Dragon Ballot 2020

 You know, I am fairly hooked into the book community. If I don't read every book, I at least hear about a lot of them. Even if I take one look and decide I don't want to read it, I at least check it out.

Then I saw the 2020 Dragon Award ballot and wondered who the fuck any of these people were. Seriously, what sort of shit show is this?

Sure, I've heard of a few. Margaret Atwood at least has a TV show. She's an opportunistic parasite, but people have at least heard of her (though I haven't heard of that book. I guess she came out with another). I've heard of Scalzi--don't like him, but I can at least pick his name out of a phone book. Chuck Wendigo? The same.

But so many of these names are just ... Who? What? Huh?

I've been assured by some people (randoms online, mostly) that these are Hugo authors. I guess I'll take their word on it... but usually, I've at least HEARD about those authors. These folks? Nah.

I would like to congratulate both Nick Cole and Chris Ruocchio for being nominated in best military SF.  And DJ Butler for best alternate history. I don't feel like all of the nominees were out of left field, Twilight Zone. 

But Timothy Zahn doesn't get a nomination for a Thrawn novel? Did he turn it down?

And nominations for Picard and Discovery? I can't even find people who watch those shows, but the media tie-ins are supposed to be readable? Unlikely.

Best horror is a pass. I feel like I should have met Cherie Priest at a con, but don't hold me to that.

Best coming book .... well, I did have a fondness for a few issues of Immortal Hulk, so, I called that? I guess.

Oh look, Mandalorian and Witcher ended up on the best TV list. I'm shocked. 

But for the love of all that's holy, Terminator: Dark Fate? Are we serious now? There are people I know who didn't even hear about the stupid thing. I didn't see a single positive review about it. But it got on this list? And Joker was SFF? How?

The funny part ... the hilarious part ... is that people were lamenting that the ballot this year is filled with such... crap.

If only someone could have warned about this.

If only someone could have tried to lead discussions, hold conversations on what books came out. That way, we could have narrowed it down to a few.

If only...

WAIT! I know! I DID. I FUCKING WANTED PEOPLE TO DISCUSS BOOKS FOR THE DRAGONS. WHAT DID EVERYONE THINK I WAS DOING IN 2018 AND 2019? COMPILING EVERY ELIGIBLE BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS FUN? I DID IT FOR MY HEALTH? THAT WAS EXTRA WORK I DIDN'T NEED TO DO.

In the immortal words of Razorfist: Fuck you, I was right.

It was especially fun this year when I had an author see that "I was talking about the Dragon again," therefore, she asked if "I could put her book on the list." IE: She didn't even read the blog post to see what I was talking about. It was assumed I enjoyed killing myself so I could market their book for free.

No one wanted to play. That's fine. I'm used to it. 

But everyone can all stop bitching about it. They either didn't vote, or didn't want to talk about it. They didn't want to invest even thirty minutes into presenting a selection of choices, or having a conversation.

Now this years ballot sucks.

Maybe next year, when I propose that we all just MIGHT want to talk about it for a week or so? We actually freaking TALK ABOUT IT.

Otherwise, don't come bitching to me when the Dragon ballot is filled with suck again.

Because I told them so. And no one wanted to hear it.