gillpolack @ 2015-06-16T14:34:00

I haven't had time to catch up with reading all my friends' posts. This will happen... but not until a few more things are under control (not for a few days). This is my last week with so much teaching and with all the non-teaching things happening regardless, and I am being good and taking my time out away from the computer, so that I don't fry and dissolve in a puddle. My screen did that on Sunday, and I'm using the small one that is less eye-friendly, which means more cleverness in the way I work.

So far, I'm keeping up with things. In fact, I've done all but two categories of Hugo reading. I'm annotating it so that I don't forget my thoughts. Normally I don't forget writing that's suitable for Hugos, but this year is an exception.

Not all the engineered shortlisted pieces are bothersome, but there is a very strong correlation between Rabid Puppy work and words like "Gah" on my annotated list. I'm remaining honest by not looking at the sad and rabid puppy listings until I finish a whole category and assess it and number it and apply "no award" if necessary. I'll give the nominated works a fair reading, even if it kills me and even if I have to find forms to fill in in order to take the taste of a couple out of my mouth.

I've seen engineered awards before, but none where the outcomes are so patently set up. Whatever happens, we're the losers. This doesn't surprise me, given the fuss certain bodies are making on the webs. The more I read the more I deeply sympathise with anyone drawn into that net. It's a stunt. A subversive and very stupid stunt. Every day the nature of the stunt is reinforced by the web-chatter by those who engineered it.

To give a couple of examples of what I'm doing, I haven't quite finished with the novels, but I won't be using "No Award" for them anywhere. I've read a sample of the last book and am just waiting for the full version to arrive from the library (since any reading I can do on paper is better for me). I know enough to know it's at least as good as the rest, but not enough to rank it yet.

On the other hand, there's one category where not a single work meets my minimum standard for an award, so I won't even be ranking that one. I will just use "No award" and leave the rest blank.

I know why some of my friends are not participating. I totally understand their reasoning. I'm very grateful, however, that brendanpodger made it possible for me to vote, because right now, letting the idiots win is too much like accepting what's happening in Australian politics. Same kind of people.

I refuse to cede my right to think things through and make fair judgements. And so I will read everything I can get hold of and see everything I can get hold of (the movies are fine, but short form drama is an issue right now) and make complex rankings that reflect the reality of the works in question. My rankings are complex because I am Australian and I know so many different ways of voting using this system.

And now I must write articles about the beast, for Katrin and I promised each other to get the first batch finished by tomorrow night, and I have much teaching in between now and then. If there's anything beastly you've always wanted to hear about, now is your chance. Speak up, and I shall write about it! Insulting people in Old French, perhaps, or the food side of things? How an Australian deals with the complexity of English culture at any time (much less in the the Middle Ages)? Personal adventures when seeking medieval secrets? Ask and I'll write, and when someone posts it (for I'm not actually organising the blogtour - though I can add extra stops to it) I'll let you know.