As I often do when at a Library I will just walk down the aisles reading titles… which is what happened when I came across a Book by Jo Walton that is a personal look back at the Hugo Awards 1953-2000.

If you read Science Fiction, then you know that the Hugo is voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Society. So when I saw the title I had to pause (while thinking… is there enough interest to justify publishing a book like this?

Then I picked it up and started looking through it and checking out the information and what the author had to say and that’s when things thing’s got interesting. The winner for 1955 was “They Rather be Right” by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley. A book some feel is the worst book to every win a Hugo. Jo Walton goes on to say: “I don’t know if the book deserves this reputation, because I have not read it, because when absolutely everybody tells me that the jar contains marmalade all the way down, I don’t feel compelled to take the lid off…” (p. 25).

A history of HUGOS where no attempt to read all the winning books or even to fine value in them. Well the book got even more interesting. The author (who has won a HUGO) will point out what is wrong with a book and still fine it readable… and points out how good a book is but other books that year were better (the 1973 winner The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov, for example).

The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I even bought books mentioned that I read 40 years ago… (1964’s winner Way Station by Clifford D. Simak). I have never read views that conflict with my own and still find I like what is being said.