Holy summer reading crunch Batman, the Hugo Ballot is out !!!!!

Lots to read before you hop on the plane to Glasgow, Scotland in early August (4-7). All 5 authors have never won the hugo or nebula and they are all UKers. I will host unofficial blog vote here in July with a prize bleep worth 20 Euros. Be sure to form an opinion, bias or whim before August 3.
The candidates for best novel are:

The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
Iron Council by China Mieville
Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
River of Gods by Ian McDonald