Honor Among Dragons (Awards)

Yes, that's a big hint for the film category.

Here there be DRAGONS!

Wow, that was fast. We’re in the home stretch for the Dragon Awards, which are still open for nominations! Holy wyverns, where did the time go?

It’s been a busy year, readers. As Declan noted in his list of Dragon Award eligible nominations, the attempts to keep posting lists for the Dragons over the months just didn’t materialize. However, with the end of the nomination period almost upon us, we are going to give you a few more options to choose from. As a reminder, the Awards are: (1) free, with no sign-up charge or fee to pay if you wish to vote; (2), they are meant for fans specifically. All you need to do to cast a vote is register and you’re in. You do not have to be part of a special club, join a mailing list, or anything else like that. If you have an email, you can vote. How cool is that?

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My own vote is long cast, and while I have a new novella out, neither it nor my other works are eligible for the Dragons. Better luck next year (I hope!).

So, PLEASE 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, it is over and done. There is no going back and you will have to wait until next year.

Declan Finn has posted the most recent Upstream Reviews list for the Awards’ nominees, so I am going to update mine for you. There were books I wanted to include last time, but they hadn’t released yet. I decided to wait, and while waiting, I discovered some other novels that would be worthy of the Dragon Awards. If I haven’t reviewed some of them yet, it is because my TBR pile (digital and otherwise) is a mile long and I can’t get through each shiny new novel as fast as I can grab it.

Now, without further ado, here is my updated list:

The Dragon Awards

Best Science Fiction Novel

The Icarus Plot by Timothy Zahn – reviewed here by me, and here by Declan Finn.

Gathering Storm (White Ops Book 4) by Declan Finn – it’s alive!!! And the first three books in the series have been reviewed here, here, and here.

The Tale of the Crane Princess (The Timelines Universe Book 6) by Nathan C. Brindle – because I still love the cover, so there.

Two Guns No Chance: Space Station Noir Book 3 by Arthur Mayor – Eligible for the Best SF Award and still on my TBR list.

This We’ll Defend (Echoes of Liberty Book 3) by Jason Fuesting – Eligible for this Award, and it’s going in the TBR pile if I must jam it in there, because it still sounds like fun.

NEW Recommendations:

World of Ashes: Slow Burn by J.K. Robinson – this is a Zombie Apocalypse novel, so if you want a zombie story to top the list, this is a good one to pick. And, if you would prefer, you can make it your Horror nomination! ;)

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

OLD Suggestions:

Perseus Corbett and the Forbidden Valley by David Breitenbeck – my Upstream review of this book coincided with my updated list. Go ahead, guess which novel I chose to cast a vote for in this category. 😉

The Draka & The Giant by Liane Zane – It seriously sounds like fun. Check it out!

Bowl of Red (The Shifter Series Book 4) by Sarah Hoyt – ‘Nuff said!

The Lost Metal: A Mistborn Novel (The Mistborn Saga Book 7) by Brandon Sanderson – Need I say more?

NEW Recommendations:

The Standard-Bearer’s Oath (Sarbotel Rising Book 1) by Daniel Zeidler – this one sounds like fun.

Deathbringer (The Spellswords Saga, Book 1) by Blake Carpenter – I recently reviewed this novel, so I can safely say I think it deserves an Award. Bonus points, if you prefer one of the other books available for this category, Deathbringer also fits the Horror slot!

Speaking of the other categories…

Best Young Adult/Middle Grade Novel

OLD Suggestions:

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – reviewed by Upstream’s own Graham Bradley here.

86 – Eighty-Six: Dies Passionis by Asato Asato – As mentioned before, I’ve been reading this series of light novels following my viewing of the anime. It would be bad form for me not to recommend this book for a Dragon Award!

Saga of the Swordbreaker 2: Lord of Beasts and Saga of the Swordbreaker 3: Spear of the Night by Kit Sun Cheah – both eligible, and the covers are gorgeous!

Battles in the Black (The Black Chronicles Book 5) by J.M. Anjewierden – I’ll be starting this series…sooner or later….

NEW Recommendations:

Volume 6

Volume 7

Light Unto Another World Volume 6 and 7 by Yakov Merkin – I wanted to list these earlier, but they hadn’t been released at the time I wrote my previous list of nominees. Now they are out just in time for the Awards, so I can recommend them freely!

Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel

Whoops, this category was dropped by the Dragons. Phooey. Well, now I can’t have any fun….

That is one unhappy Dragon…

Best Alternate History Novel

OLD Suggestions:

Shadow of the Crescent by Margaret Ball – This was my only suggestion when I posted my previous listing of Dragon Awards’ nominees. Happily, readers, I have added a couple of new books to that list. 😉

NEW Recommendations:

The Crossing by Kevin Ikenberry – reviewed here, and boy does this sound like fun. I think I might try it, when my TBR list is a little shorter.

Colonial Nightmare by David Vining – This is on my TBR list. Twenty-one-year-old George Washington facing down monsters in the American wilderness? Sign me up!

Corsair and the Sky Pirates by Mark Piggott – Jules Verne and Nikola Tesla meet and change the world. Sold!

Best Media Tie-In Novel

Oh. Right. This category was dropped from the Awards’ roster, too. Never mind.

Um. Oops?

Best Horror Novel

Mwahahaha, do I have some good recommendations here! OLD Suggestions:

Diary of a Bomoh by Kit Sun Cheah 

Blue Saint (St. Tommy N.Y.P.D. Book 12) by Declan Finn – The first novel – Hell Spawn – has been reviewed here, here, and here on Upstream, so just based on that, you should consider nominating Blue Saint.

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

NEW Recommendations:

As noted above, Deathbringer by Blake Carpenter fits this category as well as the Fantasy slot. The heroine spends most of the book dead, making her a revenant (not a zombie) as she seeks vengeance for her own murder. If that isn’t horrifying, I don’t know what is!

Colonial Nightmare by David Vining also counts as horror, not just Alt-History. If you want something that will give you shivers, this book should do the trick.

World of Ashes: Slow Burn by J.K. Robinson – Zombie Apocalypse = Horror. If you already have your Sci-Fi novel chosen try this one for Horror!

Best Illustrative Book Cover

Declan makes a good case in his post on the Dragons for Jackson Tjota’s Titan Mage. He has some good runners up as well, but for my vote, you have:

Saga of the Swordbreaker 2: Lord of Beasts and Saga of the Swordbreaker 3: Spear of the Night cover art by Bad Moon Studios. And:

The Tale of the Crane Princess (The Timelines Universe Book 6) by Geoffrey Edwards

(Yes, I voted for Crane Princess’ cover. It’s beautiful. I want a poster of it!)

Best Comic Book

OLD Suggestions:

Finnian and the Seven Mountains #6 by Voyage Comics and Publishing 

My Hero Academia, Vol. 33 by Kohei Horikoshi 

Spy x Family, Vol. 8 by Tatsuya Endo 

NEW Recommendations:

Mama Bunny #1: Comics and Stories by Caitlin Walsh – TBR, and it looks fun.

Barbarella by Sarah Hoyt – #3 & #4 were published in the relevant timeframe, so they are options as well.

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

Boku no Hero Academia (My Hero Academia) on FunimationNow, CrunchyRoll, and Hulu – I still don’t watch enough TV to offer anything else for this category. Declan’s got some good suggestions, though:

1. Cyberpunk Edgerunners (Netflix)

2. House of the Dragon (HBO)

3. Primal (Adult Swim)

4. Spy x Family (Crunchyroll)

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves – that’s it. Yes, I really am saying this is the film you should vote for. Declan has other suggestions and those who liked Puss in Boots: The Last Wish should vote for that movie. But for my money, Honor Among Thieves totally deserves this Award. Go watch it, or borrow it from your library, or stream it, or whatever you need to do to see it. That movie is gold.

Best Digital Game

Marvel’s Midnight Suns by Firaxis Games – this was my original suggestion. I game very, very little, and pay even less attention to the world of video gaming, so filling in this category is always a struggle for me. If I hadn’t heard good things about Midnight Suns, I wouldn’t have put it forward, as I am no fan of what Marvel is presently doing with its characters. But good is good, so here you have it as a recommendation.

Final Fantasy XVI by Square Enix – This would have been my initial nomination, but since it hadn’t released yet, I decided to wait until we knew for sure when it was coming out. Given the fact that the FFVII Remake has had its parts’ release dates moved around, it seemed the safe thing to do. Now that installment 16 is available, however, I have no problem suggesting it for this category.

Hogwarts Legacy is a good option, too. Beyond that, though? I have no ideas. Pick your game and have at it!

Best Tabletop Game

Cat Magic, The Game by Lydia and David Sherrer is literally the only tabletop game I can recommend. Declan has some reliable alternatives listed but I’m afraid I really don’t.

Going to vote, doot-de-do-de-do….

Well, there you have it! This is my list, with new items and old. Go forth and vote! Have some fun!

The Dragons are almost here!