Hugo Science Fiction Awards: American Author’s Book Hailed as the Best Novel

Ann Leckie is an American author whose name in now in the science fiction history records, with her debut novel named as the Best Novel in the recent Hugo Science Fiction Awards in London. Her novel, Ancillary Justice was named the best novel last Sunday during the 72nd World Science Fiction convention. The story is about a space opera with the artificial consciousness of a starship narrating the story. The book has won several other awards, making it one of 2014’s most-awarded science fiction books.

Next big thing for science fiction

Author Ann Leckie, who is now 48 years old, is being called the next big thing in the world of science fiction. Her debut offering into the genre, Ancillary Justice has won the Nebula Award for Best Novel. The award is given each year for the best fantasy fiction or science fiction in English or translated into English and published the previous year in the United States. It is given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). Ancillary Justice is also this year’s 28th winner of the Arthur C Clarke award, the most prestigious award for science fiction in the United Kingdom. Ann Leckie also received the British Science Fiction Association award for Best Novel this year, tied with Gareth L. Powell for his book, Ack-Ack Macaque.

Ann Leckie has published many short stories in the past, in publications such as the Realms of Fantasy, Strange Horizon and the Subterranean Magazine. She’s having such a good year this 2014, with her short stories to be included in 2014’s best collections, such as “The Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy, which is edited by Rich Horton.

She worked as an editor from 2010 to 2013 for fantasy and science fiction online magazine called Giganotosaurus, and is a PodCastle podcast assistant editor. In 2012-2013 she served as the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America vice president.

Ancillary Justice

Ancillary Justice is Ann Leckie’s debut novel. It is the first book of her “Impreial Radch” trilogy. The central character in the novel is Breq. She was the sole survivor of a starship that due to treachery, was brought to destruction. As the vessel of the artificial consciousness of the starship, she will be attempting to revenge herself on her civilization’s ruler.

She spoke directly to the fans that were in the auditorium during the awards ceremony. After thanking them, she said that a writer writes alone but always with the hope that there will be readers who will be able to connect to the story that the writer creates.

Hugo Awards

In the science fiction calendar, the Hugo Awards is one of the biggest events. It was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, who coined the word “science fiction” and was the founder of Amazing Stories, the science fiction magazine pioneer. The Hugo Awards are given to authors based solely on votes cast by the public.

Other winners for this year’s Hugo Awards were John Chu for his very personal work, “The Water that Falls on You from Nowhere,” that dealt with questions about tradition and sexuality within the framework of fantasy. Kameron Hurley, also an American writer of science fiction, was the only double winner in this year’s award. She received the best related work and the best fan writer awards for “We Have Always Fought: Challenging the Women, Cattle and Slaves Narrative, which was published in A Dribble of Ink, a fanzine.

The Oscar-winning movie, Gravity, received the award for Best Long-Form Dramatic Presentation. The Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) was awarded to the Game of Thrones, for its season three episode, “The Rains of Castamere.”