Science Fiction

Science Fiction

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Awards

Whether you're looking for a good read, or looking to get some recognition for your own work, these awards are worth checking out!

Let's look at a few of them.

Hugo Award:

The Hugo Award was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, "The Father of Magazine Science Fiction." Gernsback is the founder of the science fiction magazine "Amazing Stories."

The award is also known as the Science Fiction Achievement Award, and is given annually by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) for science fiction and fantasy works for the previous year. Nominees and winners are chosen by members of WSFS.

Just a few of the many Hugo Awards given every year:

Best Novelette, Best Short Story, Best Related Book, Best Semiprozine, Best Professional Artist, Best Editor Long Form, Best Editor Short Form, Best Fanzine, Best Fan Artist, Best Fan Writer

The Nebula Award:

The Nebula is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the two previous years.

Each work is eligible to qualify for the ballot for one year following its date of publication. During this one-year window, SFWA members can nominate the work for the Nebula ballot. When a work has received ten nominations, it immediately qualifies for the current year's preliminary Nebula ballot. Early the following year, SFWA members vote on the works on the preliminary ballot, narrowing the field down to a final ballot of about five works in each category. SFWA members then vote on the final ballot.

The first Nebulas were given for the year 1965. Frank Herbert's Dune won as best novel.

The categories for Nebula Awards:

Novel: a work of 40,000 words or more; Novella: a work of at least 17,500 words but under 40,000 words; Novelette: a work of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words; Short story: a work of under 7,500 words; Script: a script for movie, tv or radio show, play

World Fantasy Award

The World Fantasy awards are considered among the most prestigious awards given to speculative fiction (including science fiction and fantasy) This award began in 1975, and is given yearly at the World Fantasy Convention. What is different about this type of award (as opposed to Hugo and Nebula) is that it is overseen by judges.

Awards given by WFC:

Novel Novella (10,001 to 40,000 words); Short Fiction (under 10,000 words); Anthology (multiple author - original or reprint - single or multiple editors); Collection (single author - original or reprint - single or multiple editors); Artist Special Awards; Convention Award; Life Achievement; Special Award: Professional; Special Award: Non-Professional

British Fantasy Society Awards

These awards are given annually by the British Fantasy Society (BFS) to honor fantasy and horror fiction.

Categories for the BFSA:

Novel, Novella, Short Fiction, Collection, Anthology, Small Press, Artist, Non-Fiction

Aurora Awards

The Prix Aurora Award is Canada's fantasy award. The first Aurora was presented to expatriate Canadian author A. E. Van Vogt. It was then known as The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Award.

The Arurora awards are chosen in the same manner as the Hugo Awards, by nominations and then voting by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association.

A few of the categories of Aurora Awards:

Best Long-Form Work in English, Best Long-Form Work in French, Best Short-Form Work in English, Best Short-Form Work in French, Artistic Achievement, Fan Achievement (Publication), Fan Achievement (Organizational), Fan Achievement (Other)

Mythopoeic Awards

Hosted by the Mythopoeic Society, the Mythopoeic Awards are given to works that exemplify "the spirit of the Inklings"-a gathering of British Christian males at Oxford during the 1930s and 1940s which included J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. The finalists and winners are determined by a committee of Mythopoeic Society members and are announced every Summer at Mythcon.

Awards are given in the following categories:

Adult Literature and Children's Literature

Each of these awards have their own websites, and I highly recommend visiting them. You will find further information on each, guidelines for submissions and entries, as well as a list of previous winners.

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

 

About the Author

What's a really good science fiction series?

I've already read the Dune series, pretty much all of Asimov's books, Orson Scott Card, Arthur C. Clarke, and several other series. What is another really good science fiction series? And I would prefer books that are more realistic science fiction, not super-crazy stuff.

Robert Heinlein's "Stranger In A Strange Land" and "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" are must reads. I also enjoyed his novel "Friday." These books are not a series per se, but later in his life Heinlein tried to unite all of his stories into a grand story arc-and failed in that respect.

Philip K. Dick wrote some interesting stuff. I enjoyed "A Scanner Darkly" and "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?" Again these books are not connected at all except by the author.

Debra Doyle and James D. MacDonald's "Mageworlds" series is good. Start with "The Gathering Flame" which sets the backdrop for the primary story arc in "The Price Of The Stars," "Starpilot's Grave," and "By Honor Betray'd."

Louise Bujold McMaster's Vorkorsigan saga is also interesting, but tame compared to "Dune."

For lighter reading Robert Asprin's "Phule's" series is pretty good. Not overly sci-fi but Asprin does a good job teaching leadership methods. If you want something a bit more substantial try Robert Asprin & Linda Evans' "Time Scout" books.

Science fiction-Science fact