I think I first became aware of Hugo awards at about 15 or so. Started reading the lists as they came out each year, read the anthologies in the school library in high school...that sort of thing. As much as I was able - not everything was my cup of tea, but that didn't make them good or bad.
I've never voted for one. Not ever.
I've never attended a World Con. Not ever.
Did I get toasted so badly, so early that it never appealed? Well, there is that as a factor, but the hoary truth of the matter is I could never afford it.
Not then. Not ever. Not now.
If you pay attention, you might notice that I never attend conventions - I work them. I think the last time I paid to play were those one-day jaunts to Comic Con - and there have been only two of them - and oh holy hells, that hurt. Each time.
I have traveled to attend a convention...once. When I turned 21, and I went to Kalamazoo for Zebra-Con. I'm a native Californian - driving up and down the coast is what you do to go somewhere, it's all the same state and that doesn't count for anything more than that. I was sent to Fresno once, for a journalism conference in college. Trust me. It doesn't count, even though I wonder if the central valley of California shouldn't be considered it's own country - complete with a checkpoint charlie - aside from either northern or southern Cali.
I've been sent to Dallas, Texas three times on business. Once to Knoxville, Tennessee. I've been to Las Vegas to attend a few trade shows, but I've also been to Vegas to work trade shows. I'm trying to recall if I have actually done any other travel to or from a trade show/convention environment...I was in Japan that one time, but not to go to the anime fair. It *was* on while we were there and it was nice to go, but. Not why we were there.
Nope, not really.
I was married to someone who made travel the top priority for living - so I've been a bunch of places I wouldn't have otherwise...but attending conventions, participating in the voting of awards and going places in the process?
Not this little red hen. I can only imagine the exhaustion - and I can imagine how much fun folks have doing it.
You might think this limits my ability to fathom the act. Well, if you accept that all of the books and movies and so forth are also the product of someone's imagination - not so much.
And, as always - you can't know anyone else's experience but your own.
So, no. I did not vote for anyone's Hugo this year. I've never voted for anyone's Hugo, any year.
Maybe someday, that'll happen. Wouldn't hold your breath.
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