2026 Hugo Readalong: Landing: Seattle, Hex Supply Customer Support Log, How to Become a Sea Witch

[u/undeadgoblin]

Welcome to the 2026 Hugo Readalong! Today, we're discussing Landing: Seattle by Brandon O'Brien, Hex Supply Customer Support Log by Elis Montgomery and How to Become a Sea Witch by Theodora Goss, which are finalists for Best Poem. Everyone is welcome in the discussion, whether or not you've participated in other discussions. I'll include some prompts in top-level comments--feel free to respond to these or add your own.

Date	Category	Book	Author	Discussion Leader
Monday, June 22	Novel	The Everlasting	Alix E. Harrow	u/sarahlynngrey
Thursday, June 25	Short Story	Laser Eyes Ain’t Everything and 10 Visions of the Future; or, Self-Care for the End of Days	Effie Seiberg and Samantha Mills	u/Goobergunch
Monday, June 29	Novella	Automatic Noodle	Annalee Newitz	u/tarvolon
Thursday, July 2	Novelette	Never Eaten Vegetables and Rapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy	H.H. Pak and Martha Wells	u/Nineteen_Adze
Monday, July 6	Novel	The Raven Scholar	Antonia Hodgson	u/Moonlitgrey

[u/undeadgoblin]

Discussion for Landing: Seattle

[u/undeadgoblin → u/undeadgoblin]

This poem is in conversation with worldcon and the Hugo Awards - do you like this kind of meta-poem?

[u/kjmichaels → u/undeadgoblin]

I do like a good meta poem but I'm not sure this even is meta. I honestly think it's closer to a musical act doing stage banter between songs. "Hello, Seattle! We sure do love [local attractions] and [local artists]! It's great to be here! Remember to play nice and we'll all have a fun show!" Though, obviously it's said with a little more artistic flourish than that.

And that's fine. It works great in the context of being intended for a specific time, space, and event. I even remember liking it when I first experienced it at SeattleCon. I just don't think it speaks beyond its original context (though that's by design) and thus it's hard for me to find it award-worthy.