Australian Shadows Award
Encyclopedia
The Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award
established by the Australian Horror Writers Association
(AHWA) in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction
written or edited by an Australian. The award was sponsored by Altair Australia Books in its first two years, through the donation of two statuettes created by dark fantasy
artist Brom
(supplied by The Franklin Mint).
For its first four years, the Australian Shadows Award evaluated novels, anthologies, and short stories
against each other in a single category. In 2009, the award was expanded into three categories: Short Fiction, Long Fiction, and Edited Publication. A panel of three judges determine each year's shortlists and a guest judge in each category selects the winner from the respective shortlists. A cash prize of $250 Australian, plus a trophy and a certificate, are provided to the winner in each category.
In 2011, the categories of the award will expand to include Best Horror Novella and Best Horror Collection. The award does not yet have a specific category for poetry or criticism.
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
Winners and joint winners
Nominees on the shortlist
Literary award
A literary award is an award presented to an author who has written a particularly lauded piece or body of work. There are awards for forms of writing ranging from poetry to novels. Many awards are also dedicated to a certain genre of fiction or non-fiction writing . There are also awards...
established by the Australian Horror Writers Association
Australian Horror Writers Association
The Australian Horror Writers Association is a non-profit organisation that commenced in 2003 with the goal of providing a unified voice and sense of community for Australian writers of dark fiction and to further the development of dark fiction in Australia.-History:The AHWA built to some extent...
(AHWA) in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
written or edited by an Australian. The award was sponsored by Altair Australia Books in its first two years, through the donation of two statuettes created by dark fantasy
Dark fantasy
Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...
artist Brom
Gerald Brom
Gerald Brom is an American gothic fantasy artist and illustrator, known for his work in role-playing games, novels, and comics.-Early life:Brom was born March 9, 1965, in Albany, Georgia. As the son of a U.S...
(supplied by The Franklin Mint).
History
Works are judged on their overall effect within the horror genre based on the author's skill, delivery, and the work's lasting resonance. Each year, a director is appointed by the AHWA to administer the award. Finalists are generally announced in March and winners in April/May of each year.For its first four years, the Australian Shadows Award evaluated novels, anthologies, and short stories
Short Stories
Short Stories may refer to:*A plural for Short story*Short Stories , an American pulp magazine published from 1890-1959*Short Stories, a 1954 collection by O. E...
against each other in a single category. In 2009, the award was expanded into three categories: Short Fiction, Long Fiction, and Edited Publication. A panel of three judges determine each year's shortlists and a guest judge in each category selects the winner from the respective shortlists. A cash prize of $250 Australian, plus a trophy and a certificate, are provided to the winner in each category.
In 2011, the categories of the award will expand to include Best Horror Novella and Best Horror Collection. The award does not yet have a specific category for poetry or criticism.
Judges history
2005- Guest judge: Kim WilkinsKim WilkinsKim Wilkins is an Australian writer of popular fiction based in Brisbane, Queensland. She is the author of several mass-market novels, including her debut horror novel, The Infernal , which won Aurealis Awards for both horror and fantasy...
- Award Director: Marty Young
2006
- Judging panel: David Schembri, Miranda Siemienowicz, Mark Smith-Briggs
- Guest judge: Robert HoodRob HoodRobert Hood is an Australian writer and editor recognised as one of Australia's leading horror writers. He has published five young adult novels, three collections of his short fiction, fifteen children's books and over 100 short stories in anthologies and magazines in Australia and overseas...
- Award Director: Marty Young
2007
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya Cummings is an Australian horror short story writer and editor. He lives in Perth, Western Australia with his partner Angela Challis...
, Gary Kemble, Mark Smith-Briggs - Guest judge: Richard HarlandRichard HarlandRichard Harland Richard Harland Richard Harland (born 15 January 1947 in Yorkshire is an English fantasy and science fiction writer, living in New South Wales, Australia. He was born in 1947 in Huddersfield, United Kingdom and migrated to Australia in 1970...
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
2008
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Brett McBeanBrett McBeanBrett McBean is best known as an award winning Australian horror and speculative fiction writer. He was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, and he is a member of the Australian Horror Writers Association...
, Chuck McKenzieChuck McKenzie-Biography:McKenzie was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 1970. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing & Literature. During his life McKenzie has worked various jobs including a commercial artist, restaurant manager, entertainment consultant, and previously as a television... - Guest judge: Sarah Endacott
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
2009
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Chuck McKenzie
- Guest judges: Bill CongreveBill Congreve-Biography:Congreve's first work was published in 1987 with his short story "Collector" which was featured in the Summer 1986/1987 edition of Aphelion Science Fiction Magazine. In 1992 Congreve's first edited anthology was released by Five Islands Press, featuring a short story and introduction by...
(Short Fiction), James Doig (Edited Publication), Martin LivingsMartin LivingsMartin Livings is an Australian author of horror, fantasy and science fiction. He has been writing short stories since 1990 and has been nominated for both the Ditmar Award and Aurealis Award...
(Long Fiction) - Award Director: Shane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya CummingsShane Jiraiya Cummings is an Australian horror short story writer and editor. He lives in Perth, Western Australia with his partner Angela Challis...
2010
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Jeff Ritchie
- Guest judges: Kaaron WarrenKaaron WarrenKaaron Warren is an Australian author of horror, science fiction, and fantasy short stories and novels.She is the author of the short story collections The Grinding House, which won the 2006 ACT Writing and Publishing Awards and Dead Sea Fruit...
(Short Fiction), Rocky WoodRocky WoodRocky Wood is an award-nominated writer and researcher best-known for his books about horror author Stephen King. He is the first non-American to hold the position of President of the Horror Writers Association. Wood was born in Wellington New Zealand and lives in Melbourne, Australia with his...
(Edited Publication), Chuck McKenzie (Long Fiction) - Award Director: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Winners history
In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the awards announcements are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a blue background have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list. If the short story was originally published in a book with other stories rather than by itself or in a magazine, the book title is included after the publisher's name.Winners and joint winners
Nominees on the shortlist
2005–2008
| Year | Author(s)/Editor(s) | Work | Publisher or publication | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | Aurealis Aurealis Aurealis is a Australian speculative fiction magazine published by Chimaera Publications. The magazine was launched in September 1990 to provide a market for speculative fiction writers, with a particular emphasis on raising the profile of Australian authors.In 1995 the magazine instituted the... #36 |
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| Shadowed Realms Shadowed Realms Shadowed Realms was a dark flash fiction online magazine produced by Australian independent publisher Brimstone Press and edited by Angela Challis. A number of stories published in Shadowed Realms have won, or been nominated for, several speculative fiction awards. -Publication history:The first... #3 |
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| & Angela Challis (editors) | Shadow Box | Brimstone Press Brimstone Press Brimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia.... |
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| Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is... #17 |
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| CSFG Publishing | ||||
| * | ABC Books | |||
| Prime Books Prime Books Edited by two-time Hugo-nominee and 2006 World Fantasy-winner Sean Wallace, Prime Books is an award-winning independent publishing house, specializing in a mix of literary/commercial anthologies, collections, novels, and two magazines: Fantasy Magazine and Lightspeed Magazine. Some of its... (Through Soft Air Through Soft Air Through Soft Air is the first short story collection from Australian speculative fiction writer Lee Battersby. Printed in 2006, it was published by US Publisher Prime Books.-Stories:The collection contains the following stories:... ) |
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| Eidolon Books (Eidolon I Eidolon I Eidolon I is a 2006 speculative fiction anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan and Jeremy G. Byrne.-Background:Eidolon I was first published in 2006 by Eidolon Books in trade paperback format... ) |
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| Brutarian #47 | ||||
| Eidolon Books (Eidolon I Eidolon I Eidolon I is a 2006 speculative fiction anthology edited by Jonathan Strahan and Jeremy G. Byrne.-Background:Eidolon I was first published in 2006 by Eidolon Books in trade paperback format... ) |
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| * | Night Shade Books Night Shade Books Night Shade Books is an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding... (Eclipse 1) |
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| Aurealis Aurealis Aurealis is a Australian speculative fiction magazine published by Chimaera Publications. The magazine was launched in September 1990 to provide a market for speculative fiction writers, with a particular emphasis on raising the profile of Australian authors.In 1995 the magazine instituted the... #38/39 |
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| Mortbury Press (The Black Book of Horror) | ||||
| Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is... #28 |
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| Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... (Fantastic Wonder Stories) |
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| Hachette Livre Hachette Livre -France:*Calmann-Lévy*Deux Coqs d'Or*Disney Hachette Edition*EDICEF*Editions 1*Editions du Chêne**E.P.A*Éditions Dunod*Editions Foucher*Editions Stock*Fayard**Editions Mille et Une Nuits**Editions Mazarine**Pauvert*Gautier-Languereau*Grasset... |
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| * | Graveside Books (The Beast Within) | |||
| HarperVoyager (Dreaming Again) | ||||
| Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine and webzine published out of Glenn Innes, New South Wales, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Robbie Matthews and is... #37 |
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| HarperVoyager (Dreaming Again) | ||||
| Black: Australian Dark Culture #2 |
Long Fiction
| Year | Author(s) | Long fiction | Publisher | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | Slights Slights Slights is a 2009 horror novel by Australian writer Kaaron Warren. It is her debut novel and is about a woman who withdraws from society and has near death experiences in which she enters a dark room where she is tormented by people she had previously slighted... |
Angry Robot | ||
| Twelfth Planet Press | ||||
| Red Queen | Penguin Australia | |||
| Coeur de Lion Publishing (X6) | ||||
| Hachette Australia | ||||
| Under Stones | Affirm Press | |||
| Bleed | Twelfth Planet Press | |||
| Guardian of the Dead | Allen & Unwin Allen & Unwin Allen & Unwin, formerly a major British publishing house, is now an independent book publisher and distributor based in Australia. The Australian directors have been the sole owners of the Allen & Unwin name since effecting a management buy out at the time the UK parent company, Unwin Hyman, was... |
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| Madigan Mine | Picador Australia | |||
| Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... |
Edited Publication
| Year | Editor(s) | Work | Publisher | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| & Amanda Pillar* | Grants Pass | Morrigan Books | ||
| Festive Fear | Tasmaniac Publications | |||
| Aurealis Aurealis Aurealis is a Australian speculative fiction magazine published by Chimaera Publications. The magazine was launched in September 1990 to provide a market for speculative fiction writers, with a particular emphasis on raising the profile of Australian authors.In 1995 the magazine instituted the... #42 |
Chimaera Publications Chimaera Publications Chimaera Publications is a publisher based in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia. The company currently publishes the speculative fiction magazine Aurealis as well as running the Aurealis Awards.-History:... |
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| & Marty Young | Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears | Brimstone Press Brimstone Press Brimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia.... |
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| Midnight Echo #4 | Australian Horror Writers Association Australian Horror Writers Association The Australian Horror Writers Association is a non-profit organisation that commenced in 2003 with the goal of providing a unified voice and sense of community for Australian writers of dark fiction and to further the development of dark fiction in Australia.-History:The AHWA built to some extent... |
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| Scary Kisses | Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... |
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| & Pete Kempshall | Scenes From The Second Storey | Morrigan Books | ||
| Dark Pages 1 | Blade Red Press |
Short Fiction
| Year | Author(s) | Short story | Publisher or publication | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| * | Twelfth Planet Press (A Book of Endings) | |||
| Midnight Echo #2 | ||||
| Midnight Echo #3 | ||||
| Midnight Echo #2 | ||||
| Ash-Tree Press (Exotic Gothic 3) | ||||
| Morrigan Books (Scenes from the Second Storey Scenes from the Second Storey Scenes from the Second Storey is the debut album by The God Machine released in 1993 by Fiction Records / Polydor. It peaked at #55 in the UK Album Chart.... ) |
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| Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... (Scary Kisses) |
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| Twelfth Planet Press (Sprawl Sprawl Sprawl can refer to:*Sprawl , a defensive technique in wrestling and martial arts used to prevent a takedown.*Urban sprawl, also called suburban sprawl... ) |
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| Brimstone Press Brimstone Press Brimstone Press was an Australian independent publisher of dark fiction . Brimstone Press was established in 2004 by Angela Challis and Shane Jiraiya Cummings and was based in Western Australia.... (Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears) |
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| Morrigan Books (Scenes from the Second Storey Scenes from the Second Storey Scenes from the Second Storey is the debut album by The God Machine released in 1993 by Fiction Records / Polydor. It peaked at #55 in the UK Album Chart.... ) |
Honourable mentions
| Year | Author(s) | Work | Publisher or publication | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 2006 in literature The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings... |
Shadowed Realms Shadowed Realms Shadowed Realms was a dark flash fiction online magazine produced by Australian independent publisher Brimstone Press and edited by Angela Challis. A number of stories published in Shadowed Realms have won, or been nominated for, several speculative fiction awards. -Publication history:The first... #9 |
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| 2006 2006 in literature The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings... |
Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... (Troy) |
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| 2006 2006 in literature The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings... |
Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear is a collection of horror stories by Terry Dowling, a bumper collection in hardcover of the best of his weird and supernatural fiction, which includes two previously uncollected tales... |
Cemetery Dance Publications Cemetery Dance Publications Cemetery Dance Publications is a specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense. Cemetery Dance was founded by Richard Chizmar, a horror author, while he was in college. It is associated with Cemetery Dance magazine, which was founded in 1988. They began to publish books in 1992.Cemetery... |
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| 2006 2006 in literature The year 2006 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Literature:*Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - Half of a Yellow Sun*Chris Adrian - The Children's Hospital *Martin Amis - House of Meetings... |
Lothian Books | |||
| 2007 2007 in literature The year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:... |
& John Sunseri John Sunseri John Sunseri is a horror writer from Portland, Oregon in the United States. As well as writing traditional horror fiction he also writes Lovecraftian horror. John spent two years at Yale University studying a major in English. Today he manages a restaurant.Writing since 2001, John has published... |
Chaosium Chaosium Chaosium is one of the longer lived publishers of role-playing games still in existence. Founded by Greg Stafford, its first game was actually a wargame, White Bear and Red Moon, which later mutated into Dragon Pass and its sequel, Nomad Gods... |
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| 2007 2007 in literature The year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:... |
Eneit Press (In Bad Dreams) | |||
| 2007 2007 in literature The year 2007 in literature involves some significant new books.-Events:*November 19 - First Kindle e-book reader released.*December 11 - Terry Pratchett informs fans on-line that he has been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.-Literature:... |
Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications Ticonderoga Publications is an Australian independent publishing house founded by Russell B. Farr in 1996 and now run by Farr and Liz Grzyb. The publisher specialises in collections of science fiction short stories.-History and current:... (Fantastic Wonder Stories) |