Saturday, August 15, 2020

Aurora Awards (Canadian Speculative fiction) for 2020

Best Fan Related Work

Derek Newman-Stille, Speculating Canada


Best Fan Organizational

Derek Künsken and Marie Bilodeau, co-chairs, Can-Con, Ottawa


Best Fan Writing and Publications

Polar Borealis, Issues #9 to #12, R. Graeme Cameron editor


Best Artist

Dan O'Driscoll, covers for Bundoran Press and cover for On Spec Magazine #110


Best Visual Presentation

The Umbrella Academy, Steve Blackman, Dark Horse Entertainment


Best Related Work

On Spec Magazine, Diane L. Walton, Managing Editor, The Copper Pig Writers Society


Best Poem/Song (tie!)

At the Edge of Space and Time by Swati Chavda, Love at the Speed of Light, Ancient Hound Books

Bursts of Fire by Sora, theme song for book trailers


Best Graphic Novel

Krampus is My Boyfriend! by S.M. Beiko, Webcomic


Best Short Fiction

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, Saga Press


Best Young Adult Novel

5 by Susan Forest, Burst of FireLaksa Media Groups Inc


Best Novel

The Gossamer Mage by Julie E. Czerneda, DAW Books



I was blown away this year by the quality of the shortlist: there was no one nominated who didn't deserve to be there. Even though there were several categories where the winner wasn't the work I had voted for, it didn't matter because the winners were still works that I greatly admired.  The winners and shortlist makes me proud to be Canadian. The genre of Canadian speculative fiction, both in quantity and quality, has come a very long way since 1980 when the Award started.

I also have to say that the awards ceremony sets the new bar for virtual ceremonies. There were almost no glitches and host Mark Leslie Lefebvre covered perfectly, never fazed. The organization, the smooth switching from site to site, from speaker to speaker, was clearly the result of careful planning and behind the scenes workings of a dedicated logistical crew. It could not have gone better, and in many ways, was better than live (except could actual applause). 

Hall of Fame Inductees for 2020

Cory Doctorow; Matt Hughes, Heather Dale



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