Chinese sci-fi writers and artists had a rewarding night at this year's Hugo Awards in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, Oct 21, 2023.

Hai Ya received the Best Novelette award for "The Space-Time Painter", and the well-known computer graphics artist Zhao Enzhe won the Best Professional Artist award.

"I'm pleasantly surprised and very lucky, it's like my dream has come true," said Hai Ya, who started science fiction writing when he was a university student.

Zhao has been engaged in the gaming industry for over 20 years and has developed a strong interest in sci-fi-themed creation. He is a longtime cover artist for the Science Fiction World magazine, which has a wider circulation than any other sci-fi publication in the world.

The award winners were announced at the 2023 Hugo Awards ceremony during the 81st World Science Fiction Convention, held in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province, on Oct 21, 2023.

"Of course, I'm very happy to have such an opportunity and a platform to show myself, but I think it is the step-by-step promotion of the predecessors of Chinese science fiction that gives me such an opportunity. In the future, I will work harder to promote the progress of science fiction art in China," Zhao said in an interview after the ceremony.

In addition to the laureates, many categories of this year's Hugo Awards also saw the names of Chinese authors.

Four works by Chinese writers were shortlisted for the Best Short Stories; "Chinese Science Fiction, An Oral History, Volume 1" was shortlisted for the Hugo Awards for Best Related Work, while Yao Haijun, the interviewee of "Chinese Science Fiction, An Oral History, Volume 1" and Yang Feng, the editor-in-chief of the book, were also shortlisted for the Hugo Awards for Best Editor (Long Form).

The Hugo Awards, initiated in 1953 and presented annually since 1955, are science fiction's most prestigious award. They are voted on by members of the World Science Fiction Convention, which is also responsible for administering them.

This year, a total of 1,847 valid ballots were received and counted from members of the 2022 and 2023 World Science Fiction Conventions for the 2023 Hugo Awards.

The World Science Fiction Convention has been held annually since 1939 (except during WWII from 1942 to 1945). It is the first time that the world's largest and longest-running sci-fi gathering has been held in China.

Source: China Daily