The Hugos were awarded at the WorldCon in London last weekend, and Ann Leckie’s Ancillary Justice took home the award for best novel. Despite a smidge of jealousy that a debut novel would win a Hugo, I’m very pleased with the result.  Ancillary Justice is not just a great read; it’s a book that exemplifies everything that makes science fiction great.  Like the best award winners of the past, it explores some of the biggest questions of life by imagining alternatives.  How are our bodies and souls connected?  The main character is at first an ancillary–a single mind with dozens of human bodies.  How are men and women inherently different?  The ancillary has trouble telling the difference.  How responsible are we for the sins of others when they benefit us?  The ancillary is aware that many humans were killed–or at least their identities destroyed–to create it.  What does it mean to be human?  The ancillary has trouble thinking of itself as human, even when it’s down to only one human body.

All in all, a fascinating novel, and a well-deserved addition to the Hugo gallery.  Kudos to the voters, and congratulations to Ann Leckie!