In case you missed my Sunday Post, the 2024 Hugo Award Finalists were recently announced. One thing I realized very quickly after the announcement is that I am very behind this year. While we wait for the Voter Packet to be prepared for the voters, I desperately needed to start reading some of the finalists so I can have them all read before I vote!
For books, I prioritized audiobooks over ebooks, since I know the books we do have in the Voter Packet will likely be ebooks or PDFs. I picked up most of the audiobooks through my library or on Spotify. I’m hoping having a selection of audiobooks will help add some variety to my Hugo schedule, even once we do receive the Voter Packets.
I also attempted to prioritize publishers and categories where I suspect we won’t see a full copy of the book/movie/show/ect. That said, there are certainly books in the list below I think will be in the Voter Packet. Lastly, if a sequel was nominated for an award and I haven’t read the first book in the series, I tried to pick up the first book.
So, without further ado, here’s what I picked up this week!
- Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh – Finalist for Best Novel
This is one of finalists I’m most excited to read this year. I’ve heard such great things. I picked up the ebook of this one from the library and saved the audiobook on Spotify to try it out in that format as well.
- Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark – Finalist for Lodestar Award for Best YA Book
I’m the biggest fan of P. Djèlí Clark, but I had no idea he had a middle grade fantasy out! It’s West African and Afican Diaspora-inspired fantasy adventure and I cannot wait to dig into it. The audiobook is about 16 hours and I was able to pick it up on Libby.
- Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo – Finalist for Best Novella
I love Nghi Vo’s writing and and this little series is lyrical and lovely. I picked this audiobook up from the library to get a jumpstart on the novella category.
- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty – Finalist for Best Novel
I’m actually really glad this book got nominated, because it made me give it another look. I was somehow completely mistaken about this novel! For some reason I thought it was a sequel or part of Chakraborty’s City of Brass series. I’m pleasantly surprised. I picked up the audiobook of this book, and I think this might be one of the ones I check out soon.
- The Last of Us: “Long, Long Time” – Finalist for Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form
My husband and I are HUGE fans of The Last of Us video game series. Since we aren’t HBO subscribers, we never actually got around to watching the TV show. When I mentioned this episode (which we have both heard so many great things about) was nominated, we took this as a sign to watch the whole season. The 4K copy is on the way!
- Victories Greater Than Death by Charlie Jane Anders (Unstoppable #1) – Promises Stronger Than Darkness (Unstoppable #3) is a Finalist for the Lodestar Award for Best YA Book
While Promises Stronger Than Darkness is the novel that’s nominated for the Lodestar, it’s the third book in the series. I haven’t read any of this series, so I thought I would try the first book out.
- Unraveller by Frances Hardinge – Finalist for Lodestar Award for Best YA Book
I was able to pick quite a few of the Lodestar finalists up from my library (luckily). The blurb says it is “a dark YA fantasy about learning to use your power and finding peace,” which sounds amazing.
- DREDGE – Finalist for Best Game or Interactive Work
DREDGE is an indie developed game on lots of platforms, including Steam, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. There’s a free demo on PS5 and (I think) Switch. I am trying out the PS5 demo to see if this game works for me. One of my favorite games right now is Dave the Diver, so I am SO excited for DREDGE.
- To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose – Finalist for Lodestar Award for Best YA Book
A coming of age story with a dragon? Yes please. VERY excited for this one. This is another one I picked up as an audiobook on Spotify.
- Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao – Xiran Jay Zhao is a finalist for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer
I wanted to get ahead on one of the Astounding Award finalists that I haven’t read yet, and Xiran Jay Zhao was the one I chose. While she didn’t have a 2023 book, her 2022 book was Zachary Ying. I picked up the audiobook of the middle grade novel on Libby.
Have you picked up any of these?
I’ve added this post to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. Go check out her blog for more fun posts!
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
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