Only read three:

-- Touring with the Alien (2016) by Carolyn Ives Gilman - 4

The last fifth of this story, so the conclusion, wasn't handled well imo.

Set in our world. We wake up and see domes in various spots around Earth. Aliens have arrived and with them are "interpreters" which are grown children that were abducted previously (or so we Earthlings are told). The "touring" part is about one set (alien, interpreter) who want to see the land/earth with our MC as the tour guide.

Along this tour we learn that the aliens are unconscious, like say an Amoeba. But when they "connect" with an "interpreter" they gain consciousness. The amoeba-like aliens really like that and gain a lot of control they wouldn't normal have.

Complaints - I've seen in reviews that what is behind my spoiler tag is an awesome addition to a story but not explored deeply enough. I would agree but I was okay with that, for a short story. What disappointed me was the lack of hand holding at the end. The MC's decision left to much to infer.

This is what the alien looked like (a natural sea sponge)



I still would recommend and will continue to watch for stories by this author.

-- Old Friends (2008) by Garth Nix - 1.5*
I really don't know what I read. The narrator said nice things by the end so I'm sure it's a me thing. She claimed it was a full story with a beginning, a middle and an end. And that he wastes no words. And that he was so very talented, a true writer. *eye roll* maybe it's her uncle. LOL
A protector/magical being is defending an area from something that comes out of the weeds of the sea. It takes some time for the nasties to convert from "weeds" to killing things so we get some history or chit chat while we wait.

-- Winter's Wife (2007) by Elizabeth Hand, narrated by Kate Baker - DNF
I got at least a 3rd way through and decided to let it go. I believe it is a well liked story for those who made it all the way through but I lost interest in not knowing more about the wife as we went along. I'm not fond of "all will be revealed by the end". And the story is narrated by a young teen and I was losing interest.

leider nicht so ergiebig, wie andere Ausgaben der Vergangenheit

"Touring with the Alien" by Carolyn Ives Gilman ** 1/2
ganz OK, ein korallenartiger Alien steht auf menschliches Bewußtsein und läßt sich mit seinem (menschlichen) Wirt durch die USA kutschieren

"Balin" by Chen Qiufan *
zu bemüht, chinesische Familienbande, Hirnforschung und ein seltsames Etwas (Mensch, Tier, Alien? what the heck), das als Haustier und Versuchskaninchen herhalten muß

"The Bridge of Dreams" by Gregory Feeley **
interessante Idee, nordische Götter im Weltraum, aber bei weitem zu langatmig

"The Cedar Grid" by Sara Saab *
SF aus dem Libanon mit starke regionalem Flavour; sicherlich lobenswert als Gegengewicht zur übermächtigen US SFF, konnte mich aber nicht fesseln

"Old Friends" by Garth Nix ***/****
etwas konfus, ein "baumiger" Krieger in Menschengestalt wird von seiner Vergangenheit eingeholt

"Winter’s Wife" by Elizabeth Hand ****/*****
Holzfäller in einem kleinen Dorf in Maine heiratet eine Isländerin, die etwas mehr ist, als sie zu sein scheint - gut ( )

I read this online in preparation to know and judge which nominated novella should win the Hugo in 2017, fully prepared for just about anything.

Luckily, I really enjoyed this surprising little tale of alien abduction. Sort-of abduction. :)

Well, either way, the end was surprising and quite amusing and the whole concept of conscious vs unconscious thought processes as a difference between us and an entirely different alien species was really fascinating.

OR, you might as well read this as a roadtrip novella with some rather interesting companions. :)

No, this wasn't Starman. :)

Suffice to say, I LOVED the end. :)

On to the other nominations! ( )