Tag Archives: British Fantasy Awards

I woke up feeling off so I had a steady morning and made my appearance at the con hotel in time for my second panel – Queer in Fantasy at noon. It was supposed to be streamed but staffing changes prevented it. Sian took another picture of me. I’m pointing at the book on the table, it’s I Want That Twink Obliterated from Bona Books. I was expressing my excitement.

Chris McCartney, Katie Bruce, and Christopher Caldwell were also on the panel, which was moderated by Burdock Broughton, who writes as April Steenburgh. I was beginning to feel unwell so I didn’t have much helpful to add. I mainly listened to everyone else and asked for a list of the books they’d all recommended. People have said that I made good comments but I have my doubts. I was overwhelmed and had brain fog for most of it.

After this panel I went to the quieter area and did some embroidery. I also made a quick visit to the dealer’s room to buy a book from AK Faulkner, Blind Man’s Wolf, and then planned to head to the ‘Creative Lives’ panel, but I got into the room and the bright lights were too painful, so I sat in the dark corridor, ate my sandwich and read Blind Man’s Wolf.

I attending the only reading I’ve been to this con, by Stephen Cox and AK Faulkner. Stephen Cox read from his Sapphic Victorian murder mystery, The Crooked Medium’s Guide to Murder, while AK read from Jack of Thorns and Blind Man’s Wolf.

After that I attended the ‘The Role of Reviewers’ panel in the same room. As a reviewer I was interested in how others saw their role, and also I didn’t need to more from the sofa I’d taken up residence on. Then I moved on to the Academic Hour, and listened to early career researchers talk about their research. The talk about Romanian folklore in fantasy was particularly interesting.

At six in the evening my throat started to feel scratchy, and I coughed my way through the ‘Editing and Editors’ panel. Luckily I was at the back and out of the way so I don’t think I bothered anyone. It was interesting, but by this point I was not able to take a lot in. I learnt that editors generally want the best for the writers and there is tension when they work for publishers because they have to balance the demands of publishing as an industry with the needs of the writers they work with.

At 7 p.m. it was the charity raffle. This is a Fantasycon tradition and stalwart Red Cloaks Babs and Marleen came through once again. They announced the ‘big prizes’ and were drawing the smaller prizes afterwards. I didn’t win anything.

Finally, at 7.30p.m. I made it up to the main room for the British Fantasy Awards. The awards were streamed although there were some technical difficulties.

The Aldiss Award – The Dance of Shadows, by Rogba Payne

This is a new award, organised in partnership with the BFS, BSFA, and UKIE to recognise excellence in World Building in Speculative Fiction, whether in books or games. It was presented by Brian Aldiss’ son, Tim.

The BFS awards were compared by Joanne Harris after Tim and Allen finished talking. I’m going to share the results, which are now available on the BFS website.

Best Anthology – Bury Your Gays – An Anthology of Tragic Queer Horror, Sofia Ajram, Ghoulish Books

Presented by Joanne Harris, and collected on their behalf by same.

Best Artist – Kelly Chong

Presented by Vincent Chong, five time winner of the award and Guest of Honour, who also read out Kelly Chong’s acceptance speech.

Best Audio – Breaking the Glass Slipper

Presented by BFS Secretary David Green, and collected by Lucy and Charlotte. Megan is in Italy.

Best Collection – Elephants in Bloom by Cecile Cristofari – Newcon Press

I judged this one so I already knew the winner. It was actually the first award to be presented after the Aldiss Award, but I’m working through a pre-printed list. The award was presented by Anne Landmann and collected by the author.

Best Fantasy Novel (The Robert Holdstock Award) – Masquerade, by O.O. Sangoyomi – Forge Books/Solaris

This award was presented by the venerable Suniti Namjoshi, a Guest of Honour at the Convention. It was collected by someone I vaguely recognise but I don’t know their name.

Best Horror Novel (The August Derleth Award) – My Darling Dreadful Thing, by Johanna van Veen – Poisoned Pen Press

This award was presented by Lee Murrey and accepted by the author.

Best Independent Press – Flame Tree Press

Award presented by BFS Deputy Chair (and my friend) Sian O’Hara. Award accepted by the ever delightful and eloquent Nick Wells.

Best Magazine/Periodical – ParSec

Presented by BFS Chair and excellent author, who’s new book I will be reviewing 6th December, Shona Kinsella. Award collected by editor, Ian Whates.

Best Newcomer – Frances White – Voyage of the Damned – Penguin Michael Joseph

Award presented by Taika Bellamy and collected by the author. I reviewed Voyage of the Damned and enjoyed it, but after listening to the Christophers at the Queer in Fantasy panel I’m wondering about the validity of m/m romance written by women. Who is the target audience?

Best non-Fiction – Queer as Folklore: The Hidden Queer History of Myths and Monsters – Sacha Coward – originally Unbound, now Manchester University Press

This award was presented by the formidable Farah Mendelsohn, and accepted by a stunned Sacha Coward, who swore quite a bit.

Best Novella – The Last To Drown, by Lorraine Wilson – Luna Press Publishing

I’m not entirely certain who presented this one, but it was collected by the author.

Best Short Story – Loneliness Universe, by Eugenia Triantafyllou – Uncanny Magazine

This was presented by Ian Whates and collected by a representative.

BFS Art Competition

1. Sophie Jonas Will – Snicket and the Fireflies
2. Madelina Gaubelonga – The Long Wait
3. Carlie AF – Lonely Spire

The announcement was made by Jenni Coutts and the artists will have their work printed in the Autumn 2026 issue of Horizons, the BFS periodical.

BFS Short Story Competition

1. Mull, by J.W. Anderson
2. The Sphinx, by Marian Gordon
3. Iterate, by Nathaniel Spain

The announcement was made by Stephen Poore and the winners will have their stories published in BFS Horizons.

The Karl E Wagner Award – Rosemary Pardoe

This award is presented for outstanding contributions to the genre, and this year’s winner was a founder member of the BFS. Shona Kinsella made the announcement.

Legends of Fantasycon – Marlene and Babs the Red Cloaks.

This award is presented to people who make Fantasycon what it is – a joyous celebration of Fantasy. The award was announced by Karen Fishwick and eventually accepted by Babs and Marlene after they’d got a pint at the bar.

After the awards I had a drink with a group of friends and headed back to my hotel because I felt unwell.