A Hugo For StarShipSofa

Because of a rewording of the rules, The StarShipSofa podcast could be eligible for nomination for the Best Fanzine Hugo. Wait. Could be? The truth is, we can't know for sure until we get in somebody's face and force the issue by actually scoring nominations from lots and lots of people. You happen to be one of lots and lots of people. Info on how to nominate is right here: http://www.thehugoawards.org/2010/01/nominatons-open-for-2010/

WHY SHOULD I DO THAT?

Because.

You didn't know it until you got to the end of this sentence, but StarShipSofa is your favorite podcast. You think it's because the Sofa has given you content from many of the greatest writers in speculative fiction: Moorcock, Gaiman, Wolfe, Haldeman, Shepard, Brin, Sellar, Kosmatka, Bacigalupi, Chiang, Jesus, I can't even name them all here. (Author's Note: In that last sentence "Jesus" was an exclamation, not a speculative fiction writer who has been featured on the StarShipSofa. Though he has starred in a couple of the stories.)

You think it's because the podcast has the best stable of narrators in the podosphere, hands down, so many, in fact, the Sofanauts Awards ballot could be fifteen names long in the Best Narrator category and still not have room for all the fantastic ones. You think it's because those folks have read so many award-nominated and award-winning stories. You think maybe I'm going to say it's because you haven't had to pay a flippin' cent to get all of that plus interviews, essays, reviews, poetry, science news, beautiful art and probably a couple of other things too.

You'd be wrong.

Well, okay, maybe you'd be partly right.

But one of the things I love about the Sofa is that it's a podcast of the fans, by the fans and for the fans. It's like all those Little Rascals films where the gang puts on a show for the other kids in the neighborhood and let's face it, for themselves. That's what the sofanauts do every week. Aside from Tony and those generous authors, every single person involved started out as a fan of the show before pitching in to lend a hand. The Sofa's like a kick-ass pirate ship that picks up eager crewmembers in every port. Want to join in? You can. Just offer up your talent and you're in the show. It's an awesome party that we throw ourselves every week.

You're happy just listening but want to meet and chat with the folks who put together the show? Head to the forums. We're like an enormous Mormon family who takes in strays and orphans by the hundreds. We're there to cheer each other's successes and commiserate during the low points. How many babies have we had since the show started? We support each other's projects, enjoy each other's work and many of us have become penpals and co-twits outside of the show as well.

Tony's that awesome big brother who got his license first and drives motorcycles. Diane is my beloved sister. Fred is the eccentric uncle we keep in the attic. Larry's the creepy cousin who keeps to the basement. Where the bodies are.

Amy, Grant, J.J., Skeet, Josh, Alllie, Church and The Assassin. You're all at the picnic. Skelly, Judy, Dee, Kate, Christie, Elke, Steve and all of you who are shaking your fists at me because I didn't mention you by name, you're there too. One of the greatest programs out there comes together from all over the globe every single week because of nothing but love. And whether you're a contributor or listener, you're a part of that. If that's not a fanzine, there's no such thing as a fanzine. If the Sofa never wins an award it will still have achieved something unique in all of science fiction history: It will have been our home.

But let's win an award anyway.

Please tell all your speculative fiction friends, cronies and neighbors. Spread the word! Tweet about it (And hit me up on twitter @upwithgravity so we can link up and spread the love together). Link to this post or these other nifty posts below and let me know if you've written one yourself, so I can add it here. Tell us your own stories about what the show has meant to you. Finally, think of all that the StarShipSofa podcast has given you and vote your gut.

Let's give a Hugo to ourselves.

Amy: http://eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com/284404.html

Larry: http://blufftoninthedriftless.blogspot.com/2010/02/lets-get-podcast-starshipsofa-hugo.html#links

Jason Sanford: http://www.jasonsanford.com/jason/2010/02/starshipsofa-and-a-podcast-hugo.html

Paul: http://www.pulpmovies.com/blog/2010/02/podcast-hugos-and-starshipsofa

Jonathan Strahan: http://www.jonathanstrahan.com.au/wp/2010/02/20/starship-sofa-for-the-hugo/

Aliette de Bodard: http://aliettedebodard.com/2010/02/20/starship-sofa-for-the-hugo/

Jim DeVona: http://anoved.net/2010/02/a-hugo-for-the-starshipsofa/

Mur Lafferty: http://murverse.com/2010/02/24/hugos-and-podcasts/

Cheryl Morgan: http://www.cheryl-morgan.com/?p=8056

The English Assassin: http://theentropytango.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/campaign-for-the-starshipsofa-to-get-a-hugo/ Lots-O'-Links here.