. LoneStarCon 3 received 1,343 valid nominating ballots, exceeding the 1,101 received by Chicon 7 last year. Prior to that, Renovation received 1,006 in 2011, Aussiecon 4 received 864 in 2010 and Anticipation received 799 in 2009, each a record-setting figure at the time.

This record-setting trend likely gained momentum from a rules change effective in 2012 which broadened the voting base. Since last year, members in the forthcoming Worldcon have been allowed to nominate too, just as members of the current and previous Worldcon have long been able to do. LonCon 3 in 2014 is a European Worldcon, and I would guess has many members who don’t typically join when the con is in North America, making the universe of potential Hugo nomination voters that much larger than it was in 2012 when the pool consisted of members of three U.S. Worldcons (Renovation, Chicon 7, LoneStarCon 3).

The 2013 Hugo Award nominees will be announced on Saturday, March 30, starting at 3 p.m. CDT.

The nominations announcement will be made simultaneously at four conventions in the United States and United Kingdom, with the shortlists being published through the LoneStarCon 3 website immediately afterwards.

Conventions taking part in the announcement are:

  • Norwescon 36, in Seatac, WA (1 p.m. PDT)
  • Minicon 48, in Bloomington, MN (3 p.m. CDT)
  • Marcon 48, in Columbus, OH (4 p.m. EDT)
  • EightSquaredCon, the British National Science Fiction Convention (Eastercon), in Bradford, England (8 p.m. GMT).

Nominations will also be released category by category via the LoneStarCon 3 Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LoneStarCon3 and the LoneStarCon 3 Twitter feed at twitter.com/LoneStarCon.

The full press release follows the jump.

PRESS RELEASE #12 – LONESTARCON 3 HUGO FINALISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED ON SATURDAY, MARCH 30

LoneStarCon 3, The 71st World Science Fiction Convention

San Antonio, TX – August 29 to September 2, 2013

[email protected]

www.LoneStarCon3.org

Postal queries to: P.O. Box 27277, Austin, Texas78755

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, March 22, 2013

SAN ANTONIO, Texas: LoneStarCon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention, is delighted to report that the finalists for this year’s Hugo Awards and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer will be announced on Saturday, March 30, starting at 3 p.m. CDT. We are also proud to announce that the number of this year’s number of nomination ballots received this year set a new response record.

The nominations announcement will be made simultaneously at four conventions in the United States and United Kingdom, with the shortlists being published through the LoneStarCon 3 website immediately afterwards.

Conventions taking part in the announcement are:

– Norwescon 36, one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier science fiction and fantasy conventions, in Seatac, WA (1 p.m. PDT)

– Minicon 48, Minnesota’s longest-running science fiction convention, in Bloomington, MN (3 p.m. CDT)

– Marcon 48, the Midwest’s largest annual convention, in Columbus, OH (4 p.m. EDT)

– EightSquaredCon, the British National Science Fiction Convention (Eastercon), in Bradford, England (8 p.m. GMT).

Nominations will also be released category by category via the LoneStarCon 3 Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LoneStarCon3 and the LoneStarCon 3 Twitter feed at twitter.com/LoneStarCon.

A total of 1,343 valid nominating ballots were cast, substantially exceeding the previous record of 1,101 set in 2012 by Chicon 7.

According to LoneStarCon 3 Chair Randall Shepherd, “this outstanding turnout confirms that interest in the Hugo Awards is at an all-time high. LoneStarCon 3 will mark exactly 60 years since the Hugos were first presented at the 11th Worldcon in Philadelphia, PA. Winners that year included Alfred Bester, Willy Ley, Ed Emshwiller, and Forrest J Ackerman; LoneStarCon 3 members will soon have the chance to decide who will follow in those illustrious footsteps.”

After the announcement of the nominees, the final voting process will begin. Attending, Young Adult, Military, and Supporting members of LoneStarCon 3 will be able to cast final ballots until Wednesday, July 31, 2013, 11:59 p.m. EDT. The winners will be announced on Sunday, September 1, 2013, during the Hugo Awards Ceremony at LoneStarCon 3.

For additional information, please contact [email protected].

ABOUT THE WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

Founded in 1939, the World Science Fiction Convention (“Worldcon”) is one of the largest international gatherings of authors, artists, editors, publishers and fans of science fiction and fantasy entertainment. The annual Hugo Awards, the leading award for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy, are voted on by Worldcon membership and presented during the convention.

LoneStarCon 3 is sponsored by ALAMO, Inc., (Alamo Literary Arts Maintenance Organization), a 501(c)(3) organization. For information about memberships or hotel accommodation, visit www.LoneStarCon3.org. Send press questions, or requests to be removed from the LoneStarCon 3 press release mailing list, to [email protected]. Send general queries to [email protected].

“World Science Fiction Society,” “WSFS,” “World Science Fiction Convention,” “Worldcon,” “NASFiC,” “Hugo Award,” and the distinctive design of the Hugo Award Rocket are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.