Black Gate Withdraws From Hugo Ballot

Black Gate’s editor John O’Neill announced May 1 that he has withdrawn his online fanzine from the 2016 Hugo ballot — see “Black Gate Declines Hugo Nomination”.

As O’Neill explained the decision:

Why did we decline? While we won’t know the exact number of nominating ballots until the stats are released (after the Hugos are awarded), it’s clear that Black Gate largely benefited from Vox Day’s Rabid Puppy Hugo slate. As we reported Wednesday, roughly 80% of this year’s Hugo ballot was dictated by that slate — it swept six categories, including Short Story, Graphic Story, and Fanzine. Our choice to withdraw was informed by many of the same factors that led us to make the same decision last year.

It also seems fairly obvious that we cannot win. Of the 61 nominees the Puppy ballots placed on the Hugo ballot last year, only one, Guardians of the Galaxy, received an award. The Rabid Puppy brand, which BG is now unwillingly associated with, is so toxic that it’s virtually impossible to overcome that association without the equivalent of a $100 million advertising campaign. Those nominees who stubbornly argued otherwise last year, and attended the Hugo ceremony with high hopes, learned that the hard way, unceremoniously losing out to No Award in a painful rout across virtually every category. (Incidentally, I also voted No Award for most of the ballot.)

[Thanks to Steven H Silver for the story.]

68 thoughts on “Black Gate Withdraws From Hugo Ballot

  1. I find this a particular blow because Black Gate was on my nominating ballot.

  2. Black Gate came to the attention of many Hugo voters last year. I saw enough there to conclude that Black Gate would be a worthy finalist so it would not surprise me if they got a number of nominations from non-RP people this year. But, there is no way of knowing until the statistics are released after this years award ceremonies what the breakdown was. It’s a tough call to withdraw, but I can understand why.

  3. Aw, crap. I nominated Black Gate as well. I guess there’s always next year (crosses fingers)

  4. I understand the reasoning, but they were on my ballot for general excellence. I suspect there were a significant number of actual fans who felt the same way.

  5. Mike Glyer: I find this a particular blow because Black Gate was on my nominating ballot.

    I’m sorry to hear they’ve withdrawn; I’m pretty sure that I nominated them, too. I hope when the final totals come out, it will help them to see that they have a lot wider support than just that from the Puppy slate.

  6. By giving up our very slim chance at winning, we can give another deserving publication a shot. That seems like a fair exchange to me.

    It’s not a Hugo, but I have no doubt they’ve amassed a tremendous amount of good will. They’ve behaved admirably both years. Not sure I would have done the same thing in their place–I also believe they would have been on the ballot without the RPs–, but good on them. In any case, the Alfies are quite prestigious too.

  7. I understand their reasons and admire their integrity. I will definitely bear them in mind for future, happier, Hugo nomination times.

  8. I nominated Black Gate, too, but I think this is a decision that reasoning people can understand and respect. Best of luck to them in the year to come!

  9. Dang. Another one I was supporting withdrawing for the best of reasons. They’ve earned even more respect from me, even though I really didn’t want them to withdraw.

  10. So what might go in the vacant slot?

    Last year’s winner, Journey Planet, is in the running. Who else?

    The 2015 Hugo voting report shows in the Best Fanzine category the top two zines edged off the final ballot by the slates were The Drink Tank and Lady Business. Drink Tank‘s final issue came out in January 2015, so it can’t be ruled out, and of course Lady Business had a very active 2015 — and when Filers posted their Hugo ballots here, it came in tied for third.

  11. @Bartimaeus

    One or the other of Filers (I don’t remember who – perhaps OGH?) got confirmation from Black Gate in the run up to nominating that they’d transitioned into being a fanzine from being a semiprozine in the last couple of years.

  12. @Meredith: Oh I didn’t know that, so I guess I nominated them in the wrong category. I wonder if more people were similarly misled (since the other rec. resources weren’t updated).

    Sad that they withdrew, but I respect their decision.

  13. I think that Black Gate rescinding their nomination will mean one less No Award.

    I know this must have been tough and I know they’ll see the short list again.

  14. Best Fanzine was the category they were finalists in last year. Their website shows they were a print magazine previously. Perhaps that was when they were considered semiprozine?

    Do we know for sure yet if these withdrawals will be replaced on the ballot?

  15. > Do we know for sure yet if these withdrawals will be replaced on the ballot?

    Laura,

    I checked with the Hugo committee before formally withdrawing, and they informed me they could replace us on the ballot. I’m told they’re already in touch with the new nominee, but were holding onto the announcement until we formally withdrew. That happened today.

  16. I’d nominated Black Gate this year. I respect and honor them for withdrawing but I’m also saddened.

    @Bartmaeus
    2 years ago they became a fanzine. Last year, in their withdrawal post I believe, they mention it. I need to find the link and send it to Neil Clarke who keeps the semiprozine list.

  17. @John O’Neill
    You might want to contact the semiprozine link above and have them fix your status as nominators are still confused.

  18. I nominated them as well. But I completely understand their reasoning, and they still have my support. I hope to see them on an honest ballot, and I hope they enjoy their Alfies.

  19. Shoot, one of the few nominations that I made that went through to the short list. Sad to see BlackGate withdraw but understand their reasoning.

  20. I’m not happy at all with this decision as I was one of those who nominated Black Gate. And by the comments in this thread, it feels kind of obvious that they would have made the ballot of their own steam.

  21. Another who nominated them. I suspect the vote totals will show they could have made it under their own steam.

  22. Well, I’ll just have to nominate them again next year.
    Not a bad habit, as such things go.

  23. I, too, nominated Black Gate, but like GRRM, I must applaud their consistency. When the SP’s are finely neutered, I’m certain that a Hugo will be theirs for the taking. For now, at least until the replacement is announced, there’s only one clear, obvious choice…

  24. Add me to the nominating Blackgate list: I’m disappointed, but it’s their call to make…

  25. You know, I really wasn’t paying attention. It was already unlikely that Fanzine was going to get no awarded with File 770 in the category. But choice is always nice.

  26. Count me in as another person who nominated Black Gate.

    I understand why they withdrew, paraphrasing Annie Bellet’s remarks from last year, no one wants to be a political football.

    I really hope things do not come to the point where everyone is going to feel it necessary to post their nominating ballot so nominees will be comfortable thinking they would have gotten on the ballot even without the puppies.

  27. I am hopeful that running the nominating data through E Pluribus Hugo will show slate nominations kept to the proportion of slate voters, lots of supporters will vote for EPH and it will pass, and we won’t have this problem next year.

    If you are going to be at MidAmeriCon II and you support EPH, please come to BOTH the preliminary business meeting *and* the meeting where EPH is actually voted on (I think I saw somewhere Mr. Dashoff say he planned to schedule that for the Sunday meeting?).

  28. I nominated “Black Gate” as well, for overall high quality and excellence.

    I respect O’Neill’s decision.

    The Puppies have made a terrible mess here — I say “the Puppies” and not “the Rabid Puppies” because to my knowledge no Sad Puppy leader has actually been willing to stand up and say they do not agree with the Rabid Puppies’ actions.

  29. @ Peace – no sad pups are pretty much cheering. Go to MonsterHunterNation and see for yourself. GRRM wants to make up with Larry and Scalzi does as well but they seem to be pretty much the same to me.

    And like I said last year – they really are not in it for the SFF.

  30. @John O’Neill

    Thanks for the response. I’m disappointed that you’re withdrawing, but glad to know that we’ll still have 5 finalists once they’re confirmed. I respect that it is a hard choice, and I hope that next time there won’t be such conflict.

  31. Thanks for the heads-up ULTRAGOTHA. Looks like I’ll have to extend my stay, read Robert’s Rules and the constitution. I so enjoyed watching the broadcast of Kevin Standlee running the meeting last year, that I decided I couldn’t miss this Worldcon. Taking civilized action is a very good thing.

  32. Janiceofmars, Google wsfs business meeting basics and watch the 8 minute youtube video Kevin Standlee and Lisa Hays put together. That’s a great intro to the meeting.

  33. This is a drag, and I suspect they may have made it on their own – tough to say, at this point, of course. I didn’t nominate them, but I’d’ve given them a fair shake. This year is different from last year.

  34. Has MAC commented on the withdrawals so far? Their Hugo nominees page still lists the withdrawn nominees.

    MAC II is likely waiting for their nomination withdrawal deadline to pass before updating their on-line page. That way we can see the revised final ballot that we’ll all be using.

  35. Ken Keller: Was that withdrawal deadline published? I just took a quick look at my nominee email, and the finalist press release, without finding one mentioned.

  36. This post announcing the nominations says that the final ballot will be released in May 2016 – but doesn’t provide a specific date.

  37. I wouldn’t expect any official announcement about changes until the ballot is finalized. After that, nominees will just have to ask not to be considered (as Black Gate did last year). Voting begins mid-May so it should be soon.

  38. Pingback: David Gerrold’s Unrepentant ASStericks | The Arts Mechanical

  39. I also nominated Black Gate, am sad they’ve withdrawn, but understand and respect their reasoning.

  40. I find it amazing how many people above nominated them and that does not matter to them, Because someone they do not like ALSO nominated them they slapped all the rest of their fans in the face,

    This whole things seems to translate into, “In order to save the Hugos we must destroy them”.

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