Reviewing the 2021 Hugo Award Finalists: Novelettes
The 2021 Hugo Finalists for Novelette are substantially better than the Finalists in the Short Story Category - which I reviewed here. There is more great Science Fiction in these choices than was in the short stories and the overall quality of storytelling, prose, and world-building was quite high. For Hugo nominations, a novelette is between 7,500 and 17,500 words.
Five of the six finalists are available to read online for free, except for the Meg Ellison story that is only currently available by purchasing her collection. Here are quick summaries of the nominees with my ratings and rankings.
“Helicopter Story,” by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
Great. This transhumanist body-horror / political satire / genderpunk / war story is a absolute masterpiece and deserves to win the Hugo! Spiraling off of the transphobic meme, “I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter” [which was the original title}, Fall imagines a world where the military changes a woman’s gender identity to Attack Helicopter to make her better at war. Brutal, intense, and full of interesting things to say about society, sex, gender, and much more. The original story was pulled by the author after a lot of controversy and much bullying. I was incredibly surprised, but pleased, to discover it had made the Hugo Finalists. Read the Story Here. Read about the controversy here.
“Monster” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
Great. January 2020 was an awesome issue for Clarkesworld. This superb story tells the story of a woman who travels to a remote Chinese tourist town to try to find an old friend who has disappeared. Alternating between moments in their shared friendship and her modern day attempt to discover what has happened, this story is immersive and compelling. The ending packed a inevitable and satisfying punch. Read the Story Here.
“Two Truths and a Lie” by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Good. A creepy piece of subtly dark fantasy. The story centers around the cleaning of a hoarders old house and a sinister local children’s show that most people don’t remember. I still get back-of-the-neck shivers when I think of it. Read the Story Here.
“The Inaccessibility of Heaven” by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, July/August 2020)
Good. Urban Fantasy Noir Serial Killer Mystery in a world of Fallen Angels and other magical beings. Well written, suspenseful, and dripping with atmosphere. Read the Story Here.
“The Pill” by Meg Elison (from Big Girl (PM Press))
Good. A new weight loss pill with deadly side effects transforms a family and the world, but what happens to one “Big Girl” if she doesn’t want to change. Buy it here.
“Burn, or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super” by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny Magazine, May/June 2020)
Average. A very trite superhero story that has been told many times. A underpowered superhero finds his place within a superhero team. The writing is good and the characters are better than average, but not much originality here. Read the Story Here.
