Littlewood and Scalzi Withdraw from Dragon Awards

Alison Littlewood announced that she has withdrawn her novel The Hidden People (Jo Fletcher) from consideration for the Dragon Awards in the Horror Novel category. John Scalzi has withdrawn novel The Collapsing Empire  (Tor) from consideration in the Science Fiction Novel category.

Littlewood says,

While this would normally be a great pleasure, it has also been brought to my notice that my book has been selected by a voting bloc who are attempting, for reasons of their own, to influence the awards outcome. Essentially, the same group who set out to fix the Hugo Awards are now encouraging their supporters to follow their voting choices in the Dragon Awards…. I’m grateful to anyone who has voted for The Hidden People in good faith, but I am deeply concerned that the voting should be fair going forward and so I have today emailed the organisers and asked for The Hidden People to be withdrawn from consideration.

Scalzi explains,

The reason is simple: Some other finalists are trying to use the book and me as a prop, to advance a manufactured “us vs. them” vote-pumping narrative based on ideology or whatever. And I just… can’t. I don’t have the interest and I’m on a deadline, and this bullshit is even more stale and stupid now than it was the several other times it was attempted recently, with regard to genre awards…. To be clear, the problem is not with the Dragon Awards or their administrators, the latter of whom have been unfailingly gracious in my communications with them. I wish them all the best with their awards.

Both novels still appear on the ballot as published on the Dragon Awards site. Dragon Con president Pat Henry refused Littlewood’s withdrawal request, and both books remain on the ballot.

Voting is open to the public at the Dragon Awards website, and winners will be announced at Dragon Con, September 3, 2017 in Atlanta GA.

Best Science Fiction Novel

Best Fantasy Novel

Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel

Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel

Best Alternate History Novel

Best Apocalyptic Novel

Best Horror Novel

Best Comic Book

  • Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season Eleven
  • The Dresden Files: Dog Men
  • Monstress
  • Motor Girl
  • Ms. Marvel
  • Saga
  • Wynonna Earp Legends

Best Graphic Novel

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series

  • Doctor Who
  • The Expanse
  • Lucifer
  • Marvel’s Agents of Shield
  • Stan Lee’s Lucky Man
  • Stranger Things
  • Westworld
  • Wynonna Earp

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

  • Arrival
  • Doctor Strange
  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
  • Logan
  • Passengers
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  • Wonder Woman

Finalists in various gaming-related categories were also announced. For more information, visit the Dragon Awards website.