The most prestigious award in Science Fiction, the Hugo (named after Hugo Gernsback, publisher of the first all stf magazine Amazing Stories) was first awarded by the World Science Fiction Convention in 1953. Regular categories are Best Novel, Best Novella, Best Novelette, Best Short Story, Best Related Work, Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form. Best Editor, Long Form, Best Editor, Short Form, Best Professional Artist, Best SemiProzine, Best Fanzine, Best Fan Writer and Best Fan Artist, with others being considered (but probably not “Best Science Fiction Written on a Pica Typewriter,” at least not yet) from time to time. The Worldcon Committee can and sometimes does name a committee special category each year. The Hugo has also been called “the tail that wagged the dog”; the first awards were given out more than a dozen years after the first Worldcon, but presently the WSFS rules that govern the Worldcon list the giving of the Hugo as the primary function of the Worldcon.
See Hugo Rules for more information and Hugo voting process if you really want the gory details, and History of the Hugos.
The award is a Hugo Trophy consisting of a Hugo rocket which is the same from year to year mounted on a Hugo base which each Worldcon designs specially.
The award was originally named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards, and only informally called the Hugo, but the informal name stuck and is now the formal name, also.
See also List of Hugo Categories, List of Hugo Results, Campbell Award, and Special Committee Awards.
Contributors: Dr. Gafia
| from Fancyclopedia 2 ca. 1959 |
| (Madle) The International Fantasy Award, named after Hugo Gernsback & by analogy with mundane Oscars, Emmys, etc. Hal Lynch and Bob Madle brainstormed this annually presented set of commendations at the PhilCon II; they are presented by a committee to top fanzines, proz, artists, ktp, at the Worldcon. The poll selecting winners in the various categories is perhaps the only fan poll which still produces results reflecting general fan attitudes, thanks to its size. |
