The Hugo Awards is one of the most prestigious awards in the science fiction literary circle. Dave McCarty, the head of the Hugo Awards jury, who returns to Chengdu after four years , mentions that the impact Chengdu has made on his senses of taste and sight is still as strong as when they first met.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Worldcon, which will be held in Chengdu this October, Dave McCarty, a veteran of the Hugo Award selection process, expresses that he hopes to take the opportunity to deepen his connection with Chinese sci-fi fans. After visiting the main venue and listening to the organizing committee's report on the Online World Science Fiction Convention, Dave is looking forward to this year's Hugo Awards ceremony with great anticipation, "This will be a scene that every sci-fi fan must witness in their lifetime!"

He also expressess that the design of the online Worldcon by the organizing committee is amazing. "The core members of the Chengdu Worldcon Organizing Committee tell me that they hope to build the Online Worldcon into a long-term online communication platform for fans around the world. I couldn't agree more," he said.

Dave McCarty

The Awards Ceremony Will Blow Your Mind

In a small talk, Dave brings up the lunch he has just finishedat a Sichuan cuisine restaurant in Chengdu. “Mala!” Dave calls out, the Chinese word meaning numbing and hot. "It’s Yummy." Dave summarizes.

Dave tells us that the moment he was about to land in Chengdu reminded him of the sci-fi novels he read as a child. "When the plane was preparing to land at Shuangliu Airport, I first saw increasingly dense buildings, and then a modern steel forest towering dozens of meters high. The scene of skyscrapers is just like a depiction of the future world in the sci-fi novels I read when I was a child."

In fact, this is not Dave's first visit to Chengdu. In 2019, he attended the 5th China (Chengdu) International Science Fiction Convention and was impressed by the local sci-fi fan groups in Chengdu. Western readers often overlook China's vast sci-fi fan bases and literary market, he claims. When he came to Chengdu for the convention four years ago, he was already aware of the thriving vitality of sci-fi films and literature in China. Nowadays, a growing number of Chinese science fiction works have been translated and introduced to the West.

In this October, the 81st Worldcon will be held at the Chengdu Science (Science Fiction) Museum, and the 2023 Hugo Awards will also be announced at the convention. The Chengdu Science (Science Fiction) Museum has a theater-style venue for the ceremony. After visiting the venue, Dave was excited to imagine the grandeur of this year's ceremony.

"I can only describe this lakeside venue as wonderful and stunning. I cannot wait to see what it looks like when it's done. Though each year's Hugo Awards is unique, this year's ceremony promises to be spectacular. This is something every sci-fi fan must witness in their lifetime!"

 Won the Hugo Award and I Was Involved in  The Three-Body Problem Winning Hugu Award.

When talking about the influence of Chinese sci-fi works on the world stage, it is inevitable to mention Liu Cixin's achievement in winning the 2015 Hugo Award for Best Novel with The Three-Body Problem. It is the first time an Asian author won the Hugo Award and an essential step for Chinese sci-fi to go global.

Dave's face lights up with excitement as he mentions the story, "I was also a member of the jury, which gave me a personal and emotional connection to The Three-Body Problem."

Dave is proud to say that the selection history of the Hugo Awards has proven that the winners  are well-deserved and have been widely recognized in the sci-fi literary community and. The Three-Body Problem proves that Chinese sci-fi novels are capable of competing in the world.

Dave tells us that any sci-fi work that wants to win at the Hugo Awards must beable to strike a chord with the readers, as Liu Cixin's novels, "The nomination and voting for the Hugo Awards is completely open to the public, which means that every nominee must delve into  the hearts of readers in order to win."

The Charm of Worldcon Lies in the Connection Between People

While sci-fi may have evolved differently in different parts of the world, Dave believes that every sci-fi fan ultimately shares the same passion and love. The hosting of each Worldcon provides Dave with an opportunity to meet more like-minded individuals.

Dave says that the biggest regret he ever buried in his heart occurred during the 2012 Worldcon in Chicago. At that time, a group of sci-fi fans from China contacted him, "We did a lot of efforts, but these fans were unable to come  for some reason."

Dave tells us that for many years, he has been eager to meet the Chinese fans in person, "Fortunately, this regret was finally made up in Chengdu in 2019." Dave mentions that he expects to meet more Chinese sci-fi fans at this Worldcon.

Dave believes Chengdu has a deep sci-fi culture and can provide a creative space for sci-fi fans to explore, "In order to get ready to welcome sci-fi fans from all over the world, the sci-fi fans in Chengdu have made unremitting efforts for several generations. Finally, the Worldcon will be held this year."