2020 Geffen Awards Shortlist

The finalists for the 2020 Geffen Awards (Israel Speculative Fiction Awards) have been announced by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

The awards are named in honor of editor and translator Amos Geffen, who was one of the society’s founders. They are presented during iCon, which this year has Brandon Sanderson as its guest of honor.

Many thanks to Standback for assisting with the English versions of Hebrew titles.

Best Original Novel

The category includes six finalists, due to a two-way tie for 5th place.

  • Satisfying The Dragon, by Masha Zur Glozman; Yediyot
  • End of the World, by Tzipor Frumkin; Yediyot & Tal-Mai
  • Red Eyes, by Magi Otsri; Kinneret Zmorah-Dvir
  • Free, by Chaim Navon; Yediyot
  • King of Jerusalem, by Nir Yaniv; Yaniv Books
  • Are You Where You Are Supposed To Be, by Asaf Zippor, Kinneret Zmorah-Dvir

Best Original Short Story

The category includes seven finalists, due to a three-way tie for 5th place.

Best Translated Fantasy Novel

The category includes six finalists, due to a two-way tie for 5th place.
The Rot and The Might, by Siri Pettersen, are two distinct volumes in a series, but treated here as a single book.

  • Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novick; Tamir Publishing, translated by Yael Achmon
  • Making Money, by Terry Pratchett; Opus Press, translated by Vered Tochterman
  • Oathbringer, by Brandon Sanderson; Opus Press, translated by Zafrir Grosman
  • Fire & Blood, by George R. R. Martin; Opus Press, translated by Zafrir Grosman
  • Beren and Lúthien, by J. R. R. Tolkein; Keter, translated by Emmanuel Lotem
  • The Rot / The Might, by Siri Pettersen; Sial Publishing; translated by Yonatan Bar

Best Translated Young Adult Novel

  • Cuckoo Song, by Frances Hardinge; Utz Publishing, translated by Vered Tochterman
  • The Dragon With A Chocolate Heart, by Stephanie Burgis; Utz Publishing, translated by Noa Shavit
  • Power of Three, by Diana Wynne Jones; Utz Publishing, translated by Yael Inbar
  • The Patchwork Girl of Oz, by L. Frank Baum; Utz Publishing, translated by Gili Bar-Hillel Semo
  • The Tyrant’s Tomb (Trials of Apollo #4), by Rick Riordan; Kinneret Zmorah-Dvir, translated by Yael Achmon

Best Translated Science-Fiction Novel

This year there were not enough translated science-fiction novels for the category, and so no award will be given. Novels that would have been eligible in 2020 will be eligible for the award next year.