Jeffro Johnson Hugo Nomination Fanwriter Sample

The last of the Fan Writer Hugo nominees.

I've never been a serious gamer, and these selections will work better for those who are. It's mainly about the interrelationships between gaming and major parts of our fantasy and science fiction heritage. I totally get the love letter to Jack Vance's Dying Earth. The enthusiasm for E.C. Tubb's Dumarest as "awesome" because, in one book, Derai, he dumps his girlfriend on page three, and then threatens a man who is dead broke to collect payment from him, is harder to understand. Johnson cheerily assures us that Mal Reynolds is far inferior, because he can't always manage to get paid. Another section looks at a much-treasured old favorite of mine, The High Crusade. Johnson's view of this seems to be that Anderson was making an early warning against the Social Justice Warriors, i.e., anyone even slightly to the left of Attila the Hun, whom Johnson believes are ruining modern society. It seems we were all far better off under feudal lords and, I gather, paternal authority, though I may be over-reading, there. At any rate, in Johnson's view, the alien empire represents everything that's wrong with 21st century Europe and America.

I don't find this convincing, at all. Some, of course, will find it more persuasive, and regardless of that, a greater interest in gaming will make the whole much more interesting. This might be the best of the Puppy Fan Writer nominees. At the very least, I can see real substance in it that doesn't work for me, but surely will for its intended audience.

Laura J. Mixon Hugo Nominee Fanwriter Sample

Laura Mixon's fanwriting sample is, quite logically, her thorough, documented exposure of the rage blogger Requires Hate/Benjanun Sriduangkaew.

This is a clear, well-supported explanation of Requires Hate's multiple online identities, cyberstalking, and harassment, as well as her habitual deletion of hateful posts after the fact, making it hard for her victims to prove what happened to them. Mixon has included only episodes that she can document, and includes screen caps. Names are included only with the agreement of the individual. This was a major service to the sf community, and it's well-written.

Recommended.

Cedar Sanderson Hugo Nomination Fanwriting Samples

Another of the Hugo fanwriter nominees.

Sadly, not that different from the other Puppy fanwriter nominees.

The distinctive feature here is that she congratulates herself on being feminine and a lady, as well as, of course, strong--unlike, we are given to understand, those silly and obnoxious feminists. She demands equality, and likes it when men put her on a pedestal, and doesn't seem to notice the contradiction. Feminists are women seeking notoriety based solely on their femaleness, and want to grind men under their heels. There's a long rant about lazy, wish-fulfillment fantasy, which does in fact say some useful and interesting things. She might publish her MilSF novel under her husband's name rather than her own, because...because...it's not at all clear why.

Dave Freer Hugo Fanwriter Nomination Samples

Another Best Fanwriter nominee from the Puppies.

There really isn't much to say. A larger sample than Amanda Greens, 21 pages, but if anything there is even less here. All the hate-spewing at "SJWs" and "GHHs", plus misogyny, plus a heaping helping of self-congratulation for being fair, open-minded, and helpful to aspiring writers.

Not recommended.

Amanda S. Green Fanwriter Samples

My latest venture into reading the Hugo voters' packet. Another Puppy nominee.

The sample provided is sixteen pages, several different selections of Green's fanwriting. Except that they are not all different. One selection, the last, four pages long, is a fairly straightforward piece of fanwriting on the subject of worldbuilding, tropes, and keeping your characters consistent even while letting them grow.

The other twelve pages are equally straightforward spewing of hate at SJWs (social justice warriors), GHHs (glittery hoo hahs) and pretty much anyone a bit to the left of Attila the Hun. There is no interest or willingness to engage with anyone with whom she disagrees, or even to extend the most basic of respect to fellow human beings. If she disagrees with you, she must also make clear that she disrespects you.

A complete waste. This has no place on the Hugo ballot.