Loncon 3 Releases Hugo Voter Packet

The 2014 Hugo Awards Voter Packet was made available today to members of Loncon 3. It is located here and is accessible to those with a Worldcon membership number and PIN. The packet will remain online until voting closes at 0000 PDT on August 1.

The bundle includes full editions of some nominated works and preview versions of others.

Notably, Tim Holman, publisher of Orbit, announced earlier this month that the three shortlisted novels from his company will be represented only by previews —

We are of course very much in favour of initiatives that help readers to engage with important awards, and we are always looking for new ways to help readers discover new authors. However, in the case of the voter packets, authors and rights holders are increasingly feeling that if their work is not included in the packet it will be at a disadvantage in the awards. It’s difficult for anyone to know for certain whether this is the case, but either way we don’t feel that authors and rights holders should feel under pressure to make their work available for free. There are a lot of different attitudes to the idea of giving work away for free, but we hope most people would agree that writers and rights holders should be able to make their own choice, without feeling that their decision might have negative consequences.

Later tonight I will have time to explore the complete bundle. In order to get a quick sense of how this year’s version will operate I opened one of the smallest directories, that for Best Fan Writer. As a result I found that Meadows, Hurley, Bourke and Nussbam are represented, but the directory contains nothing from Mark Oshiro.

The Loncon 3 team will shortly release a voter packet for the Retro Hugos, commemorating the best in science fiction and fantasy available to fans in 1939.

The full press release follows the jump.

Loncon 3 launches Hugo Awards voter packet

MEDIA RELEASE #23

Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention

14-18 August 2014 at ExCeL London

http://www.loncon3.org

[email protected]

Loncon 3 launches Hugo Awards voter packet

London, 30 May 2014 – The 2014 Hugo Awards voter packet – an electronic package of nominated works made available by Hugo nominees and their publishers – is now available for download by Supporting, Attending and Young Adult members of Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) taking place at ExCeL London from 14-18 August 2014.

The Hugo Awards are the leading awards for achievement in science fiction and fantasy, and are voted on by the Worldcon membership.

The voter packet, which includes full editions of many Hugo-nominated works and preview versions of others, enables Loncon 3 Supporting, Attending, and Young Adult members to familiarise themselves with the Hugo Award contenders before voting. The packet is available now at http://loncon3.org/hugo_vote/hugo_voter_packet.php and will remain available until voting closes at 0000 PDT on Friday 1 August 2014.

The 2014 Hugo Awards will be presented at a ceremony on the evening of Sunday 17 August. The ceremony will be streamed live via the internet to enable fans around the world to experience this celebration of the best of the year’s science fiction and fantasy.

The Loncon 3 team will shortly release a voter packet for the Retro Hugos, commemorating the best in science fiction and fantasy available to fans in 1939.

Full details of the Hugo Awards are available at the Loncon 3 web site: http://www.loncon3.org/hugo_awards.php.

For information on how to join the more than 5,000 fans of science fiction and fantasy who have already signed up to attend Loncon 3, visit http://www.loncon3.org/memberships/.

ENDS

For more information please contact [email protected]

ABOUT THE WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

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

Loncon 3 is the trading name of London 2014 Ltd, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England, company number: 7989510. Registered Office: 176 Portland Road, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 1DJ, UK.

“World Science Fiction Society”, “WSFS”, “World Science Fiction Convention”,

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