Australian Shadows Awards
| Australian Shadows Awards | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | Excellence in horror fiction |
| Location | Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Presented by | Australian Horror Writers Association |
| First awarded | 2005 |
| Official website | Australianhorror.com |
The Australian Shadows Awards are annual literary awards established by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) in 2005 to honour the best published works of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian/New Zealand/Oceania resident in the previous calendar year.
Awards Criteria & 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. Shortlists for each category are determined by a panel of judges, and the shortlisted nominees are announced in March/April every year.
From 2005 to 2008, 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.
From 2011, the award was restructured to consist of five categories: Novel; Long Fiction (novellas and novelettes); Short Fiction (short stories); Collection (single author collections); and Edited Publication (anthologies and magazine issues). In 2013, the 'Long Fiction' award category was renamed 'Paul Haines Shadows Award for Long Fiction' in honour of Australian author Paul Haines.
The Australian Shadows Awards were 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). Currently, winners of the awards receive a hand crafted trophy from the masters of the horror special effects industry, Nightshade FX.
Awards Winners and Nominees
In the below list, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the awards are always announced the following year. 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.
2005
Judges
- Guest judge: Kim Wilkins
- Award Director: Marty Young
Winner
- "Father Muerte and the Flesh", Lee Battersby, Aurealis #36
Nominees
- "Pater Familias", Lee Battersby, Shadowed Realms #3
- Shadow Box, Shane Jiraiya Cummings & Angela Challis (editors), Brimstone Press
- "The Red Priest's Homecoming", Dirk Flinthart, 'Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #17
- The Grinding House, Kaaron Warren, CSFG Publishing
2006
Judges
- Judging panel: David Schembri, Miranda Siemienowicz, Mark Smith-Briggs
- Guest judge: Robert Hood
- Award Director: Marty Young
Winner
- The Pilo Family Circus, Will Elliott, ABC Books
Nominees
- "Father Renoir's Hands", Lee Battersby, Through Soft Air, Prime Books
- "The Dying Light", Deborah Biancotti, Eidolon I, Eidolon Books
- "The Blow-Off", Stephen Dedman, Brutarian #47
- "The Bridal Bier", Carol Ryles, Eidolon I, Eidolon Books
Honourable mentions
- "Silk and Pearls", K. J. Bishop, Shadowed Realms #9
- "The Cup of Nestor", Simon Brown, Ticonderoga Publications
- Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear, Terry Dowling, Cemetery Dance Publications
- The Mother, Brett McBean, Lothian Books
2007
Judges
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Gary Kemble, Mark Smith-Briggs
- Guest judge: Richard Harland
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
Winner
- "Toother", Terry Dowling, Eclipse 1, Night Shade Books
Nominees
- "Between the Memories", Matthew Chrulew, Aurealis #38/39
- "Subtle Invasion", David Conyers, The Black Book of Horror, Mortbury Press
- "The Dark and What It Said", Rick Kennett, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #28
- "There Was Darkness", Martin Livings, Fantastic Wonder Stories, Ticonderoga Publications
- The Darkness Within, Jason Nahrung, Hachette Livre
Honourable mentions
- The Spiraling Worm, David Conyers & John Sunseri, Chaosium
- "Cooling the Crows", Kaaron Warren, In Bad Dreams, Eneit Press
- "The Wildflowers", Marty Young, Fantastic Wonder Stories, Ticonderoga Publications
2008
Judges
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Brett McBean, Chuck McKenzie
- Guest judge: Sarah Endacott
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
Winner
- "The Claws of Native Ghosts", Lee Battersby, The Beast Within, Graveside Books
Nominees
- "This Way To The Exit", Sara Douglass, Dreaming Again, HarperVoyager
- "Rick Gets A Job", Jason Fischer, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #37
- "Lakeside", Christopher Green, Dreaming Again, HarperVoyager
- "Her Collection of Intimacy", Paul Haines, 'Black: Australian Dark Culture #2
2009
Judges
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Chuck McKenzie
- Guest judges: Bill Congreve (Short Fiction), James Doig (Edited Publication), Martin Livings (Long Fiction)
- Award Director: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Long Fiction
Winner
Nominees
- A Book of Endings, Deborah Biancotti, Twelfth Planet Press
- Red Queen, Honey Brown, Penguin Australia
- "Wives", Paul Haines, X6, Coeur de Lion Publishing
- The Dead Path, Stephen M. Irwin, Hachette Australia
Edited Publication
Winner
- Grants Pass, Jennifer Brozek & Amanda Pillar, Morrigan Books
Nominees
- Festive Fear, Stephen Clark, Tasmaniac Publications
- Aurealis #42, Stuart Mayne, Chimaera Publications
Short Fiction
Winner
- "Six Suicides", Deborah Biancotti, A Book of Endings, Twelfth Planet Press
Nominees
- "The Emancipated Dance", Felicity Dowker, Midnight Echo #2
- "Busking", Jason Fischer, Midnight Echo #3
- "The Message", Andrew J. McKiernan, Midnight Echo #2
- "The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfalls", Kaaron Warren, Exotic Gothic 3, Ash-Tree Press
2010
Judges
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Jeff Ritchie
- Guest judges: Kaaron Warren (Short Fiction), Rocky Wood (Edited Publication), Chuck McKenzie (Long Fiction)
- Award Director: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Long Fiction
Winner
- Under Stones, Bob Franklin, Affirm Press
Nominees
- Bleed, Peter M. Ball, Twelfth Planet Press
- Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healy, Allen & Unwin
- Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott, Picador Australia
- The Girl With No Hands, Angela Slatter, Ticonderoga Publications
Edited Publication
Winner
- Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears, Angela Challis &[Marty Young, Brimstone Press
Nominees
- Midnight Echo #4, Lee Battersby, Australian Horror Writers Association
- Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb, Ticonderoga Publications
- Scenes From The Second Storey, Amanda Pillar & Pete Kempshall, Morrigan Books
Short Fiction
Winner
- "She Said", Kirstyn McDermott, Scenes from the Second Storey, Morrigan Books
Nominees
- "Bread and Circuses", Felicity Dowker, Scary Kisses, Ticonderoga Publications
- "Brisneyland by Night", Angela Slatter, Sprawl, Twelfth Planet Press
- "All The Clowns In Clowntown", Andrew J. McKiernan, Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears, Brimstone Press
- "Dream Machine", David Conyers, Scenes from the Second Storey, Morrigan Books
2011
Judges
- Judging Panel: Marty Young, James A. Moore
Novel
Winner
- No award
Honourable Mention
- The Broken Ones, Stephen M. Irwin
Long Fiction
Winner
- "The Past is a Bridge Best Left Burnt", Paul Haines
Nominees
- "And the Dead Shall Outnumber the Living", Deborah Biancotti
- "Sleeping and the Dead", Cat Sparks
- "From the Teeth of Strange Children", Lisa L. Hannett
Short Fiction
Winner
- "Shovel Man Joe", Amanda J. Spedding
Nominees
- "Taking It for the Team", Tracie McBride
- "The Sea at Night", by Joanne Anderton
- "The Wanderer in Darkness", Andrew J. McKiernan
- "Out Hunting for Teeth", Joanne Anderton
Edited Publication
Winner
- Dead Red Heart, Russell B. Farr (ed)
Nominees
- More Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb (ed)
- Midnight Echo 6, David Kernot, David Conyers and Jason Fischer (eds)
- The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Liz Grzyb and Talie Helene (eds)
Collection Publication
Winner
- Tales of Sin and Madness, Brett McBean
Nominees
- Bluegrass Symphony, Lisa L. Hannett
- The Last Days of Kali Yuga, Paul Haines
- Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies, Lucy Sussex
- Apocrypha Sequence, Shane Jiraiya Cummings
2012
Judges
- Short Stories/Collections/Edited Works Panel: Steve Gerlach, Greg Chapman, Stephen Clark
- Novels/Novellas Panel: Gerry Huntman, Jenny Blackford, B. Michael Radburn
Novel
Winner
- Perfections, Kirstyn McDermott
Nominees
- The Corpse Rat King, Lee Battersby
- Blood and Dust, Jason Nahrung
Long Fiction
Winner
- "Sky", Kaaron Warren
Nominees
- "Critique", Daniel I Russell
- "Escena de un Asesinato", Robert Hood
Short Fiction
Winner
- "Birthday Suit", Martin Livings
Nominees
- "To Wish On A Clockwork Heart", Felicity Dowker
- "Pigroot Flat", Jason Fischer
- "Birthday Suit", Martin Livings
- "They Don't Know That We Know What They Know", Andrew J McKiernan
- "Creek", Kaaron Warren
- "Mountain", Kaaron Warren
- "Road", Kaaron Warren
- "A Monstrous Touch", Marty Young
Edited Publication
Winner
- Surviving The End, Craig Bezant
Nominees
- Cthulu Unbound 3, David Conyers (Co-edited Brian M. Sammons)
- The Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror, Liz Grzyb & Talie Helene
Collection Publication
Winner
- Through Splintered Walls, Kaaron Warren
Nominees
- Bread and Circuses, Felicity Dowker
- Living With The Dead, Martin Livings
2013
Judges
- Short Stories/Collections/Edited Works Panel: Steve Gerlach, Gitte Christensen, Lee Pietzers
- Novels/Novellas Panel: Gerry Huntman, Geoff Brown, Chuck McKenzie
Novel
Winner
- 809 Jacob Street, Marty Young
Nominees
- Undead Kelly, Timothy Bowden
- Topsiders, Scott Tyson
- 809 Jacob Street, Marty Young
Paul Haines Shadows Award for Long Fiction
Winner
- "The Unwanted Women of Surrey", Kaaron Warren
Nominees
- "Soul Killer", Robert Hood
- "The Home For Broken Dolls", Kirstyn McDermott
- "The Unwanted Women of Surrey", Kaaron Warren
Short Fiction
Winner
- "Caterpillars", Debbie Cowens
Nominees
- "Nip, Tuck, Zip, Pluck", John Paul Fitch
- "Fence Lines", Joanne Anderton
- "The Nest", C. S. McMullen
- "Caterpillars", Debbie Cowens
- "The Dead Way", JC Hart
Edited Publication
Winner
- Baby Teeth - Bite Sized Tales of Terror, Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray (eds)
Nominees
- Midnight Echo 9, Geoff Brown (ed)
- A Killer Among Demons, Craig Bezant (ed)
- Baby Teeth - Bite Sized Tales of Terror, Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray (eds)
- Star Quake 1, Sophie Yorkston (ed)
Collected Works
Winner
- The Bone Chime Song and other stories, Jo Anderton (FableCroft Publishing).
Nominees
- There was no nominee shortlist in 2013.
References
- General
- 2009 Australian Shadows Award: Finalists (Accessed 16 May 2010).
- "News: Australian Shadows Award Expands". HorrorScope (Accessed 12 September 2009).
- "News: Australian Shadows finalists". HorrorScope (Accessed 14 February 2009).
- Kemble, Gary. (17 March 2007). "Elliott wins Australian Shadows award". ABC online news (Articulate).
- Kemble, Gary. (13 March 2009). "Lee Battersby Snares 2nd Australian Shadows Award" ABC News (Articulate). (Accessed 21 March 2009).
- Siemienowicz, Miranda (16 March 2007). "News: Australian Shadows winner announced". HorrorScope
- Specific