Dragon Awards first suggestions

Guess what time of year it is.

Yup, you guessed it.

It's February.

I kid, of course. The Dragon Awards are once again upon us.

You can, if you want, click here, step right up, and follow the instructions in order to start the nomination process...

But I wouldn't just yet.

Why?

Let's back up a step.

Item the first: if you do not know what you can nominate, the following is eligible for the Dragon Awards.

As they say on their site...

Works released between 7/1/2016 and 6/30/2017 are eligible for this year’s awards.

Okay, so anything from July last year up to June this year is eligible.

Once again, there's nothing about nominating whole series. Sorry. We can't nominate the complete works of David Weber.

And believe it or not, you can ALREADY START NOMINATING FOR THE DRAGON AWARDS.

In fact, you could have started voting for the Dragon Awards in December. That's right, with only less than half the year up and running, you could have been voting already. Which is odd, but okay, whatever. I have no idea what it's like to run an award. But then, does anyone want to hand me the running of an award? Hell and no. And that includes me. You'd have to pay me first, and these are volunteer positions.

Unlike last year, there will be no influence from any other lists. I don't even think that Locus has a list out yet, and they're fairly narrow in scope anyway.

Again, since we have until the end of July to nominate works, I hope to expand this list as time goes on.

So, much of this list is shooting from the hip. I've included links so you can read them.

Now, keep in mind, everyone -- THE RULES SAY YOU CAN ONLY NOMINATE ONE ITEM ONCE. That's it.

For example:

• You can't nominate Murphy's Law of Vampires or The Nest in best fantasy and best horror. 
• You can't vote for Codename: UnSub in best scifi and best dystopia. 
• You can't put JCW's Swan Knight series (Swan Knight's Son  / Feast of the Elfs / Swan Knight's Sword) in both best YA and best fantasy.

Now, on with the suggestions. Note that there will be some places that are filler. mostly because I can't remember things very well. There will be no list to guide me.

In fact, I'm going to ask people to comment and make suggestions, because I honestly can't do better than this list. I'm not very happy about it. Right now, I'll take suggestions from anyone who wants to help right now.

Best fantasy

Ringo, Monster Hunter Memiors: Sinners  and / or Ringo, Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge are both eligible, but don't cast the vote yet. Why? More on this below.

Keeping the Faith, by William Lehman: Don't let the 2015 date on Amazon fool you, this came out in November of 2016,  Take a look at it. Think of it as less urban fantasy and more .... forest fantasy. Long story.

Murphy's Law of Vampires: Why am I putting this here if I've been jumping up and down, screaming that you can't nominate the same book in two different categories? Well, it helps that I've got several books that have come out since 2016's Dragon Awards. If you don't have anything else here, pick this one. But you probably do. Stiffest it in the comments.  I'll take all the help I can get.

I was going to put JCW's, Iron Chamber of Memory ...but then I remembered, the Kindle edition came out in MARCH. So it's not actually eligible.  Nuts.

And for the record, I'm still figuring that Wright is going to kick the heck out of everybody. Why? Because he's just that good. And if he doesn't want another award (though why he wouldn't is beyond me) then my money is on Ringo.... though he may not care enough. I'll have to ask him. But again, more on Ringo below.

But if you feel obligated to vote for me in SOMETHING, and horror won't cut it, this will do.

Best Science Fiction

Well, this is ... crap, what's come out last year?

David Weber and Timothy Zahn ... which are military scifi, and thus in a different list.

Torchship Pilot, Karl Gallagher. You might recall him. I interviewed him on the show a few times. He's an awesome guy, and he should probably win on the hard SF aspect alone.

Escaping Infinity: Richard Paolinelli is an acquaintance, and a long term reader of the blog. I have this in the cue, so expect a review -- hopefully before the month is out.

Yeah. Help.

UPDATE: TIMOTHY ZAHN ANNOUNCED "STAR WARS: THRAWN," GOES LIVE APRIL 11TH!!!!!!

Best Dystopia

Grr... What annoys me about the range of the Dragon Awards: I can't suggest The Big Sheep. Marina's book Chasing Freedom was nominated last year.  And while I could consider Ringo's Black Tide Rising dystopia ... or is it horror? Doesn't matter, it also isn't within the time frame for the Dragon Awards.

So I've run out of suggestions.

Um .... So ... has anyone read Codename: UnSub? That's a dystopia...

Yeah, I didn't think so.

But that's it. That's all I've got. Yeah. How sad is that?

Okay, granted, Codename: UnSub is not bad. In fact, I'm happy to say that The Injustice Gamer really liked this one.

What pisses me off is that I can't even begin to consider another book.

Again, is because I really, truly, deeply hate dystopia. I suppose I should take it as a sign of improvement that I actually had candidates last year. This year? No, not really.

Oh, wait, I've got it. Cadain's Watch, the sequel to Daniella Bova's Tears of paradox, is coming out ... in March.  Okay, more on that if I get a chance to read it.

Best Horror

Live and Let Bite ... Yes, I really do think this is an awesome book, and I've made my case for it to win a Dragon already. If I were to place my money somewhere, then it would be here. Yes, I would love for this book to be registered under "Urban Fantasy," and then thank God that there isn't a Harry Dresden book out thus far this year, but aside from that ... I have demons and vampires and minions with machine guns. This is probably where I will make my stand, whether I like it or not.

The Secret Kings, Brian Niemeier. I'm expecting Brian to kick my ass again, since I can't find anyone to say a word against him ... Well, no one normal, anyway. People are strange. Though I must admit, this might fit better under Military science fiction. I asked Brian if he thought about it on my radio show, and he hasn't thought that far ahead. Because the darned voting doesn't wrap until June.

Murphy's Law of Vampires ... no, this I'm not recommending, again, since there's Live and Let Bite. Murphy's is merely eligible, and that's about the extent of it.

And that's it. Mostly because I'm not a big fan of horror -- too much nihilism, depression, and "let's kill people who are too stupid to live doing stupid things and getting killed." And the urban fantasy I've read lately .... I'd really like to have Butcher come back.

I'll have to ask Jon Van Stry if he'd want a shot at it, his Hammer Commission, book 3, Loose Ends came out last year. I've not read it, but it's eligible.

For the record, I would like someone to tell the Dragon Awards to start an Urban Fantasy genre (also known as the "Jim Butcher award"). Perhaps a paranormal romance category?

Young Adult

Rachel and the Many-Splendored Dreamland, by L. Jagi Lamplighter. I've only read book 1 of Jagi's series, but I've liked enough of it to conclude that I'd suggest people take a look at this before voting.

Swan Knight's Son  / Feast of the Elfs / Swan Knight's Sword by John C. Wright.  THE FOR RECORD,  I've asked, and if anyone votes for John under YA, he'd rather shoot for Swan Knight'sSoon

... Yup. That's about it. Those are all the YA novels I remember from last year. Yeah. 2016 was a year I'm already starting to forget.

Best military science fiction 

or fantasy novel

Ringo, Sinners, by John Ringo

Ringo, Grunge, by John Ringo

Now you know why I didn't make comments up above.

This is a coin toss, obviously. Grunge is very heavy on character. And Sinners is very action-oriented. Each have different strengths. I guess it makes sense that "best military" should be more military. But going into the mindset behind the soldier is also military ....

Anyway, there's my suggestion.  I'd shoot for Shadow of Victory by David Weber .... but I haven't gotten to it yet. It's on my shelf, staring at me, but haven't gotten there yet. It's eligible, though.

And Timothy Zahn's last Manticore book is before the cut off date, but we'll see what he has coming out in the next five months.

Best alternate history novel 

Assume Harry Turtledove is going to win this one -- probably with Armistice: The Hot War book 3.

Yes, I know I said that last year, but the only reason that he lost last year is that Naomi Novak had just finished her alternate history series, and it was her last shot at it.

.... Although I think another reason Turtledove didn't win last year: his book came out in July, just under the threshold.

Alternate options: There are some novels in the 1632 universe recently.

• 1636: The Ottoman Onslaught
• 1636: Mission to the Mughals
• 1636: The Chronicles of Dr. Gribbleflotz

They're eligible. I have yet to start the series yet, so no advice from me.

Best science fiction or fantasy series, TV or internet: 

Grimm is in its last season. I'll guess this would get it, just so it can get one before disappearing.

As much as I liked Daredevil last season, it's not in the time frame. Arrow ... Maybe. And iZombie won't come out until the summer, from what I hear. And Luke Cage ... was okay.

Yes, Lucifer is eligible, but I wouldn't suggest it this season. Too much time spent with his mother. Yes, really.

Best science fiction or fantasy movie 

Doctor Strange. 

Yeah. That's about it. And I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Yes, Fantastic Beasts etc was fun. I wouldn't give it an award.  And I'm not a fan of Guardians of the Galaxy, so the upcoming sequel doesn't impress me much. I would rather have Thor 3.

Looking up a list of what's coming out....

Not Underworld, thanks.

Lego, eh.

John Wick 2 ... isn't scifi. Fantasy maybe, but not scifi.

Kong: Skull Island ... hmm, now that might be something to look into.

Smurfs? Again? Shoot me now

Wonder Woman ... Okay. Maybe. ... The Mummy? God, I hope not.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter .... no, no no and HELL NO.

Spider-man: Homecoming. .. Oh, I so want to like this one, but some of the forced "diversity" for the casting makes me nervous. So does anything in the ads that doesn't focus on superheroics. It's a coin flip until further notice.

Best PC / console game: 

I'm sure there will be people who toss up between

• Final Fantasy XV  (Not holding my breath)
• Titanfall 2?  Perhaps. I've heard good things about it.
• Total War: Warhammer. I've seen some good reviews on this one.

As for the rest ... damned if I know. However, there are people out there who have some thoughts on the matter. The Injustice gamer can help you fill these in, if you're interested.

• Best comic book
• Best graphic novel  -- The Injustice Gamer has thoughts on these
• Best science fiction or fantasy mobile game
• Best science fiction or fantasy board game
• Best science fiction or fantasy miniatures / collectable card / role-playing game

Enjoy.  CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE IN DRAGON AWARDS NOW, IF YOU WANT TO. But, again, you might want to hold off for a little later.

With luck, I'll be able to do better in a month or two. After I'm done with this Promo run on Live and Let Bite, I'm going to try to catch up on my reading.

Feel free to post some reminders and thoughts. Because I'm obviously starting to lose my mind.

No, really. Please post your thoughts and suggestions below. I need all the help I can get.

If you haven't already, check out some of the books below.

And if you have, please leave a review.