This is not a short story! The 1960s saw the Hugos group all the non-novel writing awards under "short fiction" and at a whopping 56 pages, Gordon R. Dickson delivers "Soldier, Ask Not", a tale that is clearly aimed at people who are already familiar with his Dorsai series. Nevertheless, Sam and Jack take the plunge to learn about war correspondent Tam Olyn and his actions on the planet of St. Marie. Torn apart by a war between human splinter races, Tam surely breaks some ethical guidelines to tip things in his favor.

Recommendations:

The Childe Cycle by Gordon R. Dickson

Ethics in America produced by Columbia University

Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

Nightcrawler directed by Dan Gilroy

Next Episode: 1997's "'The Soul Selects Her Own Society: Invasion and Repulsion: A Chronological Reinterpretation of Two of Emily Dickinson's Poems' A Wellsian Perspective" by Connie Willis

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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Content Warning for discussions of child abuse from 18:00-22:30

Hades game spoilers at 3:10

Scientific studies and organized religion have both benefited from each other and butted heads over the centuries, and science fiction is no different. Many writers have their takes on how greater understanding of our universe can shape our faiths. Arthur C. Clark opens the universe to one devout astrophysicist who finds a sign that doesn't disprove God, but makes him wonder about the kind of mercy the Almighty provides.

Recommendations:

The Book of Job translated by Robert Alter

Enders Game & Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask developed by Nintendo

Next Episode: 1965's "Soldier, Ask Not" by Gordon R. Dickson

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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There's always a devil, a man, a deal to be made. For how sacred a soul is supposed to be, many don't seem to have issues with signing away their eternal fate for a bit of mortal pleasure. Martin is one such person, trying like many have before to get one over on the Adversary and avoid that Hell-Bound train. He can stop the ride at any time, but does he really want that? Sam and Jack discuss the iterations of the Faustian bargain, Halloween traditions, and one nominee that everyone seems to think really should have won.

Recommendations:

“Beat the Devil” by Kris Kristofferson

“Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band

“A Soldier’s Tale” by Igor Stravinsky

"Friends on the Other Side" from The Princess and the Frog

"The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings" from Futurama

Puella Magi Madoka Magic animated by Shaft

Next Episode: 1956's "The Star" by Arthur C. Clark

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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In the 22nd century, the scars of time and colonization still linger. The Kikuyu people have remade their god-given land in out in the vastness of space, and returned to the old ways of conducting their communities. At least, that's what Koriba seems to be doing, to the displeasure of those looking down from above. What is tradition and what is control? Did the good ol' days ever really exist? And why does that message of a glorious return to the past always seem to be coming from the man on top?

Recommendations:

Shogun by James Clavell

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Next Episode: 1959's "That Hell-Bound Train" by Robert Bloch

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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Welcome back to Every Hugo Ever! Sam and Jack are excited to return to seven decades of science fiction stories, and Will McIntosh delivers a doozy. Deep underground in a cryogenic facility, women are trapped between life and death as decades pass by. One named Mira dreams of her mother, her lover, and how she can convince her visitors to release her from this frozen purgatory.

Recommendations:

"My Funny Valentine" from Cowboy Bebop

SOMA by Frictional Games

Next Episode: 1989's "Kirinyaga" by Mike Resnick

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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11 stories have been read and reviewed. Now is the Day of Judgement. This episode marks the creation of the list that all future Hugo Award winning shirt stories shall be ranked upon! Listen if you dare!

Oh, and if listening before August 11, you can still register and vote for in the 2024 Hugos! Give yourself one of those classic "I voted!" stickers if you do so. Rare to spot them in the summer.

Next time: 2010's "Bridesicle"

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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Originally recorded November 18, 2023

In the final story of the season, we return to the 21st century. Two women from old fables find comradery (and more) in each other as they share their pasts and pain on a summit made of glass. Jack and Sam enjoy Amal El-Mohtar's take on classic fairy tale tropes and get ready to fulfill what the show is all about: ranking the dang Hugos.

Recommendations:

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Circe by Madeline Miller

Dracula, Motherf**ker by Alex de Campi

Fables by Bill Willingham's

Next Episode: Jack and Sam rank the first 10 stories!

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

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Originally recorded October 17, 2023

A suspicious man lingers around a playground, watching. A worrisome start to a story of a man called Ian. Jack and Sam try to figure out his goals and his "interesting" rationale behind them in a tale where time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping into the future.

Recommendations:

Gravity Rush developed by Japan Studio

Hardspace: Shipbreaker developed by Blackbird Interactive

"The Long Morrow" episode from The Twilight Zone

To Your Eternity by Yoshitoki Oima

Next Episode: 2017's "Seasons of Glass and Iron" by Amal El-Mohtar

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This podcast is not affiliated with the Hugo Awards or Worldcon. Music provided by HookSounds.com, Pixabay.com, and Joel Steudler

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.