Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand

Best Novel - Adult

Best Novel – Young Adult

Best Short Story

Best Novella/Novelette

Best Collected Work

Professional Artwork

Best Dramatic Presentation – Short Form

Professional Publication

Best New Talent

for the following body of work in the speculative fiction genres:

Short Fiction:

“The Brother King”, first published September 2005 in Carve-zine (USA); re-published in The Best of Carve Magazine (March 2006, USA)

“Red Earth”, first published in Borderlands (Issue 10, 31 March 2008, Australia)

“Ithaca”, first published in JAAM 26 (November 2008, New Zealand)

Poetry:

The Wayfarer, first published in Takahe 62, (New Zealand) 2007

Argos, first published in Grow (Australia), 2008

The Trojan Shore and Homing, first published in JAAM 26 (New Zealand) 2008

Novel:

Thornspell, first published in the USA by Knopf (Random House Children's Books) on September 9 2008; distributed in New Zealand by Random House New Zealand

Helen Lowe's short fiction shows breadth with publications in the legendary history and speculative fiction genres. She has a strong authentic voice, compelling prose and her characters "live".  Borderlands was an chilling little speculation on where climate change could take us; in The Brother King, we feel the self-weariness and disillusion of the central character, and Ithaca is nicely open ended in terms of the identity of the warrior from the sea.

Her poems, all three in the legendary history genre display the same rich ability with words and emotional power that is present in Helen Lowe's prose, but with a rhythm and lyricism appropriate to the poetic form.

I found Thornspell a compelling "crossover" read. It has an exciting, adventurous plot with layers of complexity and authentic, vivid characters. Thornspell retells the Sleeping Beauty story with subtlty, depth and power, breathing a fresh focus and new insight into the familiar tale. It is exciting to see such authentic and masterly Fantasy fiction coming out of New Zealand.
   

This nomination is based on the quality of her Young Adult novel Anywhere But Here, first published by Longacre Press, Dunedin in 2008. 

This is a fast-paced and well-written SF thriller that is enjoyable to read. Set in the current time, it is about a group of teenagers with special abilities. It is science fiction without the "science", focusing on the story rather than the technology. It is every bit as good as "Thieves", the first novel of the trilogy, with the benefit of further character and relationship development. It is also NOT a quest; the teenagers are trying to get away hence the title "Anywhere But Here".
Anywhere But Here is the second novel in this science fiction trilogy. I look forward to reading the 3rd and final part of this story.

Ella West's first novel of this trilogy was Thieves, first published by Longacre Press in 2006. During 2006 it was available for retail in a few South Island bookshops, only becoming available for general retailing in New Zealand circa autumn 2007, when it was spotted in a North Island bookshop by an SF fan who had been looking out for it since very early January 2007 after a recommendation from a South Island fan that it was a Young Adult SF novel worth reading.

Among other achievements, Grant had two stories published in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine this year. I absolutely love his writings! Here are the works I am referring to:
"Hard Times for Bartleby Crow", Shimmer, Summer 2007
"Apart", Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #36
"The Salt Line", Unfurled, new writers in Manukau and Papakura
"Under Waves and Over", Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine # 37
"heartice", Thaumatrope, December 30

Fan Award Nominees

Best Fan Production

Best Fan Writing

I am nominating her for all her "Phule Proof" articles that were published in Phoenixine for the 2008 year. Phoenixine being the club 'zine of the local Wellington SF club.

Phule Proof takes a mainly light-hearted look at science fiction and fantasy, with the occasional serious comment.

I am nominating him for his "Disappointment" article that was published in Phoenixine Issue 225, July 2008. Phoenixine being the club 'zine of the local Wellington Phoenix SF club.

"Disappointment" was an article that anybody who had ever been a cash-constrained young SF/F fan can relate to and understand.

Best Publication

Special Award Nominees

Services to Fandom

Maree Pavletich has been actively involved in the Science Fiction community for many years, taking an active role in the smooth running of the Stella Nova Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, of which she is currently the President, having been elected in 2006 to serve in this role.

She has run three New Zealand National Science Fiction Conventions; Conscience (1989), KiwiCon (1990) & Odysseycon (2001) and was Condor's Fan Guest of Honour.  In 2004, Maree was the FFANZ Laureate for her fund-raising and as part of her duties travelled to the Australian National Science Fiction Convention that was held in Canberra, Australia (Conflux).

Maree has done almost everything in fandom at least once, such as writing, acting, filking, model making and costuming and has served on many committees promoting Science Fiction and Fantasy. She believes that fans need to step up and promote fandom.

I am nominating Maree for all the services she has performed on behalf of New Zealand fandom at the local, regional and national level, from when she first started in Fandom in 1982 to now (December 2008).

Maree's service to the community of New Zealand fans is extensive, significant and public-spirited.

She has taken part in the running and administration of the local Auckland SF club, then called the Auckland Science Fiction Modellers Club. She is still active within local Auckland SF fan circles running the Stella-Nova Club and is their current serving club president.

Of particularly note-worthy mention is her extensive participation and experience in running conventions, both at the regional and the national levels. She started on the ConCom with NorCon II in 1984. She then started running conventions with ConScience in 1989, and then KiwiCon in 1990. Maree was on the ConCom of Conquest 1 (1995) and Conquest 2 (1999). OdysseyCon in 2001 was a national convention where she was the Con Chair.

OdysseyCon was significant in that the Literary Guest of Honour, Mercedes Lackey generously donated hand-made costume jewellery as fund-raising items to New Zealand conventions, of which Maree served as the Administrator of the supply until it ran out in 2008. The costume jewellery were worthwhile items to have at a convention auction. OdysseyCon was also very enjoyable and successful. It enjoying a large turn-out of people who spent money at the Con and generally had a very good time.

Maree also helped out extensively for Contour in 2004, even though she was not on the ConCom. She booked events, gave advice, helped with transporting convention items and baked the chocolate cakes that were served to Con attendees for the "Coffee and Cake Meet and Greet" held after the Con Opening ceremony. She is currently helping out behind the scenes for Conscription 2009 but is not on the ConCom.

Maree was Fan Guest of Honour at Cond'Or, held in 2000 in Wellington.

Maree along with her husband Matthew were the FFANZ Delegates in 2004. They travelled to Conflux, the Australian Natcon held in Canberra that year. They had a slot at the next NZ convention, at iCon, where they talked about their experiences as FFANZ delegates. Their FFANZ report was well-presented and readable - clearly outlining the trip details. Maree also had to do fund-raising for FFANZ after her trip, one example being a raffle which included Mercedes Lackey costume jewellery.

Maree even ran a night-shift at a World Con once. Maree is currently organising group air travel for NZ fans to go to AussieCon4, the World Con in 2010.

Maree currently serves on the Board of SFFANZ, and has done so since 2002 when the Board of SFFANZ was first elected during Con With the Wind.

The elder statesman of South Island fandom, Dan McCarthy has been an active member of the New Zealand science fiction community since making his first foray into fandom at Octacon in 1982. A leading member of the southern science fiction fraternity, he was a committee member for the natcons Halleycon (1986) and Satyricon (1989), and was heavily involved in work for the 1994 natcon SiliCon. He has also been on the committee of several other conventions and minicons.

Dan served on the national committee of the former National Association of Science Fiction, being president of the organisation for some time during the 1990s. He has also been an active member of both Aotearapa and Anzapa, being official editor of the former on two separate occasions (the only person to have held this post twice) in 1986-87 and 2001-03.

Dan is both a writer of fiction and an artist, and was one of the founding members of Dunedin's long-standing writers' and artists' group, Writers Intensive Care (WIC). He acted as publisher of that group's two anthologies of original fiction, under the imprint Steep Birancas Press, and has also done similar desktop publishing work for other science fiction-related events and groups. Despite poor health in recent years, he is still active within fandom both as a member of WIC and of Anzapa.

Dan was Fan Guest of Honour at the 1997 National Convention, Conspiracy, and was the winner of the Best Fan Artist award at the New Zealand Science Fiction Fan Awards (forerunners to the Sir Julius Vogel Awards) in 1989 and 1991. He will also reluctantly admit that he was 50% responsible for that other asset to fandom, Evan McCarthy.