The ten finalists for the 2016 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award have been announced.

• Jennifer Brozek
• J. Lily Corbie
• Ron Ferguson
• C. Stuart Hardwick
• Bart Kemper
• Steve Last
• Thomas A. Mays
• Aimee Ogden
• Al Onia
• Eric Picholle

The top three winners will be notified by March 22 and will be honored at the 2016 International Space Development Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 18-22, 2016.

The full press release follows the jump.

Top Ten Finalists Announced for Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

Annual Contest Seeks Stories Set in a Positive Future of Space Exploration

Baen Books has announced the top ten finalists for the 2016 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award, a contest held each year for of all levels of experience. The Grand Prize will be presented at the 2016 International Space Development Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 18-22, 2016.

“The National Space Society and Baen Books applaud the role that science fiction plays in advancing real science and have teamed up to sponsor this short fiction contest in memory of Jim Baen, Baen Books founder,” said William Ledbetter, contest administrator. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the winner to meets scientists and space advocates from around the world.”

The contest occurs annually and looks for stories that demonstrate the positive aspects of space exploration and discovery. Over the years, the contest has developed an international character. In addition to the United States, entrants have hailed from Sweden, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Algeria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Spain, and Morocco.

“Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure—that’s what we’re looking for,” said Ledbetter. “And once again we believe we’ve found ten writers, and an ultimate winner, who deliver just that.”

The top ten Jim Baen Memorial Award finalists (in alphabetical order) are:

• Jennifer Brozek
• J. Lily Corbie
• Ronald D. Ferguson
• C. Stuart Hardwick
• Bart Kemper
• Steve Last
• Thomas Mays
• Aimee Ogden
• Al Onia
• Eric Picholle