Aurealis Award

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The Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary prize for Australian science fiction , fantasy and horror literature . The prize has been awarded exclusively to Australians since 1996.

Origin and organization

In 1996 the Aurealis Award was presented for the first time by the publisher of "Aurealis" magazine, Chimaera Publications . It is intended to complement Australia's two other important fantastic prizes, the Ditmar Award and the Australian Children's Book Council Award . In contrast to these literary prizes, the Aurealis Award distinguishes between genres and reader age. In addition, the winners are determined by a group of at least three jurors, each responsible for one category.

Fantastic Queensland has been managing the Aurealis Awards since 2004 . Fantastic Queensland is a non-profit organization that promotes Australian fantasy.

Jurors

An independent group, consisting of at least three jurors (including a chairman) per category, selects the finalists and winners of the Aurealis Awards. The jurors are volunteers from various professions, but all of them are connected with the production of fantastic literature, e.g. B. from publishers, bookstores, libraries. Writers, academics, and book lovers can also serve as jurors.

If the jurors do not come to a decision, the coordinator intervenes.

Development of the categories

Originally, a prize was awarded for the best short story and the best novel in the categories science fiction , fantasy , horror and young adult .

In 2001 a new category for children's books was introduced. While the Young Adult category is aimed at a readership between the ages of 12 and 16, the prizes in the Children’s category are awarded to works that are suitable for children between 8 and 12 years of age. It should be noted that in these two categories no distinction is made between the subgenres of fantasy.

In 2002 the Peter McNamara Conveners' Award for Excellence , named after the former chairman Peter McNamera, was presented for the first time. It can be awarded by the chairpersons of the individual juror groups for special achievements in the fantastic (or related areas), either for a one-off achievement or for the entire life of an author. It is possible, for example, to award a factual text, a collection or anthology , a special event, a workshop or a computer game, insofar as it gives honor and / or attention to the fantastic literature of Australia.

In addition, the Golden Aurealis will be awarded to one of the winners of the other categories after voting by all chairpersons.

Current categories

Awards are currently being given in the main categories of Science Fiction , Fantasy , Horror , Young Adult and Children's . A short story or a shorter work and a novel will be awarded. There are also prizes for the best anthology or collection of works by an author and for the best illustrated book or the best graphic novel .

The Golden Aurealis and the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award for Excellence are also presented.

Award winners

Garth Nix leads the series of Aurealis Award winners with 12 awards won. Sean Williams and Margo Lanagan follow with 9 prizes won .

Science fiction

List of nominees and jury under Aurealis Award / Science Fiction

Novel (novel)
Short novel (Novella)
Short story

Fantasy

Novel (novel)
Short novel (Novella)
Short story

horror

Novel (novel)
Short novel (Novella)
Short story

anthology

Collection

Graphic work (Illustrated Book / Graphic Novel)

Young Adult Book

novel
Short story

Children's book

Narration (long form)
Narration (short form)
Illustrated Work / Picture Book

Golden Aurealis

novel
Short story

Convenors' Award

Kris Hembury Encouragement Award

Web links