Hi, I love your upbeat take on losing awards. As it happens, I was a contributing writer at SuperversiveSF (currently a Hugo finalist for best fanzine) during 2015. My posts at SSF were critical of last year’s Puppy campaign methods, which made SSF’s nomination this year--after being slated by the RPs--disconcerting.

I am unsure if the award is meant for just the editor, or the group as a whole, but I raised the idea within the group that the nomination should be declined. I know you were for finalists staying put but I had agreed with Black Gate’s decision in general and felt SSF had added reasons to decline in specific.

Short story, I lost. If interested, I have a post explaining the positions/arguments made within the group for keeping the nomination--and mine for declining--as well as how and why this led to my leaving SSF. (http://superversivesf.com/2016/05/12/how-you-play-the-game/)

Not sure if any of this would allow me through the door at a Hugo losers party, but at this point I do feel like an award winning loser :)

Seriously though... I was pretty happy that a story of mine made a recommended reading list. Good enough.

On Chicago, I was surprised to read--at your other site--that you used to lived near where I used to live. I had an apartment a few blocks away on Ainslie, closer to the L stop. Only this was in the late 90s. I was wondering if it was a rough/poor neighborhood back when you were living there, or if it slid a bit after you left? Of course it was very cheap!

Yeah when I was there it had definitely become Chinatown North. I liked the Pagoda style L stop on Argyle. Of course we still had everything else on your list... except the titty bars.

The area was just starting to become "gentrified" as I was leaving, but there were still muggings and gang violence. Sometimes pretty brutal.

My housing experience sounded the same. Multiple roommates on a revolving door schedule... eventually I revolved out.

Thanks for answering!

Well even getting nominated is an achievement. Hope TWOW is going well. The Arianne Chapter is another enjoyable read, for someone who's into world-building, and I'm eager to find out how a certain castle was taken. Out of interest, will we see Alekyne Florent or find out what happened to Rolland Storm in TWOW? Minor characters but its a testament to your writing that even the minor characters are interesting.

Good to see Mad Max won somewhere. Expecting the modern fandom clans to shut it out in favor of Marvel or Star Wars at the Hugos.

I saw the Nebula list yesterday and cheered for many. Even better, the Stoker Awards banquet had a live stream last night, so my friends and I were able to watch it and cheer for our friends, some of whom won!

There's a charming picture of the Nebula Losers, which I saw in File 770 and also (a better one) in Kelly Robson's facebook feed. Whoever gave them the idea of celebrating award loserhood (loserdom? loseritude?), one wonders?

Of course, the Hugos have a proud loser tradition dating back to the 70s. These guys are novices - some of them are even doing the "loser" sign back to front!