There weren’t many Top 10 stories in January that didn’t have something to do with the Chengdu Worldcon Hugo controversy. In fact, there were so many of those a big Chuck Tingle story that started off the month almost got pushed off the list. But not quite.

The 2023 Hugo nomination voting statistics were finally released on January 20 revealing four people’s work had been ruled ineligible without an explanation. Hugo Administrator Dave McCarty, who had worked with a team that included several Chinese members, insisted he could only provide the limited (and unilluminating) official statement they had agreed upon, and his manner of saying so inflamed those asking for more. The controversy expanded as people who analyzed the report’s statistics found they were problematic because the EPH calculations often could not be reconciled. Statements by Kevin Standlee, then chair of Worldcon Intellectual Property, Inc., that the Hugo service mark-holder had no recourse against the 2023 Worldcon committee fueled discussion by social media lawyers about the continuing validity of the marks. Those worries are believed behind the disciplinary measures announced by W.I.P. two days ago.  

Here are the ten most-read stories for January 2024 according to dread Jetpack.

1. 2023 Hugo Nomination Report Has Unexplained Ineligibility Rulings; Also Reveals Who Declined
2. Chengdu Hugo Administrator Dave McCarty Fields Questions on Facebook
3. Chengdu Worldcon Releases 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics
4. Worldcon Intellectual Property Announces Censure of McCarty, Chen Shi and Yalow; McCarty Resigns; Eastlake Succeeds Standlee as Chair of B.O.D.
5. Barkley — So Glad You (Didn’t) Ask #80
6. Hugo Controversy Hits Mainstream News; A Chengdu Vice-Chair Comments in Social Media
7. Court Exhibit Names Artists Midjourney Scraped To Train Its AI; Includes Many Hugo Winners
8. Zimozi Natsuco Guest Post: The Hugo Awards’ Evil Fall is a Watered-Down Affair, and Certain Issues To Watch Out For
9. Pixel Scroll 1/22/24 Encounter at Fargo
10. Texas Library Association Cancels Chuck Tingle