I appreciate the Hugos because I'm behind on my SF reading and it's good to have a reminder of what I really should read. It's a semi-reliable recommendation, but not a bad one.

This year, I didn't manage to read any of the Best Novel finalists before they were nominated, but I read all of them in the packet. I was pleasantly surprised. In the past, I found some Best Novel finalists a chore to read. Not this year. They all pulled me in and held my attention.

( Here may be spoilers... )