Friday open thread: long fiction Hugo finalists

Today's is the final open thread focusing on discussion of 2024 Hugo Award finalists: what I'm calling 'long fiction'. As in previous posts, all finalists can be found on the Hugo Awards website. Feel free to discuss some or all finalists (whether you are voting or not), or express opinions about what you would have preferred to see in the categories.

Best Novel

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty (Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager UK)

The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera (Tordotcom)

Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)

Starter Villain by John Scalzi (Tor, Tor UK)

Translation State by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK)

Witch King by Martha Wells (Tordotcom)

Best Series

The Final Architecture by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)

Imperial Radch by Ann Leckie (Orbit US, Orbit UK)

The Last Binding by Freya Marske (Tordotcom, Tor UK)

The Laundry Files by Charles Stross (Tordotcom, Orbit UK)

October Daye by Seanan McGuire (DAW)

The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard (Gollancz; JABberwocky Literary Agency; Subterranean Press; Uncanny Magazine; et al.)

Lodestar Award for Best YA Book

Abeni’s Song by P. Djèlí Clark (Starscape)

Liberty’s Daughter by Naomi Kritzer (Fairwood Press)

Promises Stronger than Darkness by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor Teen)

The Sinister Booksellers of Bath by Garth Nix (Katherine Tegen Books, Gollancz and Allen & Unwin)

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose (Del Rey)

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan Children’s Books; eligible due to 2023 U.S. publication by Amulet)

Astounding Award for Best New Writer (sponsored by Dell Magazines)

Moniquill Blackgoose (1st year of eligibility)

Sunyi Dean (2nd year of eligibility)

Ai Jiang (2nd year of eligibility)

Hannah Kaner (1st year of eligibility)

Em X. Liu (1st year of eligibility)

Xiran Jay Zhao (eligibility extended at request of Dell Magazines)

I see you, you see me

I've spent the past twenty-four hours (interspersed with, you know, sleeping, working, etc) absolutely entranced and mesmerised with the Instagram account wisdm, which has to be seen to be believed. The account description (Director, model, stylist, photographer, videographer ) really doesn't do it justice — these are some of the most intricate, inventive, gorgeously edited videos I've ever seen.

The video which started it all, High fashion ... typography?, in which various typefaces are personified with the most perfect and appropriate outfits, went viral and is how I discovered the account to begin with.

I also love the high fashion time travel series (my favourite being this one, but they're all very good), and then there's the outfits inspired by AtLA characters, high fashion Dune, and the Fashion World Cup.

But honestly, I love them all. I wish the internet solely showed me stuff like this: talented, creative, and passionate individuals giving their talents, creativity and passions free rein, with spectacular results.