Friday open thread: short fiction Hugo Awards finalists

I have voting rights for the Hugos this year, voting has opened (and the voter packet finally became available), so I thought it might be fun to use the next few open threads as discussion posts about the various finalists. I'll be splitting the categories up across several posts, and this week is devoted to the short fiction: Novella, Novelette, and Short Story.

All finalists can be found on the Hugo Awards website.

Best Novella

“Life Does Not Allow Us to Meet”, He Xi / 人生不相见, 何夕, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)

Mammoths at the Gates by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom)

The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older (Tordotcom)

Rose/House by Arkady Martine (Subterranean)

“Seeds of Mercury”, Wang Jinkang / 水星播种, 王晋康, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (Tor, Titan UK)

Best Novelette

I AM AI by Ai Jiang (Shortwave)

“Introduction to 2181 Overture, Second Edition”, Gu Shi /〈2181序曲〉再版导言, 顾适 translated by Emily Jin (Clarkesworld, February 2023)

“Ivy, Angelica, Bay” by C.L. Polk (Tor.com 8 December 2023)

“On the Fox Roads” by Nghi Vo (Tor.com 31 October 2023)

“One Man’s Treasure” by Sarah Pinsker (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)

“The Year Without Sunshine” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine, November-December 2023)

Best Short Story

“Answerless Journey”, Han Song / 没有答案的航程, 韩松, translated by Alex Woodend (Adventures in Space: New Short stories by Chinese & English Science Fiction Writers)

“Better Living Through Algorithms” by Naomi Kritzer (Clarkesworld May 2023)

“How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub” by P. Djèlí Clark (Uncanny Magazine, January-February 2023)

“The Mausoleum’s Children” by Aliette de Bodard (Uncanny Magazine, May-June 2023)

“The Sound of Children Screaming” by Rachael K. Jones (Nightmare Magazine, October 2023)

美食三品 (“Tasting the Future Delicacy Three Times”), 宝树 / Baoshu (银河边缘013：黑域密室 / Galaxy’s Edge Vol. 13: Secret Room in the Black Domain)

I haven't read all the Novella and Short Story finalists yet (I have read all the Novelette finalists), but should get there by the end of the weekend.

If you are voting this year, let me know your thoughts on the various categories (or individual works). If you're not a voter, but you have read some of the finalists on this list, feel free to comment on your assessment of the story(ies). Or is there anything you feel should have made the shortlist that didn't?