| Ditmar Award | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Excellence in science fiction, fantasy, and horror |
| Presented by | Australian National Science Fiction Convention |
| Country | Australia |
| First awarded | 1969 |
The Ditmar Award (formally the Australian SF ("Ditmar") Award; formerly the "Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award") has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention (the "Natcon") to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction (including fantasy and horror) and science fiction fandom. The award is similar to the Hugo Award but on a national rather than international scale.
They are named for Dick "Ditmar" Jensen, an Australian fan and artist, who financially supported the awards at their inception.[1]
The current rules for the award (which had for many years been specified only in the minimalist "Jack Herman constitution") were developed in 2000 and 2001 as a result of controversy resulting from the withdrawal of the works of several prominent writers from eligibility, and the rules are subject to revision by the "Business Meeting" of the Natcon.
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Award-eligible works and persons are first nominated by "natural persons active in fandom, or from full or supporting members of the national convention of the year of the award". Nominations are compiled into a ballot (currently by a sub-committee composed primarily of standing committee members elected at the National SF Convention business meeting) which is distributed to members of the convention, and the previous years convention, for voting, which may continue into the period of the convention ("at-Con voting") at the discretion of the committee.
In 2002 author Greg Egan requested to the Awards subcomittee that all of his works be no longer be considered for the awards due to his concern over a lack of permanent rules governing the Ditmars. His decision was made after his work Teranesia won the award for best novel in 2002, which he declined to accept.[2] It was later determined that an author could refuse an award, but not a nomination. It was for this reason that Greg Egan was nominated for Best Novel in 2000, but upon winning that category he declined to accept the award.
Finalists are given an A4 certificate honouring their achievement and winners are presented with a standard trophy.[3]
Categories were traditionally the prerogative of the convention committee and regularly included "international" categories. This situation was changed by the formalisation of the categories as part of the rules.
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The Best novel category was originally created in 1969 under the name of "Best Australian science fiction". It has been previously awarded under eleven different names.[Note 1][4] In previous years it has been also been open to collections, anthologies, and short fiction.[5][6][7] Its current form was first used in 2000 and has been in constant use since 2002.[8] The Best short story category was first created in 1978 under the name of "Best Australian short fiction". It has changed names three other times up until 2001 when it was named under its current form.[Note 2][4] The category Best fan writer was first created in 1979 under the name "Best Australian fan writer" and has switched back and forth with "Best fan writer" until stopping in its current form in 2004.[Note 3][4] The Best fan artist category was first created in 1980 under the name "Best Australian fantasy/science fiction artist" and has changed names seven times.[Note 4][4] Best artwork was originally created in 1993 under its current name. Up until 2004 the category has appeared under four other names.[Note 5][4] Best achievement was created in 2002 under the name "Best professional achievement" and has been renamed three other times.[Note 6][4]
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Best Australian magazine or anthology was first created for the 1993 awards as "Best periodical" and returned in 1999 as "Best Australian magazine or anthology" before being discontinued after the 1999 awards.[4] Best dramatic presentation was originally created in 1973. It reappeared under the name of "Best Australian science fiction or fantasy dramatic presentation" in 1985, and reappeared again in 1998 under its original name before being discontinued.[4] Best fan achievement was created in 2003 under the name "Best Australian fan achievement" before reappearing under "Best fan achievement" for the years of 2005, 2007 and 2008.[4] Best fan production first appeared in 2000. In 2002 it was split into two separate categories of "Best fan production, fanzine" and "Best fan production, other" before being merged back into a single award for 2004.[4] Best fanzine was first created in 1969 under the name "Best Australian fanzine". It changed name eleven other times before being discontinued under the name of "Best fanzine" in 2008.[Note 7][4] Best International fiction first appeared in 1969 under the name "Best international science fiction" and switched back and forth between the names before being retired in 1989.[4]