I’m taking a quick pause from posting my reviews of the 2026 Nebula Award finalists for Best Novel to take a look at the Hugo finalists for Best Novel. The Hugo finalists were just announced today. The voters’ decision (HERE is how they make it) will be announced on August 30th at LaCon, Anaheim, CA.

Here’s the list of the finalists for Best Novel:

• A Drop of Corruption, Robert Jackson Bennett (Del Rey; Hodderscape)
• The Everlasting, Alix E. Harrow (Tor US; Tor UK)
• The Raven Scholar, Antonia Hodgson (Orbit US; Hodderscape)
• Death of the Author, Nnedi Okorafor (Morrow; Gollancz)
• Shroud, Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK; Orbit US)
• The Incandescent, Emily Tesh (Tor US; Orbit UK)

Two of these novels are also Nebula nominees, and I’ve now already read them. In fact, at one time or another I’ve read books by all but one of the six Hugo nominees. I’m eager to get acquainted with that author’s work.

One of these authors is among my favorite SF writers ever. I’m stoked to read a new one by this author. Among the authors is also one of my least favorites. I’m hoping the book by this author on this list will change my mind–I’ve only tried to read one book before by this author (DNF), so it’s very likely I’m mistaken. I’m excited to read every one of these books!

That’s what I love about lists like these–introductions to authors I don’t know, new work by authors I love, and a chance to change my opinion if necessary. After all (and haven’t you found this to be true?), what you think about a book is often colored by what might be going on in your life at the time you read it. Whenever you pull a book off your shelf and open the cover, you can always expect a very delicate dance to commence among writer, reader, and circumstance. I’m a fast reader, but the biggest problem for me is feeling rushed through a book. This year I have built in plenty of time to savor every book.

And so. . .I won’t get started with my Hugo reading until after I’ve finished reading all the Nebula nominees, and I won’t start reviewing the Hugo short-listed novels until after the Nebula announcement in June.

Next up: I promised this in my last post, but I lied! My review of Nebula finalist Emily Tesh’s The Incandescent.