The first round of voting for this year’s Goodreads Choice Awards has opened. Although they claim to be voting on the best books of 2015, the eligibility window is actually from mid-November 2014 to mid-November 2015, which is rather silly.

Anyway, the usual categories exist, and the usual nonsense about gendered reading habits is being perpetuated. Of 15 finalists in science fiction, only one (Ancillary Mercy) is by a woman. Fantasy looks rather better with 9 women out of 15. In Young Adult SF&F 14 of the 15 finalists are by women. Horror has 4 women out of 15.

Mostly the finalists look uninspiring, and occasionally oddly categorized. Uprooted is in YA, and I don’t recall it being sold as such. Charlie Stross’s The Annihilation Score is in Horror, though personally I read the Laundry novels for the comedy. Bizarrely, neither Radiance by Cat Valente nor Planetfall by Emma Newman has made the SF finalists list. However, you are allowed write-in votes at this stage. Much as I love Ancillary Mercy, I’d rather see one of those two get the prize this time around. Luna: New Moon should be on the list too, but isn’t.

The Graphic Novel category, however, is full of awesome: Saga, Rat Queens, Lovelace & Babbage, Goddess of Thunder, Ms. Marvel, Squirrel Girl, Lumberjanes. I was spoiled for choice.

Should you wish to vote, the ballot is here.