Nominees Revealed for First Dragon Awards

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dragon con logo | www.dragoncon.orgThe fantasy/science fiction convention Dragon Con has revealed the nominees for its inaugural Dragon Awards, celebrating novels, comics, films, television and games from across the varied subgenres of SFF.

The Dragon Awards were announced back in April, and since then have suffered from definite teething problems. The eligibility period for nominations underwent a last-minute change; after this came a delay in the announcement of the finalists, which were supposed to have been made public on 2 August. But then, it is perhaps to be expected for a new awards initiative to have a rocky road in its first year.

It is hard to discuss the Dragon Awards in depth without mentioning another SFF award, the Hugos, and the controversy arising from the Sad Puppies campaign. Certain authors involved with this movement, including its founder Larry Correia, mobilised their fanbases to nominate them in the Dragon Awards’ online poll. It should not be a surprise, then, that the ballot contains books by multiple Sad Puppy authors: alongside Correia are John C. Wright, Brian Niemeier, Declan Finn, Dave Freer and Nick Cole. Cole’s nominee, Ctrl Alt Revolt!, became a particular cause célèbre for the Sad Puppies after HarperVoyager reportedly turned it down due to a perceived anti-abortion subtext.

However, it should be stressed that the award guidelines specifically allow this kind of campaigning from authors: “the Dragon Awards are a fan choice,” states the official website, “and it is perfectly acceptable for you to encourage your fans to vote for you.” So, whatever criticisms can be made of their behaviour at the Hugos, the Sad Puppies are playing entirely within Dragon Con’s rules.

Also on the ballot are multiple authors who are popular amongst the anti-Puppy segment of the Hugos, including Ann Leckie, John Scalzi, N. K. Jemisin and Ms. Marvel scribe G. Willow Wilson. Sitting alongside them are various writers who have not been noticeably championed by any faction of the culture war, such as Alethea Kontis, DC Universe: Rebirth‘s Geoff Johns and the late Terry Pratchett.

In short, it is a ballot that reflects a varied range of tastes and philosophies, mixing big names with relative newcomers. Perhaps this time around, fandom will be able to get along…

Winners are scheduled to be announced at Dragon Con, which will be held from September 2 to September 5 in Atlanta. The ballot is not currently available on the Dragon Con website, but it has been issued to registered voters; here is the full list of nominees:

1. Best Science Fiction Novel

Agent of the Imperium by Marc Miller

Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson

The Life Engineered by J-F Dubeau

Raising Caine by Charles E. Gannon

Somewhither: A Tale of the Unwitheriing Realm by John C. Wright

2. Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

Asteroid Made of Dragons by G. Derek Adams

Blood Hound by James Osiris Baldwin

Changeling’s Island by Dave Freer

The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

Grave Measures by R.R. Virdi

Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia

3. Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel

Calamity by Brandon Sanderson

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell

Changeling’s Island by Dave Freer

The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Steeplejack by A.J. Hartley

Trix and the Faerie Queen by Alethea Kontis

Updraft by Fran Wilde

4. Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel

Allies and Enemies: Fallen by Amy J. Murphy

Blood in the Water by Taylor Anderson

Chains of Command by Marko Kloos

The End of All Things by John Scalzi

Hell’s Foundations Quiver by David Weber

The Price of Valor by Django Wexler

Wrath of an Angry God: A Military Space Opera by Gibson Michaels

5. Best Alternate History Novel

1635: A Parcel of Rogues by Eric Flint & Andrew Dennis

1636: The Cardinal Virtues by Eric Flint & Walter H. Hunt

Bombs Away: The Hot War by Harry Turtledove

Deadlands: Ghostwalkers by Jonathan Maberry

Germanica by Robert Conroy

League of Dragons by Naomi Novik

6. Best Apocalyptic Novel

Chasing Freedom by Marina Fontaine

Ctrl Alt Revolt! by Nick Cole

Dark Age by Felix O. Hartmann

The Desert and the Blade by S.M. Stirling

The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin

A Time to Die by Mark Wandrey

7. Best Horror Novel

Alice by Christina Henry

Chapelwood by Cherie Priest

Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay

Honor at Stake by Declan Finn

An Unattractive Vampire by Jim McDoniel

Souldancer by Brian Niemeier

8. Best Comic Book

Astro City – Vertigo

Saga – Image

Civil War II – Marvel

Daredevil – Marvel

DC Universe: Rebirth – DC

Ms. Marvel – Marvel

Providence – Avatar

9. Best Graphic Novel

Chicago by Glenn Head

Killing and Dying by Adrian Tomine

March: Book Two by John Lewis & Andrew Aydin

Sacred Heart by Liz Suburbia

The Sandman: Overture by Neil Gaiman and J.H. Williams III

Virgil by Steve Orlando and J.D. Faith

10. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series

Daredevil – Netflix

Doctor Who – BBC

The Expanse – Syfy

The Flash – CW

Game of Thrones – HBO

Jessica Jones – Netflix

Outlander – Starz

11. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Ant-Man, dir. Peyton Reed

Captain America: Civil War, dir. Joe and Anthony Russo

Crimson Peak, dir. Guillermo del Toro

Deadpool, dir. Tim Miller

The Martian, dir. Ridley Scott

Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens, dir. J.J. Abrams

12. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game

Darkest Dungeon by Red Hook Studios

Fallout 4 by Bethesda Softworks

Metal Gear Solid V by Konami Digital Entertainment

Overwatch by Blizzard Entertainment

Undertale by Toby Fox

XCOM 2 by 2k Games

13. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game

Fallout Shelter by Bethesda Softworks

Hyper Burner by Patrick Cook

PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist by Outerminds Inc.

Quaser One by Emre Taskin

Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes by Electronic Arts

14. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game

Blood Rage by Cool Mini or Not

Codenames by Vlaada Chvatil

Pandemic: Legacy by ZMan Games

Monopoly: CTHULHU by USAopoly

Star Wars: Rebellion by Fantasy Flight Games

Talon by GMT Games

15. Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game

Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game (7th Edition) by Chaosium Inc.

Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls by Flying Buffalo

Magic the Gathering: Battle of Zendikar by Wizards of the Coast

Magic the Gathering: Shadows over Innistrad by Wizards of the Coast

Mousguard (2nd Edition) by David Petersen & Luke Crane

Star Wars: Armada by Fantasy Flight Games

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Doris V. Sutherland

Doris V. Sutherland

Horror historian, animation addict and tubular transdudette. Catch me on Twitter @dorvsutherland, or view my site at dorisvsutherland.com. If you like my writing enough to fling money my way, then please visit patreon.com/dorvsutherland or ko-fi.com/dorvsutherland.

2 thoughts on “Nominees Revealed for First Dragon Awards

  1. Looks like the Dragon Awards are stillborn. Seems like they’re too obscure to not be completely trashed by the Puppies.

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