George RR Martin has urged "every true fan" of science fiction and fantasy to vote for this year's Hugo Awards to "help protect the integrity of the rocket".
The 2015 Hugo Awards, honouring the best science fiction and fantasy works and achievements of the previous year across a number of categories, including books, television, film, and fanworks, have been beset by controversy this year.
A number of the nominees for this year's awards were on lists recommended by two groups calling themselves Sad Puppies and Rabid Puppies, and by fantasy author Vox Day, all of whom are allegedly right-leaning.