My Hugo Votes: Best Short Story 2013
Only three short stories made it past the 5% vote threshold to be nominated for this year's Hugo Awards and all three authors have been previously nominated in this category. While it makes choosing easy, I think it's a shame there's no new blood.
(3) “Mantis Wives” by Kij Johnson - A well-written horror sketch with, as the title suggests, insects as its subject. Technically better than her 2011 nominated short, "Ponies", but not my thing, so third.
(2) [Hugo winner.] “Mono no Aware” by Ken Liu - The Earth has been destroyed and a full generation ship including the last Japanese survivor heads for what will eventually be a new home. When all things in life are temporary, how hard should you try to preserve a culture and, in the end, what culture should you preserve? Another strong story from Ken Liu though perhaps a bit predictable.
(1) “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard - Like Liu, De Bodard has plenty to say about culture. In this case, she explores the technologically-enhanced effects of Western imperialism on a economically dependent station. The dominant culture's expectations of others are as insidious as they are ignorant, and one character almost destroys herself trying to live up to them.
The story is enhanced De Bodard's choice to switch back and forth between the third and second person. I like to see some ambition in my Hugo winners, which is why I'm placing this first.
(3) “Mantis Wives” by Kij Johnson - A well-written horror sketch with, as the title suggests, insects as its subject. Technically better than her 2011 nominated short, "Ponies", but not my thing, so third.
(2) [Hugo winner.] “Mono no Aware” by Ken Liu - The Earth has been destroyed and a full generation ship including the last Japanese survivor heads for what will eventually be a new home. When all things in life are temporary, how hard should you try to preserve a culture and, in the end, what culture should you preserve? Another strong story from Ken Liu though perhaps a bit predictable.
(1) “Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard - Like Liu, De Bodard has plenty to say about culture. In this case, she explores the technologically-enhanced effects of Western imperialism on a economically dependent station. The dominant culture's expectations of others are as insidious as they are ignorant, and one character almost destroys herself trying to live up to them.
The story is enhanced De Bodard's choice to switch back and forth between the third and second person. I like to see some ambition in my Hugo winners, which is why I'm placing this first.