In the wake of 2005 British Fantasy Convention the awards for titles from 2004 were announced, with top writers Graham Joyce and Simon Clark MCing:
Best Novel (The August Derleth Fantasy Award) – Stephen King, The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower (Hodder & Stoughton)
Best Novella – Christopher Fowler, Breath (Telos Publications)
Best Short Story – Paul Meloy, “Black Static” (The Third Alternative #40)
Best Small Press – Elastic Press (Andrew Hook)
Best Artist – Les Edwards
Best Anthology – The Alsiso Project, Andrew Hook (ed.), Elastic Press
Best Collection – Out of His Mind, Stephen Gallagher, PS Publishing
Best Short Story – Paul Meloy, “Black Static” (The Third Alternative #40)
Karl Edward Wargner Award for Special Achievement – Nigel Kneale, creator of Quatermass
Congratulations all round, although I have to say I am a little surprised to see King’s Dark Tower winning the novel category. I only ever read the first of that series, many moons ago and thought it was an incredibly stale piece of re-warmed fantasy cliches – I’m sure there were more original fantasy works published that year (in my opinion).
A couple of my friends adore the series however and it has certainly sold vast amounts since King returned to it after several year’s absence. Like anything it is down to personal taste – I disliked it, a lot of others love it; oh well, that is the nature of things, it would be awfully boring if we all liked the same books all the time and it isn’t a proper awards list until some of us disagree with parts of it, is it?!?!
Tue, Oct 4, 2005
Awards, Books, News