David Gemmell Awards
Are Terminated

The David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy website today announced the closing of the awards after a ten-year run:

With a lack of suitable volunteers to take on current committee roles, and insufficient manpower to deliver the wide range of tasks involved, the present team has been left with no choice but to wind up the awards.

There were three Gemmell awards, the Legend for the year’s best fantasy novel, the Morningstar for the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction, and Ravenheart for the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art. The winners were chosen by open public vote.

Departing Gemmell Awards Chair Stan Nicholls said: “This is a decision that has not been taken lightly, and indeed is one that myself and my committee members make with a heavy heart. It was always important to us to do things to a high standard, and in the current situation I don’t think that we could deliver something befitting the reputation the Gemmell Awards has. I hope that the awards will be remembered for the good work they have done in supporting and championing the cause of fantasy fiction over the last ten years, and that we’ve left a legacy behind that people can look at fondly in years to come.”

2018 David Gemmell Awards

The 2018 David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy — the Legend, Morningstar, and Ravenheart Awards — were presented July 14 at Edge-Lit 7 in Derby, UK.

The awards recognize the best in fantasy fiction and artwork.

LEGEND AWARD

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • Robin Hobb: Assassin’s Fate, Book 3 of Fitz and The Fool (HarperVoyager)

MORNINGSTAR AWARD

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • Nicholas Eames: Kings of the Wyld, Book 1 of The Band (Orbit)

RAVENHEART AWARD

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • Richard Anderson for Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames (Orbit): Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio.

This is the awards’ tenth year.

[Thanks to Mark Hepworth for the story.]

2018 David Gemmell Awards Shortlists

Shortlists for The 2018 David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy — the Legend, Morningstar, and Ravenheart Awards — have been posted. The awards recognize the best in fantasy fiction and artwork. Open voting on the finalists has begun and will continue until midnight on June 1.

The awards will be presented July 14 at Edge-Lit 7 in Derby, UK.

LEGEND AWARD

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • Miles Cameron: The Fall of Dragons, Book 5 of the Traitor Son Cycle (Gollancz)
  • Robin Hobb: Assassin’s Fate, Book 3 of Fitz and The Fool (HarperVoyager)
  • Mark Lawrence: Red Sister, Book 1 of Book of the Ancestor (HarperVoyager)
  • Steve McHugh: Scorched Shadows, Book 7 of The Hellequin Chronicles (47 North)
  • Brandon Sanderson: Oathbringer, Book 3 of The Stormlight Archive (Gollancz)

MORNINGSTAR AWARD

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • RJ Barker: Age of Assassins, Book 1 of The Wounded Kingdom (Orbit
  • Melissa Caruso: The Tethered Mage, Book 1 of the Swords and Fire Trilogy (Orbit)
  • Nicholas Eames: Kings of the Wyld, Book 1 of The Band (Orbit)
  • Ed McDonald: Blackwing, Book 1 of The Raven’s Mark (Gollancz)
  • Anna Smith-Spark: The Court of Broken Knives, Book 1 of The Empires of Dust (HarperVoyager)

RAVENHEART AWARD

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • Richard Anderson for Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames (Orbit): Design by Lisa Marie Pompilio.
  • Kerem Beyit for The Fall of Dragons by Miles Cameron (Gollancz): Design by Sidonie Beresford-Browne, Abi Hartshorne, Sue Michniewicz and Jamie Tanner.
  • Sam Green for Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson (Gollancz): Design by Tomas Almeida.
  • Jackie Morris and Stephen Raw for Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb (HarperVoyager): Design by Dominic Forbes.
  • Kerby Rosanes for Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff (HarperVoyager): Design by Micaela Alcaino.

This is the awards’ tenth year.

[Thanks to Mark Hepworth for the story.]

2018 David Gemmell Awards Longlists

Longlists for The David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy — the Legend, Morningstar, and Ravenheart Awards — have been posted. The awards recognize the best in fantasy fiction and artwork. Open voting to determine the finalists has begun and will continue until midnight on March 30.

Next, voting on the shortlist will open midday on April 20 and close at midnight on June 1. The awards will be presented July 14 at Edge-Lit 7 in Derby, UK.

LEGEND AWARD (Longlist)

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • Mageborn, Book One of The Age of Dread by Stephen Aryan
  • The Unholy Consult, The Aspect Emperor Book Four by R. Scott Bakker
  • The Stone in the Skull, Book 1 of the Lotus Kingsoms by Elizabeth Bear
  • With Blood Upon the Sand, Book Two of The Song of the Shattered Sands by Bradley Beaulieu
  • City of Miracles, Book 3 of the Divine Cities by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • The Core, Book 5 of The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett
  • Firebrand, Green Rider Book 6 by Kristen Britain
  • The Black Elfstone, Book 1 of the Fall of Shannara by Terry Brooks
  • The Fall of Dragons, Traitor Son Cycle Book Five by Miles Cameron
  • Successor’s Promise, Millennium’s Rule Book Three by Trudi Canavan
  • Coldmaker by Daniel A. Cohen
  • 1Shadowborn, Seraphim Book Three by David Dalglish
  • The Amber Arrow, Book 2 of Wulf’s Saga by Tony Daniel
  • The House of Binding Thorns, Dominion of The Fallen Book 2 by Aliette de Bodard
  • Tyrant’s Throne, Book 4 of The Greatcoats by Sebastien de Castell
  • Among the Fallen, Book 2 of the Godserfs Series by NS Dolkart
  • Seventh Decimate, The Great God’s War Book 1 by Stephen Donaldson
  • Death’s Mistress, Book 1 of The Nicci Chronicles by Terry Goodkind
  • Empress of the Fall, Book 1 of The Sunsurge Quintet by David Hair
  • A Plague of Giants, Book 1 of The Seven Kennings by Kevin Hearne
  • Assassin’s Fate, Book 3 of Fitz and The Fool by Robin Hobb
  • The Gates of Tagmeth, Book 5 of the Kencyrath Series by P.C. Hodgell
  • The Dragon Lords: False Idols, Book 2 of The Dragon Lords by Jon Hollins
  • Heartland, Book 2 of the Worldmaker Trilogy by Lucy Hounsom
  • Firestorm, Book 3 of the Worldmaker Trilogy by Lucy Hounsom
  • Dark Immolation, Book Two of the Chaos Queen Quintet by Christopher Husberg
  • The Fatal Gate, Book Two of The Gates of Good and Evil by Ian Irvine
  • An Echo of Things to Come, Book Two of the Licanius Trilogy by James Islington
  • Infernal Machines, The Incorruptibles Book 3 by John Hornor Jacobs
  • The Stone Sky, Book 3 of The Broken Earth by NK Jemisin
  • Throne of the Bastards, The sequel to King of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven L. Shrewsbury
  • Godsgrave, The Nevernight Chronicle Book 2 by Jay Kristoff
  • Red Sister, Book 1 of The Book of the Ancestor by Mark Lawrence
  • Princess of Blood, Book Two of The God Fragments by Tom Lloyd
  • A War in Crimson Embers, Book Three of the Crimson Empire by Alex Marshall
  • Scourge, A Darkhurst Novel by Gail Z. Martin
  • The Fallen Kingdom, Book Three of The Falconer by Elizabeth May
  • Sins of Empire, Book 1 of Gods of Blood and Powder by Brian McClellan
  • Scorched Shadows, The Hellequin Chronicles Book 7 by Steve McHugh
  • The Last Sacrifice, Book 1 of The Tides of War by James A. Moore
  • The Seven, Book 3 of The Vagrant Trilogy by Peter Newman
  • A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden
  • The Two of Swords, Volume One of The Two of Swords by K.J. Parker
  • Lightbringers, The Age of Myth and Legends by David Price
  • Eight Lamentations: Spear of Shadows, Warhammer: Age of Sigmar by Josh Reynolds
  • Legion of Flame, The Draconis Memoria Book Two by Anthony Ryan
  • Oathbringer, The Stormlight Archive Book 3 by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Lady of the Lake, The Witcher Saga Book 5 by Andrzej Sapkowski
  • Bane of Shadow, The Empire of Storms Book Two by Jon Skovron
  • Skullsworn by Brian Staveley
  • God’s Last Breath, Bring Down Heaven Book 3 by Sam Sykes
  • Strange the Dreamer, Strange the Dreamer Book 1 by Laini Taylor
  • The Bear and The Serpent, Book 2 of Echoes of the Fall by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • You Die When You Die by Angus Watson
  • Overlords of the Iron Dragon, Warhammer: Age of Sigmar by CL Werner
  • The Ninth Rain, Book One of The Winnowing Flame Trilogy by Jen Williams
  • The Witchwood Crown, Book One of The Last King of Osten Ard by Tad Williams
  • Destiny’s Conflict, Book Ten of the Wars of Light and Shadow by Janny Wurts

MORNINGSTAR AWARD (Longlist)

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • Age of Assassins, Book 1 of The Wounded Kingdom by RJ Barker
  • The Waking Land by Callie Bates
  • Witchy Eye by D.J. Butler
  • Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott
  • The Tethered Mage, Book 1 of The Swords and Fire Trilogy by Melissa Caruso
  • The Last Namsara, Iskari Book One by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Kings of the Wyld, Book 1 of The Band by Nicholas Eames
  • Darien: Empire of Salt by C.F. Iggulden
  • The Last Myon by Rudi Jennings
  • The Bloodprint, Book 1 of The Khorasan Archives by Ausma Zehanat Khan
  • One Cog Turning by Anthony Laken
  • Jade City, Book 1 of The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee
  • The Fifth Ward: First Watch, Book 1 of The Fifth Ward by Dale Lucas
  • Soul of the World, Book 1 of The Ascension Cycle by David Mealing
  • Blackwing, Book 1 of The Raven’s Mark by Ed McDonald
  • Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng
  • Cold Counsel by Chris Sharp
  • The Court of Broken Knives, Book 1 of The Empires of Dust by Anna Smith-Spark
  • Godblind, Book 1 of The Godblind Trilogy by Anna Stephens
  • The Dragon’s Legacy, Book 1 of The Dragon’s Legacy Saga by Deborah A. Wolf

RAVENHEART AWARD (Longlist)

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • Richard Anderson for The Stone in The Skull by Elizabeth Bear
  • Richard Anderson for Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
  • Arcangel Images (Crystal Ben) for The Tethered Mage by Melissa Caruso
  • Arcangel Images for The Stone Sky by NK Jemisin
  • Arcangel Images for The Soul of the World by David Mealing
  • Arcangel Images for God’s Last Breath by Sam Sykes
  • Arcangel and Shutterstock for Mageborn by Stephen Aryan
  • Tommy Arnold for Shadowborn by David Dalglish
  • Kerem Beyit for The Fall of Dragons by Miles Cameron
  • Christian Bravery for The Legion of Flame by Anthony Ryan
  • Laura Brett for Blood Upon the Sand by Bradley Beaulieu
  • Mike Bryan for The Black Elfstone by Terry Brooks
  • www.buerosued.de for Tyrant’s Throne by Sebastien De Castell
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Last Sacrifice by James A Moore
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski
  • John Coulthart for Under the Pendulum Sun by Jeannette Ng
  • Das Illustrat, Ervin Usman and Dan Smith for The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli
  • Bastien Lecouffe Deharme for Bane and Shadow by Jon Skovron
  • Adam Doyle for The Witch of Torinia by Clifford Beal
  • Terrence Drysdale (Trevillion Images) and Joana Kruse for The Waking Land by Callie Bates
  • Getty Images and Shutterstock for Jade City by Fonda Lee
  • Sam Green for Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
  • Johan Grenier for Overlords of the Iron Dragon by C.L. Werner
  • Gill Heeley and Larry Rostant for Darien: Empire of Salt by C.F. Iggulden
  • Jaime Jones for The Seven by Peter Newman
  • Rory Kee for City of Miracles by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • Rory Kee for Empress of the Fall by David Hair
  • Patrick Knowles for Infernal Machines by John Hornor Jacobs
  • Jon McCoy for Princess of Blood by Tom Lloyd
  • Gene Mollica for A Plague of Giants by Kevin Hearne
  • Gene Mollica for The Fallen Kingdom by Elizabeth May
  • Jackie Morris and Stephen Raw for Assassin’s Fate by Robin Hobb
  • Stephen Mulcahey for Coldmaker by Daniel A Cohen
  • Nekro for Seventh Decimate by Stephen Donaldson
  • Leo Nickols for Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott
  • Dave Palumbo for Cold Counsel by Chris Sharp
  • Lauren Panepinto for A War in Crimson Embers by Alex Marshall
  • the-parish.com (Tom Sanderson) for Age of Assassins by RJ Barker
  • plainpicture (Dieter Reichelt) for Red Sister by Mark Lawrence
  • Kerby Rosanes for Godsgrave by Jay Kristoff
  • Larry Rostant for You Die When You Die by Angus Watson
  • Larry Rostant and Millennium FX Ltd for The Core by Peter V Brett
  • Daniel Dos Santos for Witchy Eye by DJ Butler
  • Daniel Dos Santos for The Amber Arrow by Tony Daniel
  • Dominick Saponaro for An Echo of Things to Come by James Islington
  • April Schumacher for Firebrand by Kristen Britain
  • Shutterstock (Kiselev Andrey Valerevich) for The Unholy Consult by R. Scott Bakker
  • Shutterstock for The House of Binding Thorns by Aliette de Bodard
  • Shutterstock for Death’s Mistress by Terry Goodkind
  • Shutterstock for Firestorm by Lucy Hounsom
  • Shutterstock for Heartland by Lucy Hounsom
  • Shutterstock for The Fatal Gate by Ian Irvine
  • Shutterstock for The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan
  • Shutterstock for The Court of Broken Knives by Anna Smith-Spark
  • Shutterstock for Skullsworn by Brian Staveley
  • Shutterstock for Godblind by Anna Stephens
  • Shutterstock for The Bear and the Serpent by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • Shutterstock and depositphotos for Blackwing by Ed McDonald
  • Duncan Spilling and Shutterstock for Successor’s Promise by Trudi Canavan
  • Crystal Sully for The Dragon Lords: False Idols by Jon Hollins
  • Thom Tenery for Sins of Empire by Brian McClellan
  • Trevillion Images for The Two of Swords: Volume One by K.J. Parker
  • Michael Whelan for The Witchwood Crown by Tad Williams
  • Eric Williams for The Gates of Tagmeth by P.C. Hodgell
  • Janny Wurts for Destiny’s Conflict by Janny Wurts
  • Sammy Yuen for The Fifth Ward: First Watch by Dale Lucas
  • Jantine Zandbergen for Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

[Thanks to Mark Hepworth for the story.]

2017 David Gemmell Awards

The winners of the 2017 David Gemmell Awards were announced today at Edge-Lit 6 in Derby, UK.

Legend Award – 2017

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • Warbeast by Gav Thorpe

Morningstar Award – 2017

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • Steal the Sky by Megan E. O’Keefe

Ravenheart Award — 2017

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • Alessandro Baldasseroni for Black Rift by Josh Reynolds

2017 David Gemmell Awards Shortlists

The finalists for the 2017 David Gemmell Awards have been announced. <Open public voting on the shortlist continues until at midnight on June 2. The awards will be presented July 15 at Edge-Lit 6 in Derby, UK.

Legend Award – 2017

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • Wrath by John Gwynne
  • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  • The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
  • The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
  • Warbeast by Gav Thorpe

Morningstar Award – 2017

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • Infernal by Mark De Jager
  • Duskfall by Christopher Husberg
  • Steal the Sky by Megan E. O’Keefe
  • Snakewood by Adrian Selby
  • Hope and Red by Jon Skovron

Ravenheart Award — 2017

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • Alessandro Baldasseroni for Black Rift by Josh Reynolds
  • Jason Chan for The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
  • Sam Green for The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
  • Kerby Rosanes for Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  • Paul Young for Wrath by John Gwynne

Pixel Scroll 3/29/17 “Scrolls! They Were Inwented By A Little Old Lady From Pixelgrad!”

(1) GEMMELL LONGLIST VOTING DEADLINE. First round balloting on The Gemmell Awards longlist closes March 31. It is free and open to the public. Click here to cast your vote for the Ravenheart Award (best cover art), Morning Star Award (best debut novel) and the Legend Award (best fantasy novel). The shortlists for each award will be announced and voting opened on April 21.

Legend Award “Snaga”

(2) MAKING BOOK. The next Doctor Who will be….? Here’s where British gamblers are putting their money this week.

Today, DoctorWhoTV.co.uk has shared a story from Betway. This particular bookmakers reckons that Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge – who’s set to appear in the young Han Solo movie next year – is in with a shot.

“Phoebe Waller-Bridge is all the rage with the punters at the moment”, a spokesperson revealed. “Her odds of being the next Doctor Who have collapsed from 20/1 to 2/1 since Monday morning and we’re on red alert, keeping an eye out for any more telling bets.

“Kris Marshall remains solid at 2/1, but the sudden rush of support for Waller-Bridge suggests the race to become TV’s next Time Lord is swinging in her favour.”

(3) SUBTERRANEAN HOMESICK LYRICIST. He’s on the road again. (Wait, that isn’t his song!) Songwriter Bob Dylan is doing two concerts in Stockholm, so long as he’s in the neighborhood… “Bob Dylan finally agrees to accept Nobel Prize for Literature”.

Bob Dylan will finally accept his Nobel Prize for Literature in Stockholm this weekend, the academy has announced.

The American singer was awarded the prize in October but failed to travel to pick up the award, or deliver the lecture that is required to receive the 8m kroner ($900,000;£727,000) prize.

The academy said it would meet Dylan, 75, in private in the Swedish capital, where he is giving two concerts.

He will not lecture in person but is expected to send a taped version.

If he does not deliver a lecture by June, he will have to forfeit the prize money.

(4) CHANGELINGS. Debbie Urbanski pushes the envelope of literary discussion with her post “In Which I Make Up a Categorization Called ‘Slow-paced Genre Realism”.

I had a great time this past month savoring Version Control by Dexter Palmer. It clocks in at a little over 18 hours as an audio book, but once I settled into the story, I found the slow pacing to be really wonderful. I wonder if we can create a sub-genre in science fiction or fantasy of slow-paced genre novels (or slow-paced genre realism?). Think a little Alice Munro or Karl Ove Knausgard transported into a genre setting. Into such a categorization, I’d throw some of my favorite books: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber, as well as Molly Gloss’s Dazzle of the Day and Wild Life. Ah, and how about the beloved The Wall by Marlen Haushofer? My Real Children by Jo Walton? And then there is this one book I read 20 years ago, which I can not locate, no matter how many creative Google searches I do, about a regular California community and a regular woman, maybe a mother, who is just essentially living in an almost boring way–and then, in what’s maybe the last two chapters, there is a nuclear holocaust. But that is such a small part of the book, maybe even an afterthought…

I’ll stop my list now. But I do admire the authors who write this way. I think it takes some courage to straddle the line, not just in style but in plotting, between genre and realistic fiction as they do, as genre readers may find such fiction slow, and literary readers may wonder why there has to be aliens in the story….

Urbanski’s story with the intriguing title “On the Problem of Replacement Children: Prevention, Coping, and Other Practical Strategies” appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, January/February 2017. Although you have to buy the issue to read it, the author interview about this story shows why that might be something you’d want to do —

Tell us a bit about “On the Problem of Replacement Children: Prevention, Coping, and Other Practical Strategies.”

I’ve been interested in the idea of speculative non-fiction these last few years: what if you took a certain emotional element of your life, put it in a speculative setting, and then wrote about it? So on the one hand, the emotions in this story capture my experience raising my son, who has autism, and my struggle to work through what I needed to work through, accept the child I actually have, and figure out how I can best be a parent to him. On the other hand, this is a fictional story about a world where children are snatched from under the lax eyes of their parents and replaced with a different child from another world….

(5) GHOST NOT INCLUDED. Who ya gonna call? The LA Times called the real estate agent — “Haunted Hollywood home of ‘Dracula’ legend Bela Lugosi for sale for $3 million”.

It’s been over 80 years since iconic cinema star Bela Lugosi slept in this stately Tudor in Beachwood Canyon, yet his reputation still haunts it. Whether it’s called Westshire Manor, Castle La Paloma, or simply the Bela Lugosi House, the remodeled mansion is now for sale for $3 million.

The hillside Los Angeles neighborhood where this mansion is perched is right under the world-famous “Hollywood” sign, and is in fact still known as “Hollywoodland,” which is what the sign said when it was first constructed.

Best known for playing Count Dracula, Lugosi moved around Los Angeles and was hard to pin down, but the best sources place him in this particular home between 1934 and 1937. Apparently he, his fourth wife, Lillian, and their large dogs, including Great Danes and a white German Shepherd, enjoyed hiking to what was the Hollywoodland sign at the time.

Lugosi wasn’t the only celebrity to inhabit the manor. Actress Kathy Bates lived there for several years. Considering her roles in “Misery” as well as “American Horror Story,” we thought Westshore Manor might have a scary actor vibe.

(6) WOTF LIVESTREAM. The Writers of the Future Awards ceremony will be livestreamed on Sunday, April 2 beginning at 6:30 p.m. (PDT).

Streaming will be live from writersofthefuture.com and Facebook.com/WritersandIllustratorsoftheFuture.

The event will open with a fire dance, featuring performers from EMCirque, a Hollywood and Las Vegas based Circus Entertainment Production Company. Concurrent with the dance, Rob Prior (creator of the poster art for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) and Larry Elmore will execute a live painting on stage.

Celebrity presenters will include Erika Christensen (co-star “The Case for Christ” releasing April 2017) and Marisol Nichols (Hermione Lodge in the CW’s “Riverdale”).

…As the top names in the science fiction and fantasy world, contest judges will be on hand to present the annual awards to this year’s writer and illustrator winners as well as the grand prize winner for each contest.

Writer judges who will be attending include: Kevin J. Anderson, Gregory Benford, Dave Farland, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Nancy Kress, Larry Niven, Jody Lynn, Nye, Nnedi Okorafor, Jerry Pournelle, Tim Powers, Mike Resnick and Robert J, Sawyer.

Illustrator judges will include: Ciruelo, Echo and Lazarus Chernik, Larry Elmore, Val Lakey Lindahn, Sergey Poyarkov and Rob Prior.

(7) TODAY’S BIRTHDAY WARRIOR

  • Born March 29, 1968 – Lucy Lawless

(8) CROWNED WITH LAURELS. Alison Bechdel will be the next Vermont Cartoonist Laureate. If that name sounds familiar, then you’ve doubtless heard of the Bechdel Test named for her. The test — whether a work of fiction features at least two women or girls who talk to each other about something other than a man or boy – first appeared in her comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For in 1985.

Next Thursday, April 6, Edward Koren will pass the torch — er, laurels — to his successor, Alison Bechdel, as Vermont Cartoonist Laureate. In a ceremony at the Statehouse, the longtime Bolton resident, creator of the strip “Dykes to Watch Out For,” and author of Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic will become the third cartoonist laureate in the only state to regularly appoint one. The initiative originated with the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, the professional school founded by James Sturm and Michelle Ollie 10 years ago. Bechdel succeeds New Yorker cartoonist and Brookfield resident Koren, who in turn succeeded Vermont’s very first cartoonist laureate, James Kochalka of Burlington.

“It seemed obvious she could have been the choice from the get-go — we’re lucky to have so many great cartoonists in the state,” says Sturm of selecting Bechdel. “Besides all her accolades and fame, she’s really a cartoonist’s cartoonist. Cartooning is just essential to who she is and how she makes sense of the world.”

(9) MORE SCALZI BOOK TOUR STALKERS. There is now a “Johan Kalsi” YouTube channel and a second stalker video for it to host.

Made out to “Ted” (Theodore Beale) a.k.a Vox Day, John Scalzi encounters another unidentified member of the Dread Ilk, this time in Dallas, TX

 

(10) CH-CHING! Meanwhile, Nick Mamatas has discovered Bookscan is part of the vast conspiracy, or is accurately reporting sales of The Collapsing Empire, (probably the latter.)

(11) PLUG-INS, Roll on cyberpunk: Elon Musk creates brain-electrode firm.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has launched Neuralink, a start-up which aims to develop technology that connects our brains to computers.

A report from the Wall Street Journal, later confirmed in a tweet by Mr Musk, said the company was in its very early stages and registered as a “medical research” firm.

The company will develop so-called “neural lace” technology which would implant tiny electrodes into the brain.

The technique could be used to improve memory or give humans added artificial intelligence. …

Specialists in the field envision a time when humans may be able to upload and download thoughts.

(12) ON THE GRIPPING HAND. While Musk’s scientists are coming up with next-generation advances, here’s what’s available today – and it’s pretty amazing. “Paralyzed Man Uses Thoughts To Control His Own Arm and Hand”.

First, surgeons implanted two electrode arrays in Kochevar’s brain. The electrodes detect signals coming from areas of his brain that once controlled his right hand and arm.

“We have an algorithm that sort of transforms those neural signals into the movements he intended to make,” says Robert Kirsch, a professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western.

But movement requires muscles. So doctors also implanted electrodes in muscles that control his arm and hand movements.

The final result was a system that could determine which movements Kochevar wanted to perform, then electrically stimulate the appropriate muscles in his arm.

(13) LEARNING CURVE. As part of getting enough English speakers in time for the Tokyo Olympics, Japan assigns Fawlty Towers and Red Dwarf as homework. Because you never know when it’s going to be necessary to tell someone they can’t drive a nail with a hamster.

Japan is struggling to make sure it has enough proficient English speakers when it hosts the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

And the classic BBC comedy series Fawlty Towers is being deployed by some teachers in an attempt to give Japanese students an example of spoken English – rather than focusing on written language and grammar.

Japan’s government and businesses want to use the Olympics to boost tourism and global trade and to present a positive image of Japan to the world.

So the government needs to ensure a supply of English speakers to be Olympic volunteers and work in the accommodation, tourism, and retail industries.

There is also a demand for professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to speak to visitors or competitors in English.

(14) BLOODSHED AND APPLE PIE. Two inseperable American traditions — Adrian Garro at Cut4.com says “Baseball is coming…and so are ‘Game of Thrones’ theme nights at MLB ballparks”.

This summer, fans of both baseball and GoT will have plenty to be excited about … because special Game of Thrones® theme nights are coming to ballparks around MLB — featuring commemorative collectibles, ticket packages, giveaways, special co-branded merchandise, social media events and a lot more.

MLB has staged promotions like this before — like, say, the trailer for “The Force Awakens” as reimagined by the Twins — but this will be on a whole other level.

HBO has yet to announce when Season 7 will get underway, but we do know it will be some time this summer. Currently, at least 19 teams are scheduled to participate, including the D-backs, Red Sox, Reds, White Sox, Astros, Dodgers, Royals, Marlins, Brewers, Twins, Athletics, Phillies, Pirates, Mariners, Giants, Cardinals, Rangers, Rays and Nationals.

Hold the door for more information coming soon about this partnership, which has to be the biggest news since Jon Snow coming back from … well, you know.

(15) OTHER MLB PROMOTIONS. Martin Morse Wooster also sent the link to Michael Clair’s article about this summer’s best Major League Baseball promotions because the author says the Noah-Syndergaard-as-Thor bobblehead is ranked as the number 1 giveaway by anybody this year.

In the original Marvel Comics, Thor inhabited Dr. Donald Blake’s body while on Earth. But that’s just a fictional story. In our actual universe, Thor inhabits Noah Syndergaard every fifth day. Thanks to the Mets and Marvel Comics, you can walk away with the depiction of this stunning transformation.

[Thanks to John King Tarpinian, Cat Eldridge, Chip Hitchcock, David K.M. Klaus, and Martin Morse Wooster for some of these stories. Title credit goes to File 770 contributing editor of the day Andrew.]

2017 David Gemmell Awards Longlists

Longlists for The David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy — the Legend, Morningstar, and Ravenheart Awards — have been posted. The awards recognize the best in fantasy fiction and artwork. Open voting to determine the finalists has begun and will continue until midnight on March 31.

Next, voting on the shortlist will open midday on April 21 and close at midnight on June 2. The awards will be presented July 15 at Edge-Lit 6 in Derby, UK.

LEGEND AWARD (Longlist)

The Legend Award is presented to the fantasy title judged the year’s best by open vote.

  • The Spider’s War by Daniel Abraham
  • The Pagan Night by Tim Akers
  • Blood Mage by Stephen Aryan
  • The Great Ordeal by R. Scott Bakker
  • The Guns of Ivrea by Clifford Beal
  • City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • The Sorcerer’s Daughter: The Defenders of Shannara by Terry Brooks
  • A Plague of Swords by Miles Cameron
  • The Sky Slayer by Joel Cornah
  • The Watcher of Dead TIme by Edward Cox
  • Fireborn by David Dalglish
  • Saint’s Blood by Sebastien De Castell
  • The Path of the Hawk by Ian Graham
  • Wrath by John Gwynne
  • The Summer Goddess by Joanne Hall
  • The Dragon Lords: Fool’s Gold by Jon Hollins
  • The Stealers’ War by Stephen Hunt
  • The Summon Stone by Ian Irvine
  • Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay
  • Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  • The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin
  • Gods of Nabban by KV Johansen
  • Assassin Queen by Anna Kashina
  • The Fall of the Dagger by Glenda Larke
  • The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
  • Stranger of Tempest by Tom Lloyd
  • The Seer by Sonia Orin Lyris
  • Daughter of Blood by Helen Lowe
  • A Blade of Black Steel by Alex Marshall
  • Shadow and Flame by Gail Z. Martin
  • An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows
  • The Silent Army by James A. Moore
  • Forgotten Hero by Brian G. Murray
  • The Malice by Peter Newman
  • Break the Chains by Megan E. O’Keefe
  • The Obsidian Throne by J. D. Oswald
  • The Girl on the Liar’s Throne by Den Patrick
  • Leviathan’s Blood by Ben Peek
  • Those Below by Daniel Polansky
  • The High King’s Vengeance by Steven Poore
  • Twilight of the Dragons by Andy Remic
  • The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan
  • Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards
  • Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Tower of the Swallow by Andrezj Sapkowski
  • Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull
  • The World Raven by AJ Smith
  • Phoenix Ascendant by Ryk E. Spoor
  • The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley
  • Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan
  • Fair Rebel by Steph Swainston
  • The Mortal Tally by Sam Sykes
  • The Tiger and the Wolf by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • Warbeast by Gav Thorpe
  • Dragon Hunter by Marc Turner
  • Red Tide by Marc Turner
  • The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks
  • The Silver Tide by Jen Williams

MORNINGSTAR AWARD (Longlist)

The Morningstar Award honors the author judged to have made the year’s best debut in fantasy fiction.

  • Infernal by Mark De Jager
  • Silent Hall by NS Dolkart
  • Duskfall by Christopher Husberg
  • Steal the Sky by Megan E. O’Keefe
  • Snakewood by Adrian Selby
  • Hope and Red by Jon Skovron
  • The Cracked Amulet by RB Watkinson

RAVENHEART AWARD (Longlist)

The Ravenheart Award is given to the creator of the year’s best fantasy book cover art.

  • KG Images and Joseph Martin for Children of Earth and Sky by Guy Gavriel Kay
  • Arcangel, Margie Hurwich, and Mohammad Itani for The Last Mortal Bond by Brian Staveley
  • Arcangel and Lauren Panepinto for The Obelisk Gate by NK Jemisin
  • Tommy Arnold for Fireborn by David Dalglish
  • L. Bachman for Forgotten Hero by Brian G. Murray
  • Ihar Balakain and Dusan Kostic for Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner
  • Alessandro Baldasseroni for Black Rift by Josh Reynolds
  • Kirk Benshoff for The Spider’s War by Daniel Abraham
  • Kerem Beyit for A Plague of Swords by Miles Cameron
  • Black Sheep UK for The Stealer’s War by Stephen Hunt
  • Buerosued for Saint’s Blood by Sebastien De Castell
  • Jason Chan for The Wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence
  • CollaborationJS for Shadow and Flame by Gail Z. Martin
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Pagan Night by Tim Akers
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Tower of the Swallow by Andrezj Sapkowski
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Girl on the Liar’s Throne by Den Patrick
  • Alejandro Colucci for The Silent Army by James A. Moore
  • Jason Deem for The Summer Goddess by Joanne Hall
  • Bastion Lecouffe Deharme for Hope and Red by Jon Skovron
  • Bastion Lecouffe Deharme for The Sorcerer’s Daughter by Terry Brooks
  • Evelinn Enoksen for The Sky Slayer by Joel Cornah
  • Sam Green for Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
  • Sam Green for The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
  • Head Design for Infernal by Mark De Jager
  • Jaime Jones for The Waking Fire by Anthony Ryan
  • Jaime Jones for The Malice by Peter Newman
  • Jet Design Ltd. for The Watcher of Dead Time by Edward Cox
  • Nik Keevil for The World Raven by AJ Smith
  • Sam Kennedy for The Seer by Sonia Orin Lyris
  • Patrick Knowles Design for The Mortal Tally by Sam Sykes
  • Michael Komarck for The Shadowed Path by Gail Z. Martin
  • Neil Lang and Shutterstock for The Tiger and the Wolf by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • Julia Lloyd for Duskfall by Christopher Husberg
  • Todd Lockwood for Phoenix Ascendant by Ryk E. Spoor
  • Silas Manhood for Daughter of Blood by Helen Lowe
  • Silas Manhood for The Blood Mirror by Brent Weeks
  • Jon McCoy for Stranger of Tempest by Tom Lloyd
  • Stephen Mulcahey, Neil Lang, and Shutterstock for Leviathan’s Blood by Ben Peek
  • KS Agency for City of Blades by Robert Jackson Bennett
  • David Palumbo for Snakewood by Adrian Selby
  • Ryan Pancoast for Chains of the Heretic by Jeff Salyards
  • Lauren Panepinto for A Blade of Black Steel by Alex Marshall
  • Rhett Podersoo for Those Below by Daniel Polansky
  • Andreas Rocha for Silent Hall by NS Dolkart
  • Kerby Rosanes for Nevernight by Jay Kristoff
  • Larry Rostant for The Great Ordeal by R. Scott Bakker
  • Larry Rostant for Dead Man’s Steel by Luke Scull
  • Shutterstock for The Silver Tide by Jen Williams
  • Karl Simon for The Dragon Lords: Fool’s Gold by Jon Hollins
  • Marc Simonetti for Age of Myth by Michael J. Sullivan
  • Jake Smyth and Shutterstock for The Summon Stone by Ian Irvine
  • Steve Stone for The Fall of the Dagger by Glenda Larke
  • Steve Stone for Blood Mage by Stephen Aryan
  • Steve Stone for Chaos Mage by Stephen Aryan
  • Raymond Swanland for Gods of Nabban by KV Johansen
  • Jorge Luis Torres for The High King’s Vengeance by Steven Poore
  • Unknown for Fair Rebel by Steph Swainston
  • Paul Young for Wrath by John Gwynne

[Thanks to Mark-kitteh for the story.]

Edge-Lit 6 Will Host 2017 David Gemmell Awards

The 2017 David Gemmell Awards ceremony will take place as part of Edge-Lit 6 in Derby (UK) on July 15.

Edge-Lit 6 will be held at QUAD, Derby’s independent cinema and art space.

With a growing reputation for quality and an audience of 200+ each year, the event offers an array of panels, workshops and book launches as well as popular yearly features such as the live Edge-Lit raffle.

Alex Davis, Literature Officer for QUAD, said: ‘Over the last decade the Gemmell Awards have become a high point in the genre calendar, and have been presented at some of the biggest conventions and fantasy events in the UK. I’m delighted to be working with them to bring the ceremony to Edge-Lit, which makes the 2017 running even more exciting!’

Stan Nicholls, Chair of the David Gemmell Awards For Fantasy, said: ‘Edge-Lit has established itself as one of the highlight events of the genre year, and the Gemmell Awards are thrilled to be part of 2017’s line-up. Devoted as they both are to championing the best of speculative fiction, the Gemmells and Edge-Lit are a perfect match. Roll on next July!’

Tickets for Edge-Lit 6 on sale at http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/film/edge-lit-6.aspx and cost £30, including access to all sessions on the day and an event goodie bag.

2016 Gemmell Awards

The 2015 David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy were presented at FantasyCon in Scarborough, UK on September 24.

RAVENHEART AWARD (Best cover art)

Ravenheart Award

Ravenheart Award

  • Jason Chan for The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence

lawrence-mark-the-liars-key200

MORNINGSTAR AWARD (Best debut)

Morningstar Award

Morningstar Award

  • The Vagrant by Peter Newman

LEGEND AWARD (Best novel)

Legend Award "Snaga"

Legend Award “Snaga”

  • The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence