Awards Season

December 22, 2008

The Golden Globes?  Pathetic.  The VGAs?  Meritless.  Mighty Marvel No-prizes? They’re okay, but not as good as…

The First Annual GG’s! (I think the Geekies was taken)

Please note that these are purely my opinion.  They are also solely concerned with geek crap only.  Let’s hope my esteemed co-blogger contributes his own “best of” list at some point.  Without further ado:

Best Book - Anathem by Neil Stephenson

I’ve spent a lot of time reading this year, and while there were many releases by some of my favourite authors and I made some pleasant new discoveries, Anathem takes the crown.  I’ve read everything Stephenson’s written (except for his Renaissance novels) and Anathem is a true achievement; not just as a novel, but in the body of his work.

As another blogger put it, Anathem is truly about the power of long-term thinking.  It’s a hopeful book that postulates that even when “humanity’s” scientific tools are taken away, intelligent and rational beings can still contribute to the survival of their society.  Anathem is equal parts philisophical rumination, coming of age tale and roaring adventure yarn.

TV Show - Battlestar Galactica

If this list were not entirely geekcentric, it would have been Dexter.  However, BSG Season 4 (well, the first half, anyway) was tragedy at it’s finest.  There is no other show that revels in entropy: its energy and breathtaking momentum hinges on humanity’s headlong rush into excinction.  From the individual struggles of the Final Four to the spirit crushing cliffhanger, BSG just doesn’t let up.  There are no lighthearted episodes.  If someone learns “an important lesson about life” in 40 minutes, they’re likely to lose a limb or a loved one in the process.  Pain lingers and informs all of a character’s subsequent actions.

The best thing is that BSG is entirely couched in science fiction.  It’s not a framework or a metaphor like other shows, and it does it without useless technobabble or crappy alien makeup.  I doubt we’ll ever see it’s like again.

Best Movie - Sunshine

Yes, I know this came out in 2007, but I didn’t experience it until this year.  Everything about the plot and the science screams b-movie, but it’s a strangely compelling film that manages to rise above its genre limitations.  Take the best parts of 2010 and Event Horizon, add in realistic characters and Danny Boyle’s skill behind the camera and you wind up with a memorable yet underappreciated film.

Few films manage to evoke a feeling of awe with regards to the vastness of the universe.  The characters react to the wonder and stark loneliness of deep space in a believable way that is conveyed to the viewer.  Humanity’s solution to the problem feels like a true last ditch effort and through clever camera trickery, manage to convey how strange things may get when moving at great speed near a solar mass.  A beautiful and (in its own way) thoughtful film.

Best Cartoon - The Venture Bros.

How to descibe this show as it enters it’s later seasons?  Is it a dysfunctional family drama?  Is it a super hero parody?  Is it a riff on the entire history of geekdom?  All of the above.  While wildly absurd, The Venture Bros. also does a good job of establishing likeable characters with extensive backstories.  Now that most of the Professor Venture’s history is known, where does the show go from here?

Best Role-Playing Game - Dungeons and Dragons, 4th Edition

Too bad min-maxers and 3.5 hold-outs: this is the definitive edition of D&D for the time challenged.  Easy to run and easy to play, the pen and paper game that started it all may singlehandedly save the traditional gaming market.  Well, that may be overstating it, considering Wizards’ ballyhooed online functionality and toolset did not (and still has yet to) materialize, but from this long-time DMs perspective, all of the changes are welcome ones.

Yes, the game is very bare bone sat the start an the setting is a little flavourless, but this summer brings Eberron back, and for that I’m grateful.

Best Miniatures Game - Warmachine / Hordes

Special mention for one special fan out there.

Best Video Game - Online - Team Fortress 2

Valve’s true masterpiece.  An ever evolving and improving team based shooter.  Balanced, beautiful, humourous and damned fun to play even when I’m getting my ass kicked.  If you haven’t yet picked this up on Steam, do it now.  Hell, last weekend it was only 10 bucks.

Best Video Game - Fallout 3 (Xbox 360)

For me, this has everything I like in video games these days: shooty action, rpg elements, excellent design, a meaningful story and I can play it discreet chunks at my own pace.  I talked about this game recently, and I believe then as now that this is Bethesda’s best work.  My enjoyment of the game can be summed up thusly: delusional robot in a powdered wig.

Best Boardgame - Battlestar Galactica

Most licensed games are crap.  This is not.  Fantasy Flight Games incorporates the very essence of BSG into some counters, cards and dice.  I see it sitting there on the shelf calling to me.  Play me, play me.  Yet I can’t because I need more players.  Won’t some kind geeks out there help me.  Please?

Written by kingmob | Filed under: 360, 4E DnD, Boardgames, Comics, PnP, TV, Warmachine |