So, we're about on time for some Hugo stuff and, well, here we are. DisCon III have released their policies re the award today and a lot of it's sensible, smart and inclusive. It's nice especially to see finalists encouraged to apply for programming which has not always been so

Here's where the rubber is hitting the road though:

'four names for each finalist on the Hugo final ballot, the Hugo ceremony visuals, and the Hugo trophy plaques.'

They reference elsewhere in the thread the places all names will be mentioned (websites, souvenir book) and also that they anticipate this will impact a small amount of categories. It will. One of them is Best Semiprozine.

It seems like every year a polite (ish) variant of 'You have too many on your team! Logistically we can't cover all of them!' gets wheeled out. I can see the validity of it too, after all you've got limited budgets. But at the same time, you've also got multiple large teams 1/

in finalist spots. Roughly a dozen people are involved in the construction of every single episode we put out. And we're relatively small! One writer an episode (Two including host actually, which we're doing more of).

So, who are the four? The three editors and the host? What about the audio producers? The other hosts? The associate editors? I can see how, from one side, asking finalists to do this is the fairest option. I can also see how it can feel deeply, profoundly unfair.

No one wants to be the person after the line is drawn. Trust me. No one wants to be the person to draw the line either.

I think it's especially galling because the categories this is ALWAYS an issue for are the ones which are also lauded for being where future talents grow or are forged.

I mean I can see why you'd only have so many names on the plaque. I can (reluctantly) see why you'd want to limit the number of rockets. And just in case anyone was heading that way I'm saying all of this with no personal expectations AT ALL.

I've been a finalist a couple of times. So has Escape Pod. There's no certainty that will happen again and it would be great if it did. But this issue effects the ground I, and lots of others, work on. And it has for a while. And nothing seems to be changing.

I think the crux of it, for me, is the ballot. I'd love to see all the names listed there. It's a minimal expense, I'd (guess) a minimal logistical challenge and it's a good chance to get everyone recognized. As they all deserve to be.

Anyway, welcome to Hugo Season. Again.