Hugos have a Graphic Novel Category for now
The Hugos (Science Fiction's highest Literary awards) have a Graphic Novel Category for 2009 in Montreal. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2008-08-22/anticipation-to-present-special-category-hugo-award-for-best-graphic-story for the announcement. This is a very key because it was approved in Denver in the first of a two part process to amend WSFS's constitution. The other part happens at Anticipation (Worldcon) next year when it comes up for a second vote.
The decision by Hugo Administration committee is risky, but the right thing to do. We (as comics fans) have to support the decision by buying at least a supporting membership for Anticipation by 1/31/09 to be able to nominate or be Denvention members. We have to nominate enough novels for the final ballot this winter and must vote next spring when the final ballot is released. One other thing, as many comics fans as possible have to be at the business meeting to vote for it. If that doesn't happen, the proposal will go down in the second vote at the business meeting.
Kevin Standlee (next year's Business meeting chair) wrote a lengthy piece on ANN's message board and his own Livejournal on this. This is the link to it: http://kevin-standlee.livejournal.com/577374.html He explains this better than I can, since he has chaired several of these meetings in his years at Worldcon.
I am personally excited about the possibility of this happening. Many younger fans are reading more graphic novels than traditional novels. This can be a chance to get younger fans interested in Worldcon and the Hugos.
Thanks to Kevin Standlee for the clarification of when you must join to be eligible to nominate.
The decision by Hugo Administration committee is risky, but the right thing to do. We (as comics fans) have to support the decision by buying at least a supporting membership for Anticipation by 1/31/09 to be able to nominate or be Denvention members. We have to nominate enough novels for the final ballot this winter and must vote next spring when the final ballot is released. One other thing, as many comics fans as possible have to be at the business meeting to vote for it. If that doesn't happen, the proposal will go down in the second vote at the business meeting.
Kevin Standlee (next year's Business meeting chair) wrote a lengthy piece on ANN's message board and his own Livejournal on this. This is the link to it: http://kevin-standlee.livejournal.com/577374.html He explains this better than I can, since he has chaired several of these meetings in his years at Worldcon.
I am personally excited about the possibility of this happening. Many younger fans are reading more graphic novels than traditional novels. This can be a chance to get younger fans interested in Worldcon and the Hugos.
Thanks to Kevin Standlee for the clarification of when you must join to be eligible to nominate.