George RR Martin says rightwing lobby has 'broken' Hugo awards

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. The article was written on the 9th; Kloos withdrew his book on the 15th

since he doesn't like ballot stuffing either:

Two Authors Withdraw Their Work From This Year's Hugo Awards

Marko Kloos, who was nominated for his novel Lines of Departure, writes:

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.

Meanwhile, Annie Bellet, who was nominated for the short story "Goodnight, Stars," says:

I am withdrawing because this has become about something very different than great science fiction. I find my story, and by extension myself, stuck in a game of political dodge ball, where I’m both a conscripted player and also a ball. (Wrap your head around that analogy, if you can, ha!) All joy that might have come from this nomination has been co-opted, ruined, or sapped away. This is not about celebrating good writing anymore, and I don’t want to be a part of what it has become.

I am not a ball. I do not want to be a player. This is not what my writing is about. This is not why I write. I believe in a compassionate, diverse, and inclusive world. I try to write my own take on human experiences and relationships, and present my fiction as entertainingly and honestly as I can.

http://io9.com/two-authors-withdraw-their-work-from-the-hugo-awards-1698053027