Dear friends and readers:
I have officially withdrawn my acceptance of the Best Novel nomination for “Lines of Departure” at this year’s Hugo Awards.
It has come to my attention that “Lines of Departure” was one of the nomination suggestions in Vox Day’s “Rabid Puppies” campaign. Therefore—and regardless of who else has recommended the novel for award consideration—the presence of “Lines of Departure” on the shortlist is almost certainly due to my inclusion on the “Rabid Puppies” slate. For that reason, I had no choice but to withdraw my acceptance of the nomination. I cannot in good conscience accept an award nomination that I feel I may not have earned solely with the quality of the nominated work.
I also wish to disassociate myself from the originator of the “Rabid Puppies” campaign. To put it bluntly: if this nomination gives even the appearance that Vox Day or anyone else had a hand in giving it to me because of my perceived political leanings, I don’t want it. I want to be nominated for awards because of the work, not because of the “right” or “wrong” politics.
Thank you to everyone who voted for “Lines of Departure” because you read the novel and genuinely thought it worthy of award recognition. Please be assured that I did not reach this decision lightly, and that I don’t want to nullify or minimize your opinion. But keeping the nomination is not a moral option at this point, and I hope you will understand.
This is my choice alone, and I am making it without pressure from any side in the current Hugo debate. Please respect it as such.
Marko Kloos
April 15, 2015
No worries Marko, we know you don’t need a rocket trophy to prove you can tell a story.
No quite belly-aching and get back to writing that 4th book, damnit
Kudos to you for making the honorable decision. I know it must’ve been a difficult choice. I have just purchased ‘Terms of Enlistment.’
My respect and sympathies to you–I know the decision can’t have been easy, and I know that no matter how you made it there were bound to be people who’d blame you for whatever you chose. I only hope that if I’m ever in a position as difficult as you are, I can find it in myself to do the right thing and stand by my principles.
I don’t agree with your reasoning and am genuinely sorry I won’t be able to cast my vote for Lines of Departure, but it’s your career and you have to do what you think you have to do. I’ll still be looking for LoD’s sequel.
Mr. Kloos, I’m glad you made a decision based on thinking about ethics. That’s admirable. I am surprised and saddened that some of your commenters feel empowered to insult you, either from one side of the argument or the other. That’s rude and shameful. I guess it’s true you should never read the comments.
Marko,
it is your choice but I disagree with it. I checked and my “edition” of “Terms of Enlistment” was from April 9, 2013 so I’ve been enjoying your books and stories for the last two years. I was very happy to see you on the Sad Puppy’s short list as a quality indie author since it meant that others clearly agreed with me too. You have accepted a non-existent “guilt by association” argument from a group of people who never read your books and will only do so now because you are “like minded”. Look at the comments here.
You have nothing to be ashamed of.
Andy
I agree with Andy. You have nothing to be ashamed of. I say this as not only an *early* fan who recommended Terms of Enlistment to many people, but a guy who first saw your book recommended at Vox Popoli.
I was going to read his book because it was nominated for a Hugo. I am going to read it now not because he is like minded because that is bullshit. I am going to read it because it was nominated for a Hugo. I am hoping to enjoy it like all the other books I read.
I find interesting that people are saying that his books are selling to people w h o are posting because he is “likeminded” with them. Some going so far as to say I won’t read you again. Is that because he wasn’t “like-minded” with you?
This cannot have been a pleasant experience for you. I admire how you’ve decided to handle it. The following you’ve built up already speaks volumes in and of itself, regardless of any awards.
I started with your Frontlines books because of John Scalzi’s recommendation. I’m waiting now for the 3th one to appear on my reader later this month so I can start with it immediate. You are a pretty good writer, You’ll surely get an Hugo AND an actually prestigious award* in the future, congrats on putting your values first !!!
*ouch, I know, but all this debacle has done is tarnish the Hugo Award value.
Bravo. I would offer to rush out and buy your books, but I already own them all, have read and greatly enjoyed them.
I’m one of those long time fans (over four decades of reading and watching and loving SF) who has been prompted by this entire debacle to get a membership and vote in the Hugo for the first time this year. Thankfully, I will be able in good conscience to nominate you next year for Angles of Attack.
Thank you for standing up for what is right, at no small cost to yourself. It demonstrates your true character.
Wow. I’m an idiot. Angles of Attack hasn’t been published. Which kind of explains why I couldn’t remember it that well when I was typing the above, but I did remember that I liked everything I have read so far in this series and that I have pre-ordered it.
So I can’t say for sure I will nominate it next year, but if past performance is anything to go on, I sure will!
I salute the difficult decision that you made.
Man, I only got a WorldCon membership because I thought it would include a copy of your book. So disappointed.
You can sell the membership to someone else and use the money to buy a copy of the book. Then Marko will get royalties and you’ll still have money left over for a sandwich to eat while reading the book. Win-win!
I was kidding. I bought it on release day.
Mr. Kloos, I just wanted to say that I saw you were nominated before hearing about any of the Sad Puppy business and my first thought was “Good for him. He deserves it.” I also think you represent well for veterans in your writing. I am planning on buying book 3 on launch, and if it’s not a Hugo, I’ll put a couple dollars in your pocket because you’re a great writer and it’s the least I can do.
Mr. Kloos,
I am sorry that I only became aware of you due to this and not to the enthusiasm of fellow fans. But since you seem to be a stand-up person, I *will* be buying your novel and reading it with interest — I can’t guarantee I’ll like it, but I will read it.
That’s pretty funny. You would never have got close to a damn hugo without the puppies campaign. Not because of quality. You know this. We know this. Disingenuous at the least to pretend otherwise. Too bad. I was a fan. But hey maybe now you’ll get a sympathy hugo!
Wow. Way to be insulting to your host, Torgo. Whether the book would have made the list without the slate is irrelevant; we will not know until the nomination data comes out after voting. The point here is to dissociate oneself from the odious Vox Day.
Ooooh, another wonderful comment perfectly illustrating Marko’s reasoning. 😀
I’ve cast my vote by purchasing your book. Respect.
What he said.
Bummer. I just paid for my worldcon supporter membership today (despite the controversy? because of it?) and was looking forward to the reader pack including your book (admission: haven’t read it yet). Much respects from someone on the other side of spectrum in all the things that don’t matter in the end except whether there’s a good story to be had.
Speaking as someone who was a fan from *very early* on: taking time from work to email you, letting you know that I had moved funds into your Paypal account so you could email me a copy of Terms of Enlistment: You had my vote for Best Novel, Mr. Kloos.
I think it is unfortunate that you felt the need to drop out of contention. Especially when you are working through loss. Contra popular assertion, the entire point of both independent slates was precisely to pick works agnostic of the politics involved, both the Capital “P” macro-politics, and the small “P” group politics of the Hugo.
Lines of Departure most certainly was worthy of its nomination. Period. Disingenuous attacks on the quality of Lines by people simply opposed to the Puppies campaigns notwithstanding.
I for one will continue to *impatiently* wait for next Tuesday to see the fate of Earth surrounded by the Lankies.
Thank you for writing great stories that have entertained for hours and hours.
This is a real shame. I read and enjoyed both “Terms of Enlistment” and “Lines of Departure” and both novels are as good as, or better than most of the science fiction on the market today. I don’t know what your political leanings are, and I don’t care. I just want some good stories, and you delivered. Keep up the good work – I’m looking forward to “Angles of Attack” arriving on my Kindle next week.
And for that act of conscience, I am putting this book on my reading list.
I respect the difficult and gut-wrenching decision you are making and the ethical stand you are taking. I look forward to voting on your next novel in future years. Since I won’t get to read your novel as I get ready to vote, I will be adding your novel to my personal to-read list.