Zub Tales

The Hugo Awards are an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works of the previous year. There is no nominating jury, instead the thousands of members of World Con cast ballots on nominations, finalists are chosen, and then they vote again on award winners.

The first step of all that is making sure World Con members know which works are eligibible.
In 2024 I released eligible work that readers may not know about, so I’m covering those here-

Best Graphic Story or Comic: CONAN THE BARBARIAN Vol. 3: THE AGE UNCONQUERED
Each single issue in this story and the collected book were released in 2024, so this is the clearest volume of work in the new Conan series that could make the cut (the single issues for Bound in Black Stone came out in 2023). The Age Unconquered is also the culmination of a year and a half of mythic sword & sorcery storytelling with a blast of eldritch horror thrown in for good measure, illustrated by the unstoppable art team of Roberto De La Torre and Diego Rodriguez.

Best Short Story: SACRIFICE IN THE SAND
This original Conan short prose story, written with an eye toward Robert E. Howard‘s formative works in Weird Tales, was published in the premiere issue of the new Savage Sword of Conan magazine (launched on the 50th anniversary of the original run) with accompanying painted artwork by Joe Jusko. The story is reproduced here so anyone can give it a read at their leisure.

Best Poem: CALL THEE TO CROM
Each Worldcon may create a special award category for that year and in 2025 that will be Best Poem.
My poem Call Thee To Crom was published in Savage Sword of Conan #3 and is reproduced above.

Best Professional Artist: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
I believe that Roberto De La Torre‘s work on Conan the Barbarian has been a revelation, hearkening back to a formative era of sword & sorcery illustration while also making it his own with dynamic layouts and a mastery of light and shadow. I hope members agree with me.

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The actual nominations and awards won’t be known for many months but, since it’s the end of the year, readers start organizing their favorites. Thank you for reading, reviewing, and sharing my work with others. 2024 has been a milestone for me and I’m excited for 2025 and beyond.