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From the three time Dragon Award finalist, SFF, Urban fantasy, thrillers, mysteries, and whatever else catches my fancy.

Final Dragon

Nominations are here.

Declan Finn

Jul 12, 2022

So, everybody, the Dragon Awards are here.

Votes FOR NOMINATIONS are due IN A WEEK.

ON JULY 19TH

Vote here

Please remember that eligible nominees came out AFTER JULY 1, 2021, and up to the end of June 2022.

Very quickly, this is what I, personally, am voting for.

Best Science Fiction Novel

~White Ops, by Declan Finn

It could also be Military SF, but since it's a space opera, it’s genre fluid.

Yes, it’s mine. But honestly? The scifi I’ve read lately has been either too old or too recent.

Timothy Zahn’s Icarus Plot would be here, but I got my hand on an advance copy. It came out this week

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

~Tim Powers’ Stolen Skies (Baen)

The first two books were fun.

Stolen Skies | Book by Tim Powers | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

Yes, I would prefer Daniel Humphreys’ last Paxton Locke novel, but it’s currently out of print. It’s hard to gin up support for something that’s not on the shelves. Damn it.

Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel

~Sworn to the Light, the Avatar Wizard Book 1, by Denton Salle.

Good God, this was just plain FUN. I do recommend you at least check out the review over here.

Upstream Reviews

Review: Sworn to the Light (Avatar Wizard #1)

Today's review sees author Denton Salle creating a new fantasy world. It has wizards, Russian folklore, necromancers and dark magic, and adorable panda cub. This is not your typical magic school novel. The story Eleven-year-old Jeremy has a slight problem. Seemingly no reason whatsoever, he randomly turns into a panda cub. His father takes him to see the …

2 years ago · 1 like · Declan Finn

Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel

~Karl Gallagher, Seize What's Held Dear

May be a cartoon of fire and text that says 'DRAGON CON For your consideration BEST MILITARY SF SEIZE WHAT'S HELD DEAR SEIZE WHAT'S HELD DEAR by Karl Κ. Gallagher KARL GALLAGHER DRAGON AWARDS 2022'

Imagine if Honor Harrington were fighting 1984 and not the French Revolution. You'd get this. I don't think I'm exaggerating with how good this is.

I reviewed it over here, please check it out:

Upstream Reviews

Review: Seize What's Held Dear, by Karl Gallagher

The tyrannical Censor tried attacking the Concord. When they couldn't attack them directly, the Censor would "teach them a lesson"-- orbital nuclear bombardment of their homeworld, Fiera. But the nukes didn't destroy Fiera. They only pissed off the Fierans…

2 years ago · 1 like · 1 comment · Declan Finn

Best Alternate History Novel

~The Romanov Rescue, by Tom Kratman, Ezell, Justin Watson

Reviewed here:

Upstream Reviews

Review: The Romanov Rescue by Kratman, Ezell & Watson

While there have been many people who have played "What If" games around World War I, most of them have been academic. This is the first time I've seen an alternate history novel tackle it from a different approach-- not by changing the outcome of the war, but working out how to save the Russian Tsar and his family from being butchered by the communists…

2 years ago · 6 likes · Declan Finn

… Just read the review. I think you’ll like it.

Best Media Tie-In Novel

~Timothy Zahn, Star Wars. Thrawn: Lesser Evil

Honestly, I haven’t read this one yet. Then again, I haven’t read any other media tie-in lately either. But Zahn has never been less than awesome.

Best Horror Novel

~Summer Storm, Morgon Newquist

Upstream Reviews

Review: Summer Storm, by Morgon Newquist

In Morgon Newquist’s Hellgate, Emilia King helped save Strawberry Hollow from a wolf demon. In [easyazon_link identifier="B096T1BPXB" locale="US" tag="upstreamreviews-20"]Summer Storm[/easyazon_link] the unlikely heroine learns that was just the beginning of her problems…

2 years ago · Ginger Man

Best Comic Book

~I have nothing.

Do not make a suggestion here.

I mean it. I don’t even want to hear it.

We're not even having that discussion

Best Graphic Novel

~Black Tide Rising, Volume 1 by Chuck Dixon, Brett R. Smith & John Ringo (Baen)

For those of you wondering if it's eligible, I’ve been assured that it's out already.

But it’s Chuck Dixon and John Ringo. And I read the original novel. Chuck would have to work in order for it to be less than awesome.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

Sigh. I know we’re going to need something here, lest we wind up with Book of Boba Fett, but I can’t see it. I will injure myself before voting for Halo. I don’t like what they did to The Witcher. Demon Slayer?

So… Resident Alien?

Sorry, I can’t get ginned up for this one.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

~Ghostbusters: Afterlife or Spider-Man: No Way Home?

I’ll settle for either. But again, I can’t get excited for either.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game

I’ve been told Pathfinder, Path of the Righteous. But honestly, my enthusiasm is waning by this point.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game

Nothing.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game

~Nothing

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game

More nothing.

Yeah, I haven’t been interested in a mobile game since Shadow of Mordor. I don’t do board games, or RPGs. I guess I’m just boring that way.

Anyway, please remember to vote. If you could, please share this as well. The Dragons need all the circulation they can get.

Vote here