Archive for the Category » Awards «

The DGLA Ravenheart Award
March 03rd, 2010 | Author: von Darkmoor

The DGLA Ravenheart will be awarded to the best Fantasy Book Jacket/Artist of 2009. Both the Ravenheart and the Morningstar Awards join the David Gemmell Legend Award now in its second year. Each of these awards are named after works and in honor of the legendary heroic fantasy author David Gemmell. I’ve already cast my votes for the best fantasy novel and the best cover art/jacket of 2009…I’ll have to skip the best newcomer/debut of the year though, as I’ve read only one of the contenders.

For your viewing pleasure I’ve brought along my top choices for the Ravenheart. There were many spectacular works of art and design, several of which I thoroughly enjoyed and would have caused me to pause and pick them up were I to see them in the store. These five do something better: they catch my eye and hold my attention here online. They make me look up the book information, the artist’s portfolio, and reviews by folks I rely upon. Here, in no particular order, are my favorite four:

and here is the cover with the art that most closely matches its title:

Rating 3.50 out of 5
[?]
Category: Awards, Books, Visual Arts, von Darkmoor  | Leave a Comment
2009 Preditors & Editors Readers’ Poll Results
January 15th, 2010 | Author: von Darkmoor

Rogue Blades Entertainment’s entry in this year’s Preditors & Editors Readers’ Poll more than held its own on the individual story level. With 10 of the 21 stories in Rage of the Behemoth appearing in the final cut as of the close of voting last night, that’s pretty darn sweet in my view. All of those authors should be very happy, especially the three who so far appear in the Top 10.

Final placements won’t be revealed for a bit, but as of right now this is how things stand:

  • Short Story Science Fiction/Fantasy
    • 1-T — Yaggoth-Voor, Bruce Durham
    • 6 — Poisonous Redemption, Kate Martin
    • 10-T — Where the Shadow Falls, TW Williams
    • 14-T — Thunder Canyon, Jeff Draper
    • 16-T — Vasily and the Beast Gods, Daniel R. Robichaud
    • 17-T — As from His Lair, the Wild Beast, Michael Ehart
    • 17-T — The Wolf of Winter, Bill Ward
    • 18-T — Portrait of a Behemoth, Richard K. Lyon & Andrew J. Offutt
    • 18-T — Runner of the Hidden Ways, Jason Thummel
    • 18-T — Beyond the Reach of His Gods, Brian Ruckley
  • Anthology
    • 21-T — Rage of the Behemoth
  • Artist
    • 20-T — Johnney Perkins
  • Book Art
    • 19-T — Rage of the Behemoth, Didier Normand

~~~~~~

Hat’s off to many other friends and acquaintances for their multiple showings as well, folks such as Cyberwizard Productions and Abandoned Towers; Residential Aliens, SFReader, Black Gate, Beneath Ceasless Skies, Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Ricasso Press, GUD, EDF, Richard H Fay, Grasping for the Wind, M.D. Jackson – and numerous others I apologize for not listing.

A grand beginning to 2010 and much publishing success to us all!

Rating 4.00 out of 5
[?]
Category: Authors, Awards, Books, RBE, Visual Arts, Zines  | Leave a Comment
DGLA elimination round!
April 14th, 2009 | Author: von Darkmoor

It’s that time folks! Time to evaluate the DGLA final five…and selection process.

As taken from drosdelnoch’s 4/12/09 post:

Shortly we’ll get to work on a new area for each author and allot them their own “Guild” which you the reading public can sign up for along with having the chance to show your support for your favourite author as well as letting people know why they should vote for your guy/girl. In short, the “Guild Members” are voting on who should become the Hero/ine of the Awards for its first year.

Now without further ado, the final five in alphabetical order:

ABERCROMBIE, Joe – Last Argument of Kings (Gollancz/Pyr)
MARILLIER, Juliet – Heir to Sevenwaters (Tor UK)
SANDERSON, Brandon – The Hero of Ages (Tor US)
SAPKOWSKI, Andrzej – Blood of Elves (Gollancz)
WEEKS, Brent – The Way of Shadows (Orbit)

Thus far it’s been a popularity vote. Being somewhat behind in my current title reading, I must admit to not having read any of these. I have read Sanderson in the past and Abercrombie is in my TBR pile. The others? I’ve been looking at Weeks’ covers, seen adverts for Sapkowski’s, and never heard of Marillier’s.

The winner won’t be announced until June 19th, but I’m not going to have time to read these, probably not even a single title. Based solely upon name and my knowledge of the author’s previous works and my awareness of the contents of the title under consideration, I would vote today for Abercrombie.  But I’m not sure I’ll join a guild and vote, as I don’t believe my limited information qualifies me to vote. We’ll see.

Rating 3.50 out of 5
[?]
Category: Authors, Awards, Books  | 2 Comments
Get thee to a voting booth
January 02nd, 2009 | Author: von Darkmoor

The most important 2008
elections are upon us!

preditors-editors-vote

Return of the Sword
&
Rogue Blades Entertainment

Can provide a winner in these slots:

Then there’s forums, and editors, and writer’s resources . . . all sorts of things to voice your opinion on. Don’t ever say your vote doesn’t count!

You only have 14 days to vote – don’t delay

Rating 4.33 out of 5
[?]
Category: Awards  | Leave a Comment
David Gemmell’s Legend Award?
December 23rd, 2008 | Author: von Darkmoor

This doesn’t bother so much:

After receiving lots of feedback from fans, readers and industry alike, we at the DGLA have – after much deliberation – come to the decision to make the David Gemmell Legend Award completely publicly voted.

This means that once the Longlist closes, the top 5 novels will be put forward to the Shortlist Poll and YOU will be able to have the final say about who should win, by voting once more on the shortlist! Readers and fans will be involved at every step to produce our winner.

This bothers immensely:

We are confident that Fantasy readers are passionate and well-informed about the genre and, will select the novel that they have found to be both the most exciting read, and a truly deserving representative of the sheer quality and skill of the Fantasy genre and its authors.

So, okay, they want to leave the results entirely in the public’s hands. We’ve already had our discussion about the merits (or non) of that, so I’ll leave that alone. But the second half of the announcement isn’t much to my liking. Notice the absolute absence of any reference to Mr. Gemmell. Not only would this have been the appropriate place to restate the name of the man in whose honor this award originates, it would have been correct to reiterate the intent of the award.

Even the main page of the DGLA site has been tweaked. “The DGLA will be presented for the very first time in 2009 for the best Fantasy novel of 2008. The award will be given to a work written in the ’spirit’ of the late, great David Gemmell, a true Master of Heroic Fantasy.” Second sentences in definitions tend to disappear over time, especially when all that would be necessary to improve the first is one word – ‘Heroic.’ I would argue that it would be both nicer and (hopefully) more accurate to simply say “The  DGLA will be presented for the very first time in 2009 for the best Heroic Fantasy novel written in the ’spirit’ of the late David Gemmell published in 2008.”

I’ll admit to not being so well read on many of these titles, but in reviewing the list and noting those titles I am aware of, reading this apparent redirection of the intent of the award, and now learning all will be determined by the public, this award has lost the shine it initially held for me. A popularity contest with muddled intent and absent minders will not find the 2008 work that best reflects Mr. Gemmell’s contributions to the heroic fantasy genre. I’m afraid we don’t have to wait till June to learn what many of us feared: Snaga’s edge has already dulled.

Rating 4.33 out of 5
[?]
Category: Awards  | 20 Comments
SNAGA – The David Gemmell Legend Award for Fantasy
October 27th, 2008 | Author: von Darkmoor

All fans of heroic fantasy fiction owe it to themselves to hightail on over to the brand new site for the Snaga. My thanks to Deborah Miller (Snaga Award Administrator) for commenting on my previous Snaga post and providing some information and link.

Dedicated in the memory of author David Gemmell and endorsed by his wife Stella, the Snaga will be awarded annually to the novel that is most “written in the ’spirit’ of the late, great David Gemmell, a true Master of Heroic Fantasy.” What’s most exciting about this award is that readers – you and I – get a say in this. Here’s how.

Only editors of fantasy novels (sigh, no anthologies) with 2008 publication dates can nominate books. If you’re an author who thinks your book deserves to be listed, start talking to your editor now. So far, DGLA has received 60 titles.  As long as the title meets the somewhat ambiguous criteria quoted above, no titles are being denied. That’s where we – the public – come in.

Beginning 26 December 2008 and continuing until 31 March 2009, everyone can vote on the 2008 book they deem best meets their understanding of heroic fantasy. Voters will be winnowing down the Long List to a Short List of the top five vote-getters. After that, things will be in the hands of “a panel of genre experts” who will declare the winner at a ceremony next June.

So, visit the site, read the terrific write up on Mr. Gemmell, read about the organization and its motivations and people, even join the site, its forum, and its pages. You’ll find me there, if you do. At least my mugshot and a brief visit now and again. Oh, and check out the two contests (mid-page) you can enter, with prizes from the Long List and the Short List. I’m shooting for that second one.

~~~~
In case my previous post lent any confusion to who was behind the Snaga, I must reiterate Debbie’s mention that this Award is not affiliated or connected with the BFS in any manner. The DGLA is an independent, not-for-profit organization that plans to donate any profits to a charity nominated by Stella Gemmell.

Rating 4.00 out of 5
[?]
Category: Awards, Books  | Leave a Comment