2024 Crawford Award Winner

The winner of the 2023(24) Crawford Award is Vajra Chandrasekera’s The Saint of Bright Doors (Tor).  

Honourable Mentions go to:

  • Juhani Karila,  Summer Fishing in Lapland (Pushkin)
  • Emma Torzs, Ink Sister Blood Scribe (William Morrow)
  • Wole Talabi, Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon (Daw/Gollancz)
  • B Pladek, Dry Land (University of Wisconsin Press)

 The award jury members were: Brian Attebery, Candas Jane Dorsey, Niall Harrison, Cheryl Morgan, Mimi Mondal, Graham Sleight.

 The IAFA Crawford Award each year recognizes an outstanding new writer whose first fantasy book was published during the previous calendar year. It is not specifically a first novel award. The award was established with the support of the late Andre Norton, who also helped establish the criteria and who continued to support the award over the years. 

William L. Crawford (1911–1984) was an American publisher and editor who produced the first full-size book issued by a publisher that specialized in science fiction. Mars Mountain, published in 1935, is a collection of science fiction short stories by Eugene George Key. Crawford created several publishing companies, including the Fantasy Publishing Company (FPCI), and edited several magazine series including Spaceway, Fantasy Book and Marvel Tales.

The list of past winners is here.

 The Crawford Award for 2025 is now open: submissions may be made at this link.

 The award is given at the International Conference of the Fantastic in the Arts, in Florida, in March each year.

Judges for the award to be given in 2025 are: Eddie Clark, Candas Jane Dorsey, Brian Attebery, Mimi Mondal and Yilin Wang.

The eligibility for the award is as follows:

  • A fantasy book must be published between 1 January 2024 and 31st December 2024 in the English Language.
  • It must be a first fantasy book: prose (ie both novels and story collections) and poetry are permitted, it may be written for any age group. A graphic novel may be considered but the assumption is that it is the writing that is being judged. An original audio novel may be considered. If the work is in translation it should be the first book the author has had translated into English.

[Based on a press release.]

IAFA 2023 Award Winners

The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts award ceremony was held March 18. (Some award winners were named ahead of the conference.)

THE CRAWFORD AWARD

[Presented annually by the IAFA for a first book of fantasy.] Previously announced in February.

  • Simon Jimenez for his novel The Spear Cuts Through Water (Del Rey)

THE JAMIE BISHOP MEMORIAL AWARD FOR AN ESSAY NOT IN ENGLISH

[For a work of scholarship written in a language other than English.]

  • Priscilla Layne and Sang-Keun Yoo

Finalists, Semi-finalists, and honorable mentions

  • Yilun Fan

THE IMAGINING INDIGENOUS FUTURISM AWARD

[Recognizes emerging authors who use science fiction to address issues of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.] Previously announced in January.

  • Telling the Soul of Mars by Alina Pete

The other works on the shortlist were:

  • The Tangle by Rae Mariz
  • The Good One by Allanah Hunt
  • Spirit Medicine by Gina McGuire

THE DAVID G. HARTWELL EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD

[For an outstanding student paper.] 

  • Marissa Luquette

DELL MAGAZINES AWARD

[An Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing.] Previously announced in February.

Winner: Sam Wilson of Chapman University for “blooming beating hearts”

First Runner-up: Olivia Garcia of Chapman University for “Of the Known Universe”

Second Runner-up: Rona Wang of the Massachussetts Institute of Technology for “The Glass Foxkit”

Third Runner-up: Simon Herz of Swarthmore College for “The River People”

Honorable Mentions

  • Jazmin Collins from Arcadia University for “A Practical Guide to Housesitting for North American Witches”
  • Jadyn Straigis of Goucher College for “The Ivory Peak Hotel”
  • Emely Menjivar of Chapman University for “Blind Faith”
  • Simon Herz from Swarthmore College for “Gone Up in Fog”
  • William Romero of Vanderbilt University for “The Great Blue Heron of the Mississippi”

IAFA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

[An annual career award, presented annually since 1986, recognizing distinguished contributions to the scholarship and criticism of the fantastic.]

  • Isiah Lavender III

BIPOC CAUCUS AWARDS

[The BIPOC Caucus presents two awards, one for Exemplary Allies and one for Members who have served the community as Uplifters.] The site does not indicate a 2023 Exemplary Ally award was given.   

Uplifters

  • AE Fonsworth
  • Candice Thornton 
  • Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki

Simon Jimenez Wins 2023 IAFA Crawford Award

The winner of the 2023 Crawford Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for a first book of fantasy published the prior year, is Simon Jimenez for his novel The Spear Cuts Through Water (Del Rey). Jimenez had previously published a well-received science fiction novel, The Vanished Birds (2020), but The Spear Cuts Through Water is his first fantasy book, making it eligible for the award.

The awards committee also named a shortlist including Maya Deane, Wrath Goddess Sing (William Morrow), Naseem Jamnia, The Bruising of Qilwa (Tachyon), Alex Jennings, The Ballad of Perilous Graves (Redhook), and Jacob Kerr, The Green Man of Eshwood Hall (Serpent’s Tail)

Participating in this year’s nomination and selection process were Cheryl Morgan, Karen Burnham, Niall Harrison, Liza Trombi, Candas Jane Dorsey, and Mimi Mondal. The award is administered by Gary K. Wolfe and will be presented at a banquet March 18, during the 44rd International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando, Florida.

Also at the banquet, the IAFA Distinguished Scholarship Award will be presented to the conference’s guest scholar Isiah Lavender III.  The International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, or ICFA, is held annually in Orlando, Florida.  This year’s conference, March 15-18, on the theme of Afrofuturism, will feature Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki as Guest of Honor.

[Based on a press release.]

IAFA 2022 Award Winners

The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts honored the winners of the following awards at their annual conference held March 16-20. (Some award winners were named ahead of the conference.)

THE CRAWFORD AWARD

[Presented annually by the IAFA for a first book of fantasy.] Previously announced in February.

  • Usman T. Malik for his story collection Midnight Doorways: Fables from Pakistan (Kitab).

THE JAMIE BISHOP MEMORIAL AWARD

[For a work of scholarship written in a language other than English.]

  • Szilvia Gellai

THE ROBERT A. COLLINS SERVICE AWARD

[A special award presented to an officer, board member, or division head for outstanding service to the organization.]

  • Jim Casey

THE DAVID G. HARTWELL EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD

[For an outstanding student paper.] 

  • Iuliia Ibragimova 

IAFA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

[An annual career award, presented annually since 1986, recognizing distinguished contributions to the scholarship and criticism of the fantastic.]

  • Farah Mendlesohn

2022 IAFA Crawford Award

The winner of the 2022 Crawford Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for a first book of fantasy, is Usman T. Malik for his story collection Midnight Doorways: Fables from Pakistan (Kitab).

The awards committee also named as runners-up E. Lily Yu’s novel On Fragile Waves (Erewhon), and Isabel Yap’s collection Never Have I Ever (Small Beer).

Participating in this year’s nomination and selection process were Cheryl Morgan, Karen Burnham, Graham Sleight, Niall Harrison, Liza Trombi, Candas Jane Dorsey, and Mimi Mondal. The award is administered by Gary K. Wolfe and will be presented at a banquet March 19, during the 43rd International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando, Florida.

Also at the banquet, the IAFA Distinguished Scholarship Award will be presented to the conference’s guest scholar and former IAFA President Farah Mendelsohn.  The International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts, or ICFA, is held annually in Orlando, Florida.  This year’s conference, March 16-20, on the theme of “Fantastic Communities,” will feature Nisi Shawl as Guest of Honor.

[Based on a press release.]

IAFA 2021 Award Winners

The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts held a virtual ceremony on March 21 honoring winners of awards usually presented at their annual conference, which went online this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. (Several award winners were named ahead of the conference.)

THE CRAWFORD AWARD

[Presented annually by the IAFA for a first book of fantasy.] Previously announced in March.

  • Nghi Vo for The Empress of Salt and Fortune (Tordotcom)

THE JAMIE BISHOP MEMORIAL AWARD

[For a work of scholarship written in a language other than English.]

  • Maria Beliaeva Solomon

THE WALTER JAMES MILLER MEMORIAL AWARD

[For a student paper on a work or works of the fantastic originally created in a language other than English,]

  • Natalie Deam

THE IMAGINING INDIGENOUS FUTURISM AWARD

[Recognizes emerging authors who use science fiction to address issues of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.] Previously announced in January.

  • Lennixx-Nickoli Treat Bad for “THE BOX”

THE DAVID G. HARTWELL EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD

[For an outstanding student paper.] 

  • Robert Nguyen

DELL MAGAZINES AWARD

[An Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing.] Previously announced in February.

  • Winner: Jazmin Collins, Arcadia University, for, “My Gardening Journal: Tales from a Psychic Gardener.”
  • First Runner-up: Samuel Owens, the University of Chicago, for “The Piano Player.”
  • Second Runner-up: Jack Hawkins, Vanderbilt University, for “Chronicler of a Dying World.”
  • Honorable Mention: Samuel Owens, University of Chicago, for “Man’s End.”

IAFA DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

[An annual career award, presented annually since 1986, recognizing distinguished contributions to the scholarship and criticism of the fantastic.]

  • Stacy Alaimo

2021 IAFA Crawford Award

The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi_Vo, art by Alyssa Winans
The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi_Vo, art by Alyssa Winans

The winner of the 2021 William L. Crawford Fantasy Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for a first book of fantasy, is Nghi Vo for The Empress of Salt and Fortune (Tordotcom). Award administrator Gary K. Wolfe shared the news via Locus Online on March 3.

The other finalists on this year’s Crawford shortlist are Night Roll, Michael DeLuca (Stelliform), Everyone on the Moon is Essential Personnel, Julian Jarboe (Lethe), Flyaway, Kathleen Jennings (Tordotcom), In Veritas, C.J. LaVigne (NeWest), and Beneath the Rising, Premee Mohamed (Solaris)

Participating in this year’s nomination and selection process were previous Crawford winners Candas Jane Dorsey and Jedediah Berry, as well as Karen Burnham, Mimi Mondal, and Cheryl Morgan.

The award will be presented during the virtual 42nd International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts.

[Via Locus Online.]

IAFA 2020 Award Winners

The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts has reported the 2020 winners of the various awards usually presented at their annual conference, which was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

THE CRAWFORD AWARD

[Presented annually by the IAFA for a first book of fantasy.]

  • Tamsyn Muir, Gideon the Ninth (Tor.com)

THE JAMIE BISHOP MEMORIAL AWARD

[For a work of scholarship written in a language other than English.]

  • Valentina Gosetti and E.J. Kent, “Maribas et la sorcellerie masculine” [“Marinas and Male Witchcraft”]

THE WALTER JAMES MILLER MEMORIAL AWARD

[For a student paper on a work or works of the fantastic originally created in a language other than English,]

  • Brittany Roberts Brittany Roberts, ”The Soviet Anthropocene: Desiccation, Desertification, and Environmental Horror in Dmitri Svetozarov’s Dogs

THE IMAGINING INDIGENOUS FUTURISM AWARD

[Recognizes emerging authors who use science fiction to address issues of Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.] 

  • Julia A. Thompsan, “White Hope”

THE DAVID G. HARTWELL EMERGING SCHOLAR AWARD

[For an outstanding student paper.] 

  • Filip Boratyn “Magic(s) of the Anthropocene: Enchantment vs. Terroir in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach.”

DELL MAGAZINES AWARD

[An Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing. More details here.]

  • Rona Wang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “Imitation Game”

LORD RUTHVEN AWARDS

[Presented for the best fiction on vampires and the best academic work on the study of the vampire figure in culture and literature.]

  • Vampire Non-Fiction: Sorcha Ní Fhlainn for Post-Modern Vampires: Film, Fiction and Popular Culture
  • Fiction: Bryan D. Dietrich and Marge Simon for The Demeter Diaries
  • Media: TV series What We Do in the Shadows

[Note: Some of these have been previously reported here or at Locus Online.]

2020 IAFA Crawford Award

Tamsyn Muir is the winner of the 2020 Crawford Award for her novel Gideon the Ninth (Tor.com). The award is presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for a first book of fantasy.

This year, the awards committee also named a close runner-up, Alix E. Harrow, for The Ten Thousand Doors of January (Redhook; Orbit UK).

The other finalists on this year’s Crawford shortlist are Jenn Lyons, The Ruin of Kings: A Chorus of Dragons #1 (Tor), and Emily Tesh, Silver in the Wood: (The Greenhollow Duology) (Tor).

Tamsyn Muir is the third Crawford winner from the Clarion Workshop class of 2010, following Karin Tidbeck and Kai Ashante Wilson.

Participating in this year’s nomination and selection process were previous Crawford winners Candas Jane Dorsey and Jedediah Berry, as well as Cheryl Morgan, Karen Burnham, and Mimi Mondal. The award is administered by Gary K. Wolfe,and will be presented at a banquet March 21 during the 41st International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando, Florida.

The IAFA Distinguished Scholarship Award also will be presented to the conference’s guest scholar, Stacy Alaimo, at the banquet.

2019 IAFA Crawford Award

The winner of the 2019 Crawford Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for a first book of fantasy, is R.F Kuang for her novel The Poppy War (Harper Voyager).

The other finalists on this year’s Crawford shortlist are The Black God’s Drums, P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com), Armed in Her Fashion, Kate Heartfield (ChiZine), The Breath of the Sun, Rachel Fellman (Aqueduct), Half-Witch, John Schoffstall (Big Mouth House), and Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga).

Participating in this year’s nomination and selection process were previous Crawford winner Candas Jane Dorsey and former IAFA president Farah Mendlesohn, as well as Cheryl Morgan, Niall Harrison, Karen Burnham, and Mimi Mondal.

The award will be presented March 16 at the 40th International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts in Orlando, Florida.

Also, the IAFA’s Distinguished Scholarship Award will be presented to the conference’s guest scholar, Mark Bould.