Matthew's Journal

The announcement of the 2026 Hugo shortlist reminded me I never posted about how I voted for the 2025 awards. I'm afraid it's now too late to add any reviews beyond what I wrote at the time, but here is how I ranked the finalists (the winning entry in bold):

Best Novel

1. The Tainted Cup
2. A Sorceress Comes to Call
3. Someone You Can Build a Nest In
4. The Ministry of Time
5. Alien Clay
6. Service Model

Best Novella

1. The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain
2. The Butcher of the Forest
3. The Tusks of Extinction
4. What Feasts at Night
5. The Brides of High Hill
6. Navigational Entanglements

Best Novelette

1. The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea
2. By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars
3. Loneliness Universe
4. Lake of Souls
5. Signs of Life
6. The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video

Best Short Story

1. Stitched to Skin Like Family Is
2. Marginalia
3. Why Don't We Just Kill the Kid in the Omelas Hole
4. We Will Teach You How to Read | We Will Teach You How to Read
5. Three Faces of a Beheading
6. Five Views of the Planet Tartarus