(Dragon )Fire on the Horizon

The Dragon Awards are coming….

Image by Caroline Furlong, rendered through Stable Diffusion

Another year, another award series. That’s right, Upstream readers: the Dragon Awards are open for nominations! While the awards dropped the Military Science Fiction (Mil-SF) category after last year’s nominations were finalized, that does not mean we’re giving up on the Dragons.

I would nominate my own works (you can find them here and here if you are curious), but the Dragons do not have a category for collections of short stories. That means I cannot nominate my covers, either, which is a shame. Look at these beauties!

Oh, well. Can’t win them all. :)

So, to review for those new to the Dragon Awards: first and foremost, they are free. There is no sign-up charge or fee to pay if you wish to vote. Second, they are meant for fans specifically. That means that, if you are a fan of the latest Marvel movie, the Mistborn series, or any of the other authors, TV shows, or games on this list, then you can vote for them. All you have to do is register and you’re in.

Upstream Reviews will have a core list of favored books, movies, TV series, and video games available to choose from, but this year we’re expanding our platform a little. Some of us are going to write up our own list of suggestions for each category, so if you like some of the suggestions below and a few on the main list, as well as one or two on another Upstream author’s list, you can hop among them and assemble your own nomination ballot.

Speaking of, here’s another link to the Dragon Awards nomination ballot:

Please also remember that nominees for the Dragons are eligible only if they came out AFTER 7/1/22 and BEFORE 6/30/23. The annual deadline to vote is July 19. If you don’t cast your vote before that date, you do not have a vote.

All right, now that we have the details set out for all to see, here are some nominees you may want to consider when you cast your ballot:

The Dragon Awards

Categories for the Dragon Awards

Best Science Fiction

Although Mil-SF was dropped as a category, you can nominate a Mil-SF book here. It might even convince DragonCon to reinstate the Mil-SF Award, which we would all like to see back in action. Here are my suggestions for this category:

The Icarus Plot by Timothy Zahn – I reviewed this novel here, and Declan Finn reviewed it here. It’s good.

Gathering Storm (White Ops Book 4) by Declan Finn – This book will be released in time for the Awards, and if the first book is any indication, it is going to be a rip-roaring good time!

The Tale of the Crane Princess (The Timelines Universe Book 6) by Nathan C. Brindle – Newly released, this is the sixth book in Mr. Brindle’s Timelines series and one I am looking forward to reading in the near (sort of) future.

Two Guns No Chance: Space Station Noir Book 3 by Arthur Mayor – Eligible for the Best SF Award, this series is on my To Read list as well.

This We’ll Defend (Echoes of Liberty Book 3) by Jason Fuesting – Also eligible for this particular Award, I am considering adding it to my TBR pile just based on the cover and blurb. It sounds like fun.

Best Fantasy (includes Paranormal)

Perseus Corbett and the Forbidden Valley by David Breitenbeck – I read and reviewed this book here and will have a review of it at Upstream in the future. It is an adventure tale in the vein of The Lost World, King Kong, and Indiana Jones. Consider the linked article my vote of confidence in this novel. 😉

The Draka & The Giant by Liane Zane – Third in a series that is currently having a kickstarter run to fund audiobooks, this third installment in the Elioud Legacy series follows a member of Czech military intelligence with angelic blood as she goes deep undercover. Sounds like a worthy read and nomination to me!

Bowl of Red (The Shifter Series Book 4) by Sarah Hoyt – A new release this year. If you are a fan of Mrs. Hoyt, then nominating this novel is as easy as clicking “buy now.” If you want to make the Dragons sit up and pay attention, Bowl of Red would be a good choice.

The Lost Metal: A Mistborn Novel (The Mistborn Saga Book 7) by Brandon Sanderson – Remember that amazing kickstarter Mr. Sanderson ran last year? The one that broke all the records and left everyone picking their jaws up from the floor? Nominating his latest Mistborn novel for Best Fantasy ought to make everyone do another double-take.

Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Speaking of Mr. Sanderson, this novel is one of the “secret” books promised in his kickstarter. Our own Graham Bradley reviewed the book here and his report has piqued my interest. Seeing this book get a Dragon would certainly be the icing on the enormous cake Mr. Sanderson made for everyone back in 2022!

86 – Eighty-Six: Dies Passionis by Asato Asato – I’ve been reading this series of light novels since I started watching the anime. The anime is still on hiatus but the eleventh volume in the light novel series came out last year, making it eligible for a Dragon Award. In my opinion, it has more than earned a nomination!

Saga of the Swordbreaker 2: Lord of Beasts and Saga of the Swordbreaker 3: Spear of the Night by Kit Sun Cheah – Both of these books were released in time for the Dragons. If you like cultivation stories, this series is one you may want to look into and seriously consider putting on your ballot.

Battles in the Black (The Black Chronicles Book 5) by J.M. Anjewierden – I have the first book in this series on my TBR list (you really do not want to see the pile of books I have to read). Given that I’ve put money down to be entertained by the first book, I see no reason not to put Mr. Anjewierden forward as a candidate for a Dragon. He has earned it.

Best Alternate History Novel

Shadow of the Crescent by Margaret Ball - This novel is available in ebook, but the story sounds quite interesting. Taking place after the fall of Constantinople, a countess with a book of magic (including “how to summon a demon or demon army”) has to run to Venice with her people when the Turks invade. Now she and her people must fight to take their homeland back. The question is, how can they do it without being corrupted by demons?

Best Horror Novel

Diary of a Bomoh by Kit Sun Cheah – Mr. Cheah released this in time for Halloween, so it only seems fitting to put it down for the Horror category.

Blue Saint (St. Tommy N.Y.P.D. Book 12) by Declan Finn – If you have been following this series or at least read Hell Spawn (reviewed here, here, and here on Upstream), then you know this book belongs in this category. Nominating it is up to you, but it is on my shortlist for a reason. ;)

Body and Blood by Michael Gallagher – Judging by this review here, the book fits this category to a T!

Best Illustrative Book Cover

This is a new category added to the Dragons. As said above, I wish I could nominate my own works for this award, but they are not eligible, and this category is only for eligible books. Lucky me, I have some favorites to push regardless:

Saga of the Swordbreaker 2: Lord of Beasts and Saga of the Swordbreaker 3: Spear of the Night cover art by Bad Moon Studios – They are beautiful covers. Just look at them!

The Tale of the Crane Princess (The Timelines Universe Book 6), ebook format, Geoffrey Edwards using MidJourney AI – I am still in awe of this cover. I need to read this book, and I would be ashamed of myself for not suggesting it for Best Illustrative Book Cover.

Best Comic Book or Graphic Novel

Finnian and the Seven Mountains #6 by Voyage Comics and Publishing – Comics from the Big Two aren’t on my TBR these days, but Voyage Comics and Publishing is doing their best to step up and fill the void Marvel and DC have left behind. Their Finnian series is almost at an end, but this issue came out just in time to be nominated.

My Hero Academia, Vol. 33 by Kohei Horikoshi – MHA is in the home-stretch, and this volume has some of the most intense episodes in the series. Moreover, Mr. Horikoshi has nigh single-handedly offered superhero fans not only a heroic alternative to the Big Two, he has suggested a path forward through the murk being pumped into the culture by the usual suspects. If you want to see superheroes that are actually heroic take a Dragon home with them to the land of the Rising Sun, this book is an easy nomination!

Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo – Yet another item on my To Read list. I have heard good things about this series. So, if you have read this volume, consider nominating it for this year’s awards.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV series, TV or internet

Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia) on FunimationNow, CrunchyRoll, and Hulu – Season six is almost complete, and I need to play catch-up on it. Since I watch so little TV at present, this is my only suggestion for this category.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish directed by Joel Crawford – I watch movies in theaters less than I watch TV shows, so my suggestions here are pretty thin. I have heard good things about Puss, so I feel confident suggesting it receive a Dragon Award.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves directed by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley – It looks like fun. Maybe. Here’s hoping, at least.

Best Digital Game

Marvel’s Midnight Suns by Firaxis Games – I’ve heard good things about this game but not had much interest in it. I game very little, so this is my only suggestion for this category.

Best Tabletop Game

Cat Magic: The Game by Lydia Sherrer – I don’t think I’ve ever played a tabletop game. So for this category, I’m going with Cat Magic, but if you want a look at some other potential options, this article might have something for you to choose. Just make sure you pick something that came out or is coming out between July 2022 and June 2023. As long as you choose a game in that timeframe, you should be fine.

All right, those are my suggestions for the Dragon Awards. Care to cast a ballot along with me? It’s free, takes little time, and it is fun. Come on, jump in! Let’s party the way Dragons ought to!