Australian Shadows Award

The Australian Shadows Award is an annual literary award established by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) in 2005 to honour the best published work of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian.

The award was sponsored by Altair Australia Books in its first two years through the donation of two statuettes created by dark fantasy artist Brom (supplied by The Franklin Mint). Each year, a director is appointed by the AHWA to administer the award.

Unlike many other literary awards, the Australian Shadows Award evaluates novels, anthologies, and short stories against each other in a single category. Works are judged on their overall effect within the horror genre based on the author's skill, delivery, and the work's lasting resonance.

A panel of three judges determine each year's shortlist and a guest judge selects the winner from the shortlist.

Judges history

2008

* Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Brett McBean, Chuck McKenzie
* Guest judge: Sarah Endacott

2007

* Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Gary Kemble, Mark Smith-Briggs
* Guest judge: Richard Harland

2006

* Judging panel: David Schembri, Miranda Siemienowicz, Mark Smith-Briggs
* Guest judge: Robert Hood

2005

* Guest judge: Kim Wilkins

Winners history

2007 Finalists

*"Between the Memories" by Matthew Chrulew (Aurealis #38/39)
*"Subtle Invasion" by David Conyers ("The Black Book of Horror", Mortbury Press)
*"Toother" by Terry Dowling ("Eclipse 1", Night Shade Books) - WINNER
*"The Dark and What It Said" by Rick Kennett (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #28)
*"There Was Darkness" by Martin Livings ("Fantastic Wonder Stories", Ticonderoga Publications)
*"The Darkness Within" by Jason Nahrung (Hachette Livre)

2007 Honourable Mentions

*"The Spiraling Worm" by David Conyers & John Sunseri (Chaosium)
*"Cooling the Crows" by Kaaron Warren ("In Bad Dreams", Eneit Press)
*"The Wildflowers" by Marty Young ("Fantastic Wonder Stories", Ticonderoga Publications)

2006 Finalists

*"Father Renoir's Hands" by Lee Battersby ("Through Soft Air" - Prime Books)
*"The Dying Light" by Deborah Biancotti ("Eidolon I", Eidolon Books)
*"The Blow-Off" by Stephen Dedman (Brutarian #47)
*"The Pilo Family Circus" by Will Elliott (ABC Books) - WINNER
*"The Bridal Bier" by Carol Ryles ("Eidolon I", Eidolon Books)

2006 Honourable Mentions

*"Silk and Pearls" by K. J. Bishop (Shadowed Realms #9)
*"The Cup of Nestor" by Simon Brown ("Troy", Ticonderoga Publications)
*"" by Terry Dowling (Cemetery Dance Publications)
*"The Mother" by Brett McBean (Lothian Books)

2005 Finalists

*"Pater Familias" by Lee Battersby (Shadowed Realms #3)
*"Father Muerte and the Flesh" by Lee Battersby (Aurealis #36) - WINNER
*"Shadow Box", edited by Angela Challis & Shane Jiraiya Cummings (Brimstone Press)
*"The Red Priest's Homecoming" by Dirk Flinthart (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #17)
*"The Grinding House" by Kaaron Warren (CSFG Publishing)

References

* [http://www.australianhorror.com/index.php?view=39 AHWA Australian Shadows Award website]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/arts/articulate/200703/s1874277.htm Kemble, Gary, (17 March 2007). "Elliott wins Australian Shadows award". ABC online news (Articulate).]
* [http://ozhorrorscope.blogspot.com/2007/03/news-australian-shadows-winner.html Siemienowicz, Miranda (16 March 2007). "News: Australian Shadows winner announced". "HorrorScope"]