You might think handing out awards for the best science fiction writing of the year would not be, ahem, rocket science. But you'd be wrong.
The Hugo awards are the Oscars of the science fiction and fantasy genres, and the 2016 shortlist is announced on Wednesday. The winners will be revealed at the annual World Science Fiction convention (Worldcon), this year in Kansas City in August. It should be a grand day for the nominees - and for most of them it will be. But a shadow looms over the Hugo awards, one that howls like a pack of puppies.