Tag Archives: Jim Baen Memorial Award

Stephen Lawson Wins 2018 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

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What the Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award looks like.

The winner and runners-up for the 2018 Jim Baen Memorial Award competition have been announced.

GRAND PRIZE

  • “Homonculus” by Stephen Lawson

FIRST RUNNER-UP

  • “Dangerous Company” by C. Stuart Hardwick

SECOND RUNNER-UP

  • “Falling to the Moon” by Wendy Nikel

Stephen Lawson’s win comes on the heels of taking the first runner-up spot in 2017.

The contest is focused on stories of human space exploration and discovery, with an optimistic spin. Judges for the award were the editors of Baen Books and special guest judge, author David Drake. Stories were judged anonymously.

The Jim Baen Memorial Award will be presented May 26, 2018 in a ceremony at the annual International Space Development Conference held this year in Los Angeles, CA. The winner receives professional publication of their story in June 2018 at the Baen.com web site, where new fiction is featured each month.

“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 Baen Books founder, Jim Baen” said William Ledbetter, contest administrator. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for the winner to meet scientists and space advocates from around the world.”

2017 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest Winner

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Philip A. Kramer of Seattle, WA has won the grand prize in the 2017 Jim Baen Memorial Award competition for his short story “Feldspar.”

The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest has been held annually since 2007 and is focused on stories of space exploration and discovery, with an optimistic spin on those activities for the human race.

GRAND PRIZE

“Feldspar” by Philip A. Kramer

FIRST RUNNER-UP

“Bullet Catch” by Stephen Lawson (Louisville, KY)

SECOND RUNNER-UP

“An Economy of Air” by M. T. Reiten (Los Alamos, NM)

Judges for the award were the editors of Baen Books and special guest judge, author David Drake. Stories were judged anonymously. The Jim Baen Memorial Award will be presented May 26, 2017 in a ceremony at the annual International Space Development Conference held this year in St. Louis, MO. The winner receives a distinctive award and professional publication of the story in June 2017 at the Baen.com web site.

“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.”

What the Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award looks like.

2017 Baen Memorial Award Finalists

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The Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award.

Baen Books has announced the ten finalists for the 2017 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award, a contest held each year for of all levels of experience:

  • Stewart C Baker
  • S.B. Divya
  • Susan Forest
  • C Stuart Hardwick
  • Bart Kemper
  • Philip A. Kramer
  • Harry Lang
  • Stephen Lawson
  • Angus McIntyre
  • M. T. Reiten

The Grand Prize will be presented at the 2017 International Space Development Conference in St. Louis, MO the weekend of May 25-29.

“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 complete press release follows the jump.

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2015 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award Goes To Karen Birkendahl Rylander

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Baen logoKaren Birkendahl Rylander, writing as K. B. Rylander, of San Antonio has won the 2015 Jim Baen Memorial Award competition with her short story “We Fly.”

The annual Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest recognizes authors of stories about “space exploration and discovery, with an optimistic spin on those activities for the human race.”

Grand Prize
“We Fly” by K.B. Rylander

First runner up
“A Metal Box Floating Between the Stars” by Jamie Lackey of Pittsburgh

Second runner up
“Boomerang Zone” by Robert Dawson from Nova Scotia

Judges for the award were the editors of Baen Books and special guest judge David Drake. Stories were judged anonymously.

The award will be presented May 25 at a ceremony at the annual International Space Development Conference in Toronto.

The winner’s story will be professionally published in June on the Baen.com web site, where new fiction is featured each month.

“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.”

2015 Baen Memorial Award Finalists

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Baen_award2Baen Books has announced the ten finalists for the 2015 Jim Baen Memorial Award, a short story contest held each year for of all levels of experience.

  • Robert Dawson
  • John Eckelkamp
  • Stuart Hardwick
  • Jamie Lackey
  • Marina Nelson Lostetter
  • Stanley Love
  • Karen Birkedahl Rylander
  • Angus McIntyre
  • Shawn Scarber
  • Martin L. Shoemaker

Entries are judged on whether they demonstrate the positive aspects of space exploration and discovery.

The winner will be announced May 25 at the annual International Space Development Conference in Toronto.

“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 full press release follows the jump.

Continue reading →