Aurealis Award for Best Science Fiction Novel explained

Aurealis Award for best science fiction novel
Awarded For:Excellence in science fiction novels
Presenter:Chimaera Publications,
Continuum Foundation
Country:Australia
Year:1995
Holder:Tansy Rayner Roberts
Website:Official site

The Aurealis Awards are presented annually by the Australia-based Chimaera Publications and WASFF to published works in order to "recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror writers".[1] To qualify, a work must have been first published by an Australian citizen or permanent resident between 1 January and 31 December of the corresponding year;[2] the presentation ceremony is held the following year. It has grown from a small function of around 20 people to a two-day event attended by over 200 people.[3]

Since their creation in 1995, awards have been given in various categories of speculative fiction. Categories currently include science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative young adult fiction—with separate awards for novels and short fiction—collections, anthologies, illustrative works or graphic novels, children's books, and an award for excellence in speculative fiction.[1] The awards have attracted the attention of publishers by setting down a benchmark in science fiction and fantasy. The continued sponsorship by publishers such as HarperCollins and Orbit has identified the award as an honour to be taken seriously.[4]

The results are decided by a panel of judges from a list of submitted nominees; the long-list of nominees is reduced to a short-list of finalists.[1] The judges are selected from a public application process by the Award's management team.[5]

This article lists all the short-list nominees and winners in the best science fiction novel category, as well as novels that have received honourable mentions. Since 2003, honourable mentions have been awarded intermittently. Damien Broderick and Jay Kristoff have won the award three times, while five have won it twice – K. A. Bedford, Greg Egan, Amie Kaufman, Sean McMullen, and Sean Williams. Williams holds the record for most nominations with 14. Rory Barnes, James Bradley, Simon Brown, Sara Creasy, Nina D'Aleo, Joel Shepherd, Meagan Spooner, Graham Storrs, and Tess Williams share the record for most nominations without winning, each having been nominated twice.

Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies 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.

Winners and joint winners
Nominees on the shortlist

YearAuthor(s)NovelPublisherRef
Distress [6]
Mirrorsun Rising
Set Piece
Metal Fatigue [7]
Privateer
Map of Power
[8]
Zones
Winter
Diaspora
[9]
Singing the Dogstar Blues
Teranesia [10]
Spare Parts
[11]
Sea as Mirror
& Shane Dix* [12]
Cosmonaut
Eyes of the Calculor
Crossover
Transcension [13]
Blue Silence
Echoes of Earth
& Kate Orman* Fallen Gods [14]
Wyrmhole
Terminator Gene
Blue Box
Orphans of Earth
Less Than Human [15]
Orbital Burn
Nylon Angel
Heirs of Earth
Eclipse [16]
Designated Targets
Crash Deluxe
Ascent
K-Machines [17]
Hydrogen Steel
Underground
Descent
[18]
Dark Space
Remote Control
Saturn Returns
Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait [19]
Chaos Space
Earth Ascendant
Wonders of a Godless World [20]
Transformation Space [21]
Song of Scarabaeus [22]
Mirror Space
[23]
Machine Man [24]
Children of Scarabaeus
Black Glass
[25]
Suited [26]
Momentum
And All the Stars Andrea K. Hosth
Walker Books
Lexicon [27]
Trucksong [28]
True Path Momentum
Rupetta
Peacemaker Angry Robot [29]
Aurora: Meridian Momentum
Nil By Mouth
Momentum
Their Shattered World
Foresight Momentum
and Jay Kristoff* Illuminae
Crossed (self-published)
Clade Penguin
Their Fractured Light
Renegade
Twinmaker: Fall
and Jay Kristoff* Gemima: The Illuminae Files 2 [30]
Watershed
Confluence
Squid's Grief (self-published)
Stiletto
Threader
From the Wreck
Closing Down
Terra Nullius
Year of the Orphan
Lotus Blue
Lifel1k3
Scales of Empire
Obsidio
Dyschronia
Aurora Rising Allen & Unwin[31]
The Subjects [32]
The Trespassers University of Queensland Press
The Year of the Fruit Cake
The Glad Shout Affirm
Daughter of Bad Times Allen & Unwin
The Animals in That CountryScribe[33]
Repo VirtualTor.com Publishing[34]
Ghost SpeciesPenguin/Hamish Hamilton[35]
and Jay KristoffAurora BurningAllen & Unwin
FaunaAllen & Unwin
The Mother FaultSimon & Schuster
Waking RomeoAllen & Unwin[36] [37] [38]
The 22 Murders of Madison MayHachette Australia
Stealing TimeStory Addict Publishing
Papa Lucy & The BonemanOutland Entertainment
and Jay KristoffAurora’s EndAllen & Unwin
Deepwater KingHarperCollins Publishers
36 StreetsTitan[39]
HoveringHachette
The StrangerAllen & Unwin
Here Goes NothingHamish Hamilton
BootstrapText
2023Tansy Rayner RobertsTime of the CatSelf-published[40]
Kylie ChanMinds of Sand and LightHarperCollins Publishers[41]
Roanna McClellandWakefield Press
Aliens: BishopTitan
Marko NewmanDronikusAndAlso Books
Keith StevensonTraitor's Runcoeur de leon publishing

Honourable mentions

In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aurealis Awards – About Us . . 2010-01-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100814054206/http://www.aurealisawards.com/AboutUs.htm . 14 August 2010 . dead .
  2. Web site: Aurealis Awards – Rules and Conditions . . 2010-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120505121118/http://www.aurealisawards.com/Rules.htm . 5 May 2012 . dead .
  3. Web site: Horror a hit . . . 2007-02-02 . Jason . Nahrung . 2010-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070404104456/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21153270-5003424,00.html . 4 April 2007 . live .
  4. Koval, Ramona (presenter) . 2009-02-05 . Spotlight on speculative fiction writers . mp3 . 1:18–2:16 . Radio broadcast . . https://web.archive.org/web/20090214013326/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/stories/2009/2483009.htm . 14 February 2009 . live .
  5. Web site: Aurealis Awards – FAQ . . 2010-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100316082702/http://www.aurealisawards.com/FAQ.htm . 16 March 2010 . dead .
  6. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1996 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014358/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis1996.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  7. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1997 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014404/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis1997.html . 24 April 2010 . live .
  8. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1998 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014409/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis1998.html . 24 April 2010 . live .
  9. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1999 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424013317/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis1999.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  10. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2000 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424092453/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2000.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  11. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2001 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424013332/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2001.html . 24 April 2010 . live .
  12. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2002 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014414/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2002.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  13. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2003 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424100210/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2003.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  14. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2004 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014419/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2004.html . 24 April 2010 . live .
  15. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2005 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100423084551/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2005.html . 23 April 2010 . live .
  16. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2006 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100420221639/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2006.html . 20 April 2010 . dead .
  17. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2007 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100423065700/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2007.html . 23 April 2010 . dead .
  18. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2008 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100424014424/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2008.html . 24 April 2010 . dead .
  19. Web site: The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2009 Aurealis Awards . . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100103043752/http://locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Aurealis2009.html . 3 January 2010 . dead .
  20. Web site: Aurealis Awards 2009: Science Fiction Novel Judges' Report . . 2010-01-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707185343/http://aurealisawards.com/downloads/SFNovel.pdf . 7 July 2011 . dead .
  21. Web site: 2010 Aurealis Award winners . SpecFaction NSW . 21 May 2011 . 2011-05-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110821155648/http://www.aurealisawards.com/winners2010.pdf . 21 August 2011 . dead .
  22. Web site: Aurealis Awards Finalists 2010 . SpecFaction NSW . 2011-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110521042923/http://www.aurealisawards.com/finalists2010.pdf . 21 May 2011 . dead .
  23. Web site: 2011 Aurealis Award winners . SpecFaction NSW . 2012-05-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130903075928/http://www.aurealisawards.com/media-release_winners2011.pdf . 3 September 2013 . dead .
  24. Web site: Aurealis Awards Finalists 2011 . SpecFaction NSW . 2011-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120503231940/http://www.aurealisawards.com/finalists2011.pdf . 3 May 2012 . dead .
  25. Web site: 2012 Aurealis Award winners . SpecFaction NSW . 2013-05-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131030221659/http://www.aurealisawards.com/AA-winners_2012_media-release.pdf . 30 October 2013 .
  26. Web site: 2012 Aurealis Awards finalists announced . SpecFaction NSW . 2013-04-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150218061332/http://www.aurealisawards.com/media-release_finalists-March-2013.pdf . 18 February 2015 .
  27. Web site: 2013 Aurealis Awards Winners . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080206045120/http://www.aurealisawards.com/ . 6 February 2008 . 2014-04-07 . Conflux.
  28. Web site: 2013 Aurealis Awards finalists announced . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140315100521/http://www.aurealisawards.com/Media%20Release%20-%20Finalists%20Feb%202014.pdf . 15 March 2014 . 2014-03-15 . Conflux.
  29. Web site: And the winners are... . Conflux . 2015-04-12 . 12 April 2015 . 25 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150525060344/http://aurealisawards.org/2015/04/12/and-the-winners-are/ . live .
  30. Web site: The winners of the 2016 Aurealis Awards!. 2017-04-14. WASFF. 2017-04-16. 16 April 2017. https://archive.today/20170416210023/https://aurealisawards.org/2017/04/14/announcing-the-winners-of-the-2016-aurealis-awards/. live.
  31. Web site: 2020-07-29. Aurealis Awards 2019 winners announced. 2020-08-03. Books+Publishing. en-AU. 16 February 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230216120222/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/07/29/154412/aurealis-awards-2019-winners-announced/. live.
  32. Web site: Aurealis Awards 2019 finalists announced. 2020-03-27. Books+Publishing. en-AU. 2021-09-07. 29 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200329062230/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2020/03/27/148459/aurealis-awards-2019-finalists-announced/. live.
  33. Web site: 2021-07-09. Aurealis Awards 2020 winners announced. live. 2021-07-09. Books+Publishing. en-AU. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709012007/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/09/189384/aurealis-awards-2020-winners-announced/ . 9 July 2021 .
  34. Web site: 2021-07-09. Aurealis Awards 2020 winners announced. live. 2021-07-09. Books+Publishing. en-AU. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709012007/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/09/189384/aurealis-awards-2020-winners-announced/ . 9 July 2021 .
  35. Web site: 2021-04-06. Aurealis Awards 2020 finalists announced. live. 2021-04-07. Books+Publishing. en-AU. https://web.archive.org/web/20210415102926/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/04/06/184772/aurealis-awards-2020-finalists-announced/ . 15 April 2021 .
  36. Web site: sfadb: Aurealis Awards 2022 . 2022-08-02 . www.sfadb.com . 23 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220623022251/https://www.sfadb.com/Aurealis_Awards_2022 . live .
  37. Web site: aaconvenor . 2022-05-28 . 2021 Aurealis Awards Winners . 2022-08-02 . Aurealis Awards . en . 28 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220628142938/https://aurealisawards.org/2022/05/28/1204/ . live .
  38. Web site: locusmag . 2022-05-31 . 2021 Aurealis Awards Winners . 2022-08-02 . Locus Online . en-US . 3 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230203163206/https://locusmag.com/2022/05/2021-aurealis-awards-winners/ . live .
  39. Web site: 2023-03-10 . Aurealis Awards shortlists announced . 2023-03-11 . Books+Publishing . 11 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230311222452/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/03/10/228046/aurealis-awards-shortlists-announced/ . live .
  40. Web site: aaconvenor . 2024-05-18 . 2023 Aurealis Awards Winners . 2024-05-29 . Aurealis Awards . en . 29 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240529115210/https://aurealisawards.org/2024/05/18/2023-aurealis-awards-winners/ . live .
  41. Web site: aaconvenor . 2024-03-15 . 2023 Aurealis Awards Shortlist Announcement . 2024-05-29 . Aurealis Awards . en . 26 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240326004026/https://aurealisawards.org/2024/03/15/2023-aurealis-awards-shortlist-announcement/ . live .
  42. Web site: Aurealis Awards, previous years' results . . 1995–2008 . 2010-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101224172144/http://www.aurealisawards.com/downloads/history1995_2008.pdf.pdf . 24 December 2010 . dead .