The Hugo Awards have been awarded by science fiction and fantasy readers at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) since 1953.
Starting in 1996, fans began awarding Retrospective Hugo Awards to works that might have won in the years before the Hugos were instituted.
This year the Retro Hugos will celebrate novels, novellas, novelettes, and short stories that were published in 1943 and, therefore, might have won a Hugo Award if the Hugos had existed back then.
The 1944 Retro Hugo Awards will be presented at Worldcon 77 in Dublin, Ireland, on August 18. The finalists are listed here. Click the title links to read our reviews and on the author links to visit our page for the author. We’ve included the cover art for some of our favorites.
How many of these have you read?
Who do you think will win the 1944 Retro Hugo Awards?
Answer below for a chance to win a book from our stacks.
BEST NOVEL
- The Weapon Makers by A.E. van Vogt, Astounding Science-Fiction
- The Glass Bead Game (Das Glasperlenspiel) by Hermann Hesse, Fretz & Wasmuth
- Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber, Astounding
- Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber, Unknown Worlds
- Earth’s Last Citadel by C.L. Moore & Henry Kuttner, Argosy
- Perelandra by C.S. Lewis, John Lane The Bodley Head
BEST NOVELLA
- Attitude by Hal Clement, Astounding
- The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath by H.P. Lovecraft, Arkham House
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Reynal & Hitchcock
- The Magic Bed-Knob; or How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons by Mary Norton, Hyperion Press
- Clash by Night by Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore, Astounding
- We Print the Truth by Anthony Boucher, Astounding
BEST NOVELETTE
- “Citadel of Lost Ships” by Leigh Brackett, Planet Stories
- “Thieves’ House” by Fritz Leiber, Unknown Worlds
- “The Halfling” by Leigh Brackett, Astonishing Stories
- “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” by C.L. Moore & Henry Kuttner, Astounding
- “The Proud Robot” by Henry Kuttner, Astounding
- “Symbiotica” by Eric Frank Russell, Astounding
BEST SHORT STORY
- “Death Sentence” by Isaac Asimov, Astounding
- “Doorway into Time” by C.L. Moore, Famous Fantastic Mysteries
- “King of the Gray Spaces (R is for Rocket)” by Ray Bradbury, Famous Fantastic Mysteries
- “Exile” by Edmond Hamilton, Super Science Stories
- “Q.U.R.” by Anthony Boucher, Astounding
- “Yours Truly – Jack the Ripper” by Robert Bloch, Weird Tales
Which stories and authors have you read? Who do you predict will win? Who do you want to win?
Give us your thoughts and predictions in the comments. One random commenter with a USA mailing address will win a book from our stacks.
I have not read but have heard good thing about the Glass Bead Game. Hope it wins.
I have read the Dream-Quest of the Unknown Kaddath but I really hope the Magic Bed-Knob wins. Such a fun movie.
I have not read any of the novelettes but hope that Fritz Leiber wins. He has so many fun stories.
Same for the short stories. So many good authors. I guess I will go with Isaac Asimov, just because.
I’ve read most of the short fiction so I’ll weigh in with my favorites:
Novella: The Little Prince. Hard to argue with such a timeless classic.
Novelette: Mimsy Were the Borogoves. An unusually great story for its era!
Short story: “King of the Gray Spaces” (aka “R is for Rocket”), because I love Ray Bradbury’s lyrical writing and I didn’t find any of the others particularly impressive, though I haven’t read “Q.U.R.”
I’ve read 5 of the novels, 3 of the novellas, 5 of the novelettes, and 5 of the short stories. Don’t ask me to choose!
But you need to choose! or at least tell us some of your favorites. :)
Novel: Conjure Wife
Novella: The Magic Bed-Knob; or How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons (the one here I’ve read)
Novelette: Mimsy Were the Borogroves (not sure if I’ve read it or not
Short Story: “King of the Gray Spaces (R is for Rocket)”
I’m going to guess “Perelandra” for Best Novel (C.S. Lewis!), “The Little Prince” for Best Novella (who hasn’t read it?), “The Proud Robot” for Best Novelette, and “Doorway into Time” for Best Short Story.
I loved “Perelandra,” which I read years ago in the edition shown, so I will guess that will win for “Best Novel”!
I guess “The Glass Bead Game” or “Gather, Darkness!”, “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath”, “Thieves’ House”, and ““Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper” or “Exile”
I haven’t actually read any of these, though reading through the list reminded me how I LOVED Bedknobs and Broomsticks as a kid!
Becky Ashwell, if you live in the USA, you win a book of your choice from our stacks.
Please contact me (Marion) with your choice and a US address. Happy reading!
Thank you! How exciting.