Dragon Con 2018: The Dragon Awards

by Beth

This is the third year of The Dragon Awards. Last year only 8,000 out of 80,000 people voted on them. Let's see if we can't do better this year. With 85,000 attendees expected his year surely we can get a few more folks to vote. These are “fan's choice” awards, and you don't even have to be going to Dragon Con to have your opinions counted.

Now, you may not know every single nominee (in some categories I don't know any of the nominees). Don't let that stop you. I know nothing about table-top gaming or card games (I have enough trouble pulling myself away from video game RPGs to add another free-time killer to my repertoire of dorkery), but I have friends who do. I can ask them for their opinion or take a second to look them up, and decide which one I think I'd like the best if I did play these games. That's not cheating, it's making an educated guess. There are several categories where I have strong enough opinions to justify the few areas where I had to wing it. Is Phasma a better book than Leia: Princess of Alderaan? Maybe, maybe not. The reason I liked it is because I already knew a lot about Leia, and almost nothing about Phasma. The book about her gave me insight into what should have been a much better character in the movies. I'm also a big Brandon Sanderson fan so having on the ballot twice was a no-brainer for me. The point is – vote. You can register here, and within a few days (mine came the next day, but I'm sure the turnaround will get faster the closer we get to Thursday) you'll receive your ballot. It's easy, and takes less than 5 minutes to do. Registration closes on Friday at 11:59 pm, and you have until Saturday at 11:59 pm to cast your vote so you still have plenty of time. You know you'll be too busy on Friday and Saturday to remember so go do it now. Take a few minutes out of your con prep to make your voice heard.

2018 Ballot

Best Science Fiction Novel
It Takes Death to Reach a Star - by Gareth Worthington and Stu JonesPersepolis Rising - by James S.A. CoreyThe Mutineer’s Daughter - by Chris Kennedy and Thomas A. MaysWin - by Vera NazarianSins of Her Father - by Mike KupariArtemis - by Andy Weir

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)
Shoot the Messenger - by Pippa DaCostaWar Hammer - by Shayne SilversOathbringer - by Brandon SandersonThe Land: Predators - by Aleron KongThe Traitor God - by Cameron JohnstonA Tempered Warrior - by Jon R. Osborne

Best Young Adult /Middle Grade Novel
Cold Bath Street - by A.J. HartleyA Court of Frost and Starlight - by Sarah J. MaasWhen Tinker Met Bell - by Alethea KontisBrightly Burning - by Alexa DonneWarcross - by Marie LuChildren of Blood and Bone - by Tomi Adeyemi

Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel
Communications Failure - by Joe ZiejaPoints of Impact - by Marko KloosGhost Marines: Integration - by Jonathan P. BrazeePrice of Freedom - by Craig Martelle and Michael AnderleLegend - by Christopher WoodsA Call to Vengeance - by David Weber, Timothy Zahn, and Thomas Pope

Best Alternate History Novel
Dark State - by Charles StrossThe Sea Peoples - by S.M. StirlingWitchy Winter - by D.J. ButlerUncharted - by Kevin J. Anderson and Sarah A. HoytDream of the Iron Dragon - by Robert KroeseMinds of Men - by Kacey Ezell

Best Media Tie-In Novel
Leia: Princess of Alderaan - by Claudia GrayBefore the Storm - by Christie GoldenPhasma - by Delilah S. DawsonFear Itself - by James SwallowLegacy of Onyx - by Matt ForbeckDesperate Hours - by David Mack

Best Horror Novel
Beneath the Lighthouse - by Julieanne LynchMeddling Kids - by Edgar CanteroA Time to Run - by Mark WandreyThe Cabin at the End of the World - by Paul TremblaySleeping Beauties - by Stephen King and Owen KingGlimpse - by Jonathan Maberry

Best Comic Book
Mighty Thor - by Jason Aaron and James Harren, Marvel ComicsDoomsday Clock - by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, DC ComicsAliens: Dead Orbit - by James Stokoe, Dark Horse ComicsMister Miracle - by Tom King and Mitch Gerads, DC ComicsSaga - by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, Image ComicsStar Wars: Darth Vader - by Charles D. Soule and Giuseppe Camuncoli, Marvel Comics

Best Graphic Novel
Chicago Typewriter: The Red Ribbon - by Brandon Fiadino, Djibril Morissette-Phan, and James Greatorex, Dark Legion ComicsBrandon Sanderson’s White Sand Volume 1 - by Brandon Sanderson, Rik Hoskin, and Julius M. Gopez, Dynamite EntertainmentBe Prepared - by Vera BrosgolMonstress Vol. 2: The Blood - by Marjorie M. Liu, Sana Takeda, Image ComicsVision (The Vision) - by Tom King, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Marvel ComicsPaper Girls Volume 4 - by Brian K. Vaughn and Cliff Chiang, Image Comics

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series
The Expanse, SyfyGame of Thrones, HBOLucifer, FoxSupernatural, CWStar Trek: Discovery, CBS All AccessAltered Carbon, NetflixStranger Things, Netflix

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie
Incredibles 2 - directed by Brad BirdThor: Ragnorok - directed by Taika WaititiBlade Runner 2049 - directed by Denis VilleneuveAvengers: Infinity War - directed by Anthony Russo and Joe RussoBlack Panther - directed by Ryan CooglerReady Player One - directed by Steven SpielbergDeadpool 2 - directed by Dave Leitch

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game
Fortnite - by Epic GamesCuphead - by Studio MDHRMiddle-earth: Shadow of War - by Monolith ProductionsDestiny 2 - by BungieBattletech - by Harebrained SchemesWolfenstein II: The New Colossus - by MachineGames

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game
Planescape: Torment, the Enhanced Edition - by BeamdogNocked! - by Andrew SchneiderLineage 2: Revolution - by NetmarbleFinal Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition - by Square EnixHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery - by Jam City

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game
Rising Sun - by CMON GamesWhen I Dream - by AsmodeeMysterium: Secrets and Lies Expansion - by AsmodeeAzul - by Plan B GamesRed Dragon Inn 6: Villains - by Slugfest GamesPhotosynthesis - by Blue Orange

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game
Warhammer 40,000 8th Edition - by Games WorkshopForce and Destiny Role-playing Game: Knights of Fate - by Fantasy Flight GamesBubblegumshoe – RPG - by Evil HatCooking with Dice: The Acid Test - by Oddfish GamesD100 Dungeon - by Martin KnightMagic: The Gathering Unstable - by Wizards of the Coast

Out of this extensive list you surely have a few opinions about at least of few of these categories. So no excuses, go vote now. I'll be back after the con with wrap-ups and recaps, but I'll see you guys in a few days. Happy Dragon Con everyone!

Beth got her start writing for a site called Movie Criticism for the Retarded (which has been reborn as dorkdroppings.com. Check it out sometime), but was pulled out of an early retirement to write for Needless Things. When she isn't writing she plays video games and watches bad horror movies while eagerly awaiting the zombie apocalypse. She may try to save her husband and/or their cats, but luckily hasn't had to make those tough decisions yet. Follow beth0rama on Instagram or on Twitter @NeedlessBeth where she doesn't post often enough to be annoying, but updates way more than Google+