Yes, it is that time of year when all sorts of awards are up for grabs! Let’s start with the big one, the Hugos:

Nominations close on Sunday, March 10, 2013, 23:59 EDT (Monday, March 11, 06:59 UTC/GMT).

The 2013 Hugo Awards are hosted by LoneStarCon 3, the 71st World Science Fiction Convention.  Members of LoneStarCon 3 and Loncon 3 who join by January 31, 2013, and all members of Chicon 7, the prior year’s Worldcon, may submit nomination ballots.  Note that only one ballot per person will be counted, even if you are a member of more than one of these conventions.

For more information on the Hugo Awards, or to download a printable ballot form, please visit LoneStarCon 3’s website at:

http://www.lonestarcon3.org/hugo-awards/

It was great to see a number of Aussies nominated last year, and hopefully this year there will be even more! I was also thrilled to see that Jim Hines was plugging Tansy Roberts for Best Fan Writer as I think she does exceptional work in exploring important issues in speculative fiction, and a number of Aussies are eligible for the John W. Campbell Award.

If you aren’t eligible to vote in the Hugos there is no need to despair! Anyone can vote in the Locus Awards! The 2012 Recommended Reading List featured some incredible works, and a delightful number of Aussies. Or, if they missed something you think deserved to be on there you can do a write in vote!

Both of these awards depend on the participation of fans, and the more people who vote the more value they have. So, have at it!