2022 Hugo Award: Best Novella

[sophia_sol]

Woohoo I finally got through another Hugo category! Here's how I'm voting for the novellas this year. Links to full reviews in the titles.

1. Elder Race, by Adrian Tchaikovsky

I LOVED THIS. I was not expecting it at all and it blew me away!

2. The Past is Red, by Catherynne M Valente

Yes, I'm surprised as you are that I'm ranking a Valente this high, but you know what, every now and then she manages to write something that really works for me, and this does.

3. Fireheart Tiger, by Aliette de Bodard

Loved everything about this one except that the romance felt too rushed.

4. A Spindle Splintered, by Alix E Harrow

Although I don't love everything this book is doing, I still really liked it!

5. No Award

6. A Psalm for the Wild-Built, by Becky Chambers

I've loved most of the Becky Chambers books I've read in the past, but this one just really rubbed me the wrong way in a number of aspects. DNF.

Not ranking: Across the Green Grass Fields, by Seanan McGuire

I find myself so deeply irritated by something or other about every single book in this series I've read over the years for the Hugos and I'm not gonna keep on trying.

Comments

[chestnut_pod]

Well done! And it's heartening to see a really worthy top-four.

[china_shop]

Thanks so much for this post -- very timely for me. I've been thinking I should read more novellas. (Or, well, I've been thinking I should read more, and novellas are less daunting than full-length novels. :-)

[lirazel]

I am interested in hearing which Valente work for you! The only one I've been able to finish (and I haven't tried very many) was Radiance, which I enjoyed because it combined space opera with classic Hollywood, two of my favorite things. But it sure was A Lot!

I read the first Wayward Children book and really hated it, probably because the premise (and the title) was so good and nothing else worked for me. It made me angry!

[cahn]

Woooo Novella! I also loved Elder Race! And also Psalm for the Wild-Built was so annoying! Should I read the Chambers that's up for the novel? I feel like I've had bad luck with Becky Chambers...