Matthew's Journal

The voting deadline is approaching, and I'm not going to get everything read in time. I have, however, read all the short stories, and will be voting thus:

1. "Open House on Haunted Hill", John Wiswell. A moving story, with humour, and I liked the sideways take on the haunted house trope.
2. "Metal Like Blood in the Dark", T. Kingfisher. I don't want to spoiler this, but I liked the issues raised and it's a pleasing story.
3. "Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse", Rae Carson. An affecting story, and a pleasing change from standard zombie fare.
4. "A Guide for Working Breeds", Vina Jie-Min Prasad. Fun if unsubtle parable about labour and the choices we do and don't have about our work.
5. "The Mermaid Astronaut", Yoon Ha Lee. A nicely constructed tale, takes the little mermaid in not entirely expected directions, but didn't move me.
6. "Little Free Library", Naomi Kritzer. A charming tale, but the plot felt a bit telegraphed.

I've read enough of three of the nominated series to form an opinion on them, so will be voting thus:

1. "The Murderbot Diaries", Martha Wells.
2. "October Daye", Seanan McGuire
3. "The Lady Astronaut Universe", Mary Robinette Kowal.