Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel

Annual Australian award for fantasy

Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel

Awarded for| Excellence in fantasy fiction novels
Country| Australia
Presented by| Chimaera Publications,
Continuum Foundation
First awarded| 1995
Currently held by| C. S. Pacat
Website| Official site

The Aurealis Awards are presented annually by the Australia-based Chimaera Publications and WASFF to published works in order to "recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy, horror writers".[2] To qualify, a work must have been first published by an Australian citizen or permanent resident between 1 January and 31 December of the corresponding year;[3] the presentation ceremony is held the following year. It has grown from a small function of around 20 people to a two-day event attended by over 200 people.[4]

Since their creation in 1995, awards have been given in various categories of speculative fiction. Categories currently include science fiction, fantasy, horror, speculative young adult fiction—with separate awards for novels and short fiction—collections, anthologies, illustrative works or graphic novels, children's books, and an award for excellence in speculative fiction.[2] The awards have attracted the attention of publishers by setting down a benchmark in science fiction and fantasy. The continued sponsorship by publishers such as HarperCollins and Orbit has identified the award as an honour to be taken seriously.[5]

The results are decided by a panel of judges from a list of submitted nominees; the long-list of nominees is reduced to a short-list of finalists.[2] Ties can occur if the panel decides both entries show equal merit, however they are encouraged to choose a single winner.[6] The judges are selected from a public application process by the Award's management team.[7]

This article lists all the short-list nominees and winners in the best fantasy novel category, as well as novels that have received honourable mentions or have been highly commended. Since 2003, honourable mentions and high commendations have been awarded intermittently. Juliet Marillier, Garth Nix hold the record for most wins with 4. Marillier holds the record for most nominations with 12, and Glenda Larke has the most nominations without winning, having been a losing finalist ten times.

## Winners and nominees

[edit]

In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a blue background have won the award; those with a white background are the nominees on the short-list.

*  Winners and joint winners
*  Nominees on the shortlist

Year  | Author  | Novel  | Publisher  | Ref

|
|
|
|

1995 | Garth Nix* | Sabriel | Moonstone | [8]
David Brooks | The House of Balthus | Allen & Unwin | [8]
Sara Douglass | Battleaxe | Voyager Books | [8]
Paul Kidd | Mus of Kerbridge | TSR | [8]
Tony Shillitoe | The Last Wizard | Pan Macmillan | [8]
1996 | Jack Dann* | The Memory Cathedral | Bantam Books | [9]
Sara Douglass* | Enchanter | Voyager Books | [9]
Sara Douglass* | StarMan | Voyager Books | [9]
Shannah Jay | The Price of Wisdom | Pan Macmillan | [9]
Geoffrey McSkimming | Cairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten Gods | Hachette Children's Books Australia | [9]
Dirk Strasser | Equinox | Pan Macmillan | [9]
1997 | Kim Wilkins* | The Infernal | Random House | [10]
Isobelle Carmody | Darkfall | Penguin Books | [10]
Sara Douglass | Sinner | Voyager Books | [10]
Kate Forsyth | Dragonclaw | Random House | [10]
Lucy Sussex | Black Ice | Hodder Headline | [10]
1998 | Dave Luckett* | A Dark Winter | Omnibus Books | [11]
Jane Routley* | Fire Angels | Avon Eos | [11]
Sara Douglass | Pilgrim | Voyager Books | [11]
Ian Irvine | A Shadow on the Glass | Penguin Books | [11]
Sophie Masson | Cold Iron | Hodder | [11]
1999 | Jane Routley* | Aramaya | Avon Eos | [12]
Sara Douglass | Crusader | Voyager Books | [12]
Kate Forsyth | The Cursed Towers | Random House | [12]
Dave Luckett | A Dark Journey/A Dark Victory | Omnibus Books | [12]
Juliet Marillier | Daughter of the Forest | Pan Macmillan | [12]
2000 | Juliet Marillier* | Son of the Shadows | Pan Macmillan | [13]
Sara Douglass | The Nameless Day | Voyager Books | [13]
Anthony Eaton | The Darkness | UQP | [13]
Jennifer Fallon | Medalon | Voyager Books | [13]
Hoa Pham | Vixen | Sceptre | [13]
2001 | Sara Douglass* | The Wounded Hawk | Voyager Books | [14]
Juliet Marillier | Child of the Prophecy | Pan Macmillan | [14]
Garth Nix | Lirael | Allen & Unwin | [14]
Cameron Rogers | The Music of Razors | Penguin Books | [14]
Sean Williams | The Stone Mage and the Sea | Voyager Books | [14]
2002 | Sean Williams* | The Storm Weaver and the Sand | Voyager Books | [15]
Trudi Canavan | The Novice | Voyager Books | [15]
Alison Croggon | The Gift | Penguin Books | [15]
Sara Douglass | Hades' Daughter | Voyager Books | [15]
Sara Douglass | The Crippled Angel | Voyager Books | [15]
Tony Shillitoe | Blood | Voyager Books | [15]
2003 | Garth Nix* | Abhorsen | Allen & Unwin | [16]
K. J. Bishop | The Etched City | Prime Books | [16]
Lian Hearn | Grass for His Pillow | Hodder | [16]
Glenda Larke | The Aware | Voyager Books | [16]
Sean McMullen | Voyage of the Shadowmoon | Tor Books | [16]
2004 | Sean Williams* | The Crooked Letter | Voyager Books | [17]
Lian Hearn | Brilliance of the Moon | Hodder | [17]
Glenda Larke | The Tainted | Voyager Books | [17]
Sophie Masson | Snow, Fire, Sword | Random House | [17]
Kim Wilkins | Giants of the Frost | Voyager Books | [17]
2005 | Juliet Marillier* | Blade of Fortriu | Pan Macmillan | [18]
Sara Douglass | Darkwitch Rising | Voyager Books | [18]
Anthony Eaton | Nightpeople | UQP | [18]
Sonya Hartnett | Surrender | Penguin Books | [18]
Karen Miller | The Innocent Mage | Voyager Books | [18]
2006 | Juliet Marillier* | Wildwood Dancing | Pan Macmillan | [19]
Grace Dugan | The Silver Road | Penguin Books | [19]
Glenda Larke | Heart of the Mirage | Voyager Books | [19]
Sean McMullen | Voidfarer | Tor Books | [19]
Michael Pryor | Blaze of Glory | Random House | [19]
2007 | Lian Hearn* | Heaven's Net Is Wide | Hachette | [20]
Jennifer Fallon | Gods of Amyrantha | Voyager Books | [20]
Sylvia Kelso | The Moving Water | Five Star Publishing | [20]
Glenda Larke | Song of the Shiver Barrens | Voyager Books | [20]
Michael Pryor | Heart of Gold | Random House | [20]
2008 | Alison Goodman* | The Two Pearls of Wisdom | HarperCollins | [21]
Sylvia Kelso | Amberlight | Juno Books | [21]
Margo Lanagan | Tender Morsels | Allen & Unwin | [21]
Juliet Marillier | Heir to Sevenwaters | Pan Macmillan | [21]
Karen Miller | The Riven Kingdom | HarperVoyager | [21]
2009 | Trudi Canavan* | Magician's Apprentice | Orbit Books | [22]
Peter M. Ball | Horn | Twelfth Planet Press | [22]
Glenda Larke | The Last Stormlord | HarperVoyager | [22]
K. E. Mills | Witches Incorporated | HarperVoyager | [22]
K. J. Taylor | The Dark Griffin | HarperVoyager | [22]
2010 | Tansy Rayner Roberts* | Power and Majesty | HarperVoyager | [23]
Andrea K Höst | The Silence of Medair | Andrea K Hösth | [24]
Trent Jamieson | Death Most Definite | Orbit Books | [24]
Glenda Larke | Stormlord Rising | HarperVoyager | [24]
Juliet Marillier | Heart's Blood | Pan Macmillan | [24]
2011 | Pamela Freeman* | Ember and Ash | Hachette | [25]
Jennifer Fallon | The Undivided | HarperVoyager | [26]
Glenda Larke | Stormlord's Exile | HarperVoyager | [26]
Jo Anderton | Debris | Angry Robot | [26]
Tansy Rayner Roberts | The Shattered City | HarperVoyager | [26]
2012 | Margo Lanagan* | Sea Hearts | Allen & Unwin | [27]
Kate Forsyth | Bitter Greens | Random House Australia | [28]
Jay Kristoff | Stormdancer | Tor UK | [28]
Juliet Marillier | Flame of Sevenwaters | Pan Macmillan Australia | [28]
Jo Spurrier | Winter Be My Shield | HarperVoyager | [28]
2013 | Mitchell Hogan* | A Crucible of Souls | Mitchell Hogan | [29][30]
Max Barry | Lexicon | Hachette Australia | [29]
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner | These Broken Stars | Allen & Unwin | [29]
Garth Nix | Newt's Emerald | Jill Grinberg Literary Management | [29]
Tansy Rayner Roberts | Ink Black Magic | FableCroft Publishing | [29]
2014 | Juliet Marillier* | Dreamer's Pool | Pan Macmillan Australia | [31]
Keri Arthur | Fireborn | Hachette Australia | [32]
Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner | This Shattered World | Allen & Unwin | [32]
Glenda Larke | The Lascar's Dagger | Hachette Australia | [32]
Scott Westerfeld | Afterworlds | Penguin Books Australia | [32]
Kim Wilkins | Daughters of the Storm | Harlequin Enterprises Australia | [32]
2015 | Trent Jamieson* | Day Boy | Text Publishing | [33]
Kathryn Barker | In the Skin of a Monster | Allen & Unwin | [34]
Alison Goodman | Lady Helen and the Dark Days Club | HarperCollins | [34]
Glenda Larke | The Dagger's Path | HarperVoyager | [34]
Juliet Marillier | Tower of Thorns | Pan Macmillan Australia | [34]
Ilka Tampke | Skin | Text Publishing | [34]
2016 | Jay Kristoff* | Nevernight | HarperVoyager | [35][36]
Glenda Larke | The Fall of the Dagger | Hachette Australia | [35]
Juliet Marillier | Den of Wolves | Pan Macmillan Australia | [35]
Angela Slatter | Vigil | Jo Fletcher Books | [35]
Mark Smith | Road to Winter | Text Publishing | [35]
Kim Wilkins | Sisters of the Fire | Harlequin Australia | [35]
2017 | Jay Kristoff* | Godsgrave | HarperCollins Publishers | [37][38]
Thoraiya Dyer | Crossroads of Canopy | Tor Books | [37]
Goldie Goldbloom | Gwen | Fremantle Press | [37]
Kathryn Gossow | Cassandra | Odyssey Books | [37]
Michael Pryor | Gap Year in Ghost Town | Allen & Unwin | [37]
Robin Shortt | Wellside | Candlemark & Gleam | [37]
2018 | Sam Hawke* | City of Lies | Penguin Random House | [39][40]
Maria Lewis* | The Witch Who Courted Death | Hachette Australia | [39][40]
Alan Baxter | Devouring Dark | Grey Matter Press | [39]
Alison Goodman | Lady Helen and the Dark Days Deceit | HarperCollins Publishers | [39]
Aletha Kinsela | Lightning Tracks | Plainspeak Publishing | [39]
Devin Madson | We Ride the Storm | (self-published) | [39]
2019 | Garth Nix* | Angel Mage | Allen & Unwin | [41][42]
Jay Kristoff | Darkdawn | HarperCollins Publishers | [41]
Maria Lewis | The Wailing Woman | Piatkus | [41]
Juliet Marillier | The Harp of Kings | Macmillan | [41]
P. M. Freestone | The Darkest Bloom | Scholastic | [41]
Michael Pryor | Graveyard Shift in Ghost Town | Allen & Unwin | [41]
2020 | Garth Nix*  | The Left-Handed Booksellers of London | Allen & Unwin | [43][44]
Sam Hawke*  | Hollow Empire | Bantam Press | [43]
Claire McKenna | Monstrous Heart | HarperVoyager | [43]
Astrid Scholte | The Vanishing Deep | Allen & Unwin | [43]
Dirk Strasser | Conquist | Chimaera Publications | [43]
Bonnie Wynne | The Ninth Sorceress | Talem Press  | [43]
2021 | C. S. Pacat*  | Dark Rise | Allen & Unwin | [45][46][47]
Angela Slatter | All the Murmuring Bones | Titan Publishing | [45][47]
Freya Marske | A Marvellous Light | Tor
Maria Lewis | The Rose Daughter | Piatkus
Shelley Parker-Chan | She Who Became the Sun | Mantle
Meg Grace | Supermums: And So It Begins | (self-published)
2022 | Kate Emery | The Not So Chosen One | Text  | [48]
Trent Jamieson | The Stone Road | Erewhon
Freya Marske | A Restless Truth | Tor
Daniel O'Malley | Blitz | HarperCollins
Angela Slatter | Path of Thorns | Titan
Sean Williams | Honour Among Ghosts | Allen & Unwon

## Statistics

[edit]

Multiple wins (as of 2022, after the 2021 winner announced):

* Juliet Marillier (4)
* Garth Nix (4)
* Sara Douglass (3)
* Jay Kristoff (3)
* Jane Routley (2)
* Sean Williams (2)

Most nominations:

* Juliet Marillier (12)
* Sara Douglass (11)
* Glenda Larke (10)
* Garth Nix (6)
* Jay Kristoff (4)
* Michael Pryor (4)
* Kim Wilkins (4)
* Jennifer Fallon (3)
* Kate Forsyth (3)
* Alison Goodman (3)
* Lian Hearn (3)
* Maria Lewis (3)
* Tansy Rayner Roberts (3)
* Sean Williams (3)

## Honourable mentions and highly commended novels

[edit]

In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the ceremonies are always held the following year. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a grey background have been noted as highly commended; those with a white background have received honourable mentions.

*  Highly commended
*  Honourable mentions

Year  | Author  | Novel  | Publisher  | Ref

|
|
|
|

2003 | Ian Irvine | Scrutator | Viking Press | [49]
Anthony O'Neil | Lamplighter | HarperCollins | [49]
2005 | Trudi Canavan* | Priestess of the White | Voyager Books | [49]
2006 | Kylie Chan | White Tiger | Voyager Books | [49]
Lian Hearn | The Harsh Cry of the Heron | Hachette Livre | [49]
2007 | Pamela Freeman | Blood Ties | Hachette Australia | [49]
Karen Miller | Empress of Mijak | Voyager Books | [49]

## See also

[edit]

* Ditmar Award, an Australian science fiction award established in 1969

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Eon by Alison Goodman". HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 21 February 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
2. ^ a b c "Aurealis Awards – About Us". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2010.
3. ^ "Aurealis Awards – Rules and Conditions". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
4. ^ Nahrung, Jason (2 February 2007). "Horror a hit". The Courier-Mail. Queensland Newspapers. Archived from the original on 4 April 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
5. ^ Koval, Ramona (presenter) (5 February 2009). Spotlight on speculative fiction writers (Radio broadcast). ABC Radio and Regional Content. Event occurs at 1:18–2:16. Archived from the original (mp3) on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
6. ^ "Guidelines for Judges". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
7. ^ "Aurealis Awards – FAQ". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 27 August 2007. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
8. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1996 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
9. ^ a b c d e f "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1997 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
10. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1998 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
11. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 1999 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
12. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2000 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
13. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2001 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
14. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2002 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
15. ^ a b c d e f "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2003 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
16. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2004 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 12 February 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
17. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2005 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
18. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2006 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
19. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2007 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
20. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2008 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
21. ^ a b c d e "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2009 Aurealis Awards". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
22. ^ a b c d e "Aurealis Awards 2009: Fantasy Novel Judges' Report" (PDF). Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
23. ^ "2010 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. 21 May 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
24. ^ a b c d "Aurealis Awards Finalists 2010" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
25. ^ "2011 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
26. ^ a b c d "Aurealis Awards Finalists 2011" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
27. ^ "2012 Aurealis Award winners" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
28. ^ a b c d "2012 Aurealis Awards finalists announced" (PDF). SpecFaction NSW. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
29. ^ a b c d e "2013 Aurealis Awards finalists announced" (PDF). WASFF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
30. ^ "2013 Aurealis Awards Winners". Conflux. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
31. ^ "And the winners are..." Conflux. 12 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
32. ^ a b c d e 2014 Aurealis Awards finalists announced, Conflux, archived from the original on 3 March 2015, retrieved 8 March 2015
33. ^ The Winners of the 2015 Aurealis Awards, WASFF, 25 March 2016, archived from the original on 9 June 2023, retrieved 25 March 2016
34. ^ a b c d e ANNOUNCEMENT: 2015 Aurealis Awards Shortlists, Conflux, archived from the original on 28 July 2020, retrieved 14 March 2016
35. ^ a b c d e f 2016 Aurealis Awards shortlist announcement, WASFF, 20 February 2017, archived from the original on 28 March 2023, retrieved 22 February 2017
36. ^ Announcing the Winners of the 2016 Aurealis Awards!, WASFF, 14 April 2017, archived from the original on 16 April 2017, retrieved 22 April 2017
37. ^ a b c d e f 2017 Aurealis Awards shortlist announcement!, WASFF, 15 February 2018, archived from the original on 12 March 2018, retrieved 12 March 2018
38. ^ aurealis awards WINNER, WASFF, 31 March 2018, archived from the original on 1 April 2019, retrieved 1 April 2018
39. ^ a b c d e f 2018 Aurealis Awards shortlist announcement!, Continuum Foundation, 20 February 2019, archived from the original on 7 May 2019, retrieved 25 April 2019
40. ^ a b 2018 Aurealis Awards Winners, Continuum Foundation, 5 May 2019, archived from the original on 9 June 2019, retrieved 5 May 2019
41. ^ a b c d e f "Aurealis Awards 2019 finalists announced". Books+Publishing. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
42. ^ "Aurealis Awards 2019 winners announced". Books+Publishing. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
43. ^ a b c d e f "Aurealis Awards 2020 finalists announced". Books+Publishing. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
44. ^ "Aurealis Awards 2020 winners announced". Books+Publishing. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
45. ^ a b "sfadb: Aurealis Awards 2022". www.sfadb.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
46. ^ aaconvenor (28 May 2022). "2021 Aurealis Awards Winners". Aurealis Awards. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
47. ^ a b locusmag (31 May 2022). "2021 Aurealis Awards Winners". Locus Online. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
48. ^ "Aurealis Awards shortlists announced". Books+Publishing. 10 March 2023. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
49. ^ a b c d e f g "Aurealis Awards, previous years' results" (PDF). Aurealis Awards. 1995–2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2009.

## External links

[edit]

* Aurealis Awards official site Archived 13 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Aurealis Awards

* Anthology
* Children's
* Collection
* Convenors’ award
* Fantasy (novel, novella, short story)
* Horror (novel, novella, short story)
* Illustrated book or graphic novel
* Science fiction (novel, novella, short story)
* Young adult (novel, short story)

* Retired or merged awards: Children's (primarily through words, primarily through pictures)
* Golden Aurealis (novel, short story)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template