Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel

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]

Aurealis Award for best fantasy novel
Awarded forExcellence in fantasy fiction novels
CountryAustralia
Presented byChimaera Publications,
Continuum Foundation
First awarded1995
Currently held byC. S. Pacat
WebsiteOfficial site

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

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

YearAuthorNovelPublisherRef
1995Garth Nix*SabrielMoonstone[8]
David BrooksThe House of BalthusAllen & Unwin[8]
Sara DouglassBattleaxeVoyager Books[8]
Paul KiddMus of KerbridgeTSR[8]
Tony ShillitoeThe Last WizardPan Macmillan[8]
1996Jack Dann*The Memory CathedralBantam Books[9]
Sara Douglass*EnchanterVoyager Books[9]
Sara Douglass*StarManVoyager Books[9]
Shannah JayThe Price of WisdomPan Macmillan[9]
Geoffrey McSkimmingCairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten GodsHachette Children's Books Australia[9]
Dirk StrasserEquinoxPan Macmillan[9]
1997Kim Wilkins*The InfernalRandom House[10]
Isobelle CarmodyDarkfallPenguin Books[10]
Sara DouglassSinnerVoyager Books[10]
Kate ForsythDragonclawRandom House[10]
Lucy SussexBlack IceHodder Headline[10]
1998Dave Luckett*A Dark WinterOmnibus Books[11]
Jane Routley*Fire AngelsAvon Eos[11]
Sara DouglassPilgrimVoyager Books[11]
Ian IrvineA Shadow on the GlassPenguin Books[11]
Sophie MassonCold IronHodder[11]
1999Jane Routley*AramayaAvon Eos[12]
Sara DouglassCrusaderVoyager Books[12]
Kate ForsythThe Cursed TowersRandom House[12]
Dave LuckettA Dark Journey/A Dark VictoryOmnibus Books[12]
Juliet MarillierDaughter of the ForestPan Macmillan[12]
2000Juliet Marillier*Son of the ShadowsPan Macmillan[13]
Sara DouglassThe Nameless DayVoyager Books[13]
Anthony EatonThe DarknessUQP[13]
Jennifer FallonMedalonVoyager Books[13]
Hoa PhamVixenSceptre[13]
2001Sara Douglass*The Wounded HawkVoyager Books[14]
Juliet MarillierChild of the ProphecyPan Macmillan[14]
Garth NixLiraelAllen & Unwin[14]
Cameron RogersThe Music of RazorsPenguin Books[14]
Sean WilliamsThe Stone Mage and the SeaVoyager Books[14]
2002Sean Williams*The Storm Weaver and the SandVoyager Books[15]
Trudi CanavanThe NoviceVoyager Books[15]
Alison CroggonThe GiftPenguin Books[15]
Sara DouglassHades' DaughterVoyager Books[15]
Sara DouglassThe Crippled AngelVoyager Books[15]
Tony ShillitoeBloodVoyager Books[15]
2003Garth Nix*AbhorsenAllen & Unwin[16]
K. J. BishopThe Etched CityPrime Books[16]
Lian HearnGrass for His PillowHodder[16]
Glenda LarkeThe AwareVoyager Books[16]
Sean McMullenVoyage of the ShadowmoonTor Books[16]
2004Sean Williams*The Crooked LetterVoyager Books[17]
Lian HearnBrilliance of the MoonHodder[17]
Glenda LarkeThe TaintedVoyager Books[17]
Sophie MassonSnow, Fire, SwordRandom House[17]
Kim WilkinsGiants of the FrostVoyager Books[17]
2005Juliet Marillier*Blade of FortriuPan Macmillan[18]
Sara DouglassDarkwitch RisingVoyager Books[18]
Anthony EatonNightpeopleUQP[18]
Sonya HartnettSurrenderPenguin Books[18]
Karen MillerThe Innocent MageVoyager Books[18]
2006Juliet Marillier*Wildwood DancingPan Macmillan[19]
Grace DuganThe Silver RoadPenguin Books[19]
Glenda LarkeHeart of the MirageVoyager Books[19]
Sean McMullenVoidfarerTor Books[19]
Michael PryorBlaze of GloryRandom House[19]
2007Lian Hearn*Heaven's Net Is WideHachette[20]
Jennifer FallonGods of AmyranthaVoyager Books[20]
Sylvia KelsoThe Moving WaterFive Star Publishing[20]
Glenda LarkeSong of the Shiver BarrensVoyager Books[20]
Michael PryorHeart of GoldRandom House[20]
2008Alison Goodman*The Two Pearls of WisdomHarperCollins[21]
Sylvia KelsoAmberlightJuno Books[21]
Margo LanaganTender MorselsAllen & Unwin[21]
Juliet MarillierHeir to SevenwatersPan Macmillan[21]
Karen MillerThe Riven KingdomHarperVoyager[21]
2009Trudi Canavan*Magician's ApprenticeOrbit Books[22]
Peter M. BallHornTwelfth Planet Press[22]
Glenda LarkeThe Last StormlordHarperVoyager[22]
K. E. MillsWitches IncorporatedHarperVoyager[22]
K. J. TaylorThe Dark GriffinHarperVoyager[22]
2010Tansy Rayner Roberts*Power and MajestyHarperVoyager[23]
Andrea K HöstThe Silence of MedairAndrea K Hösth[24]
Trent JamiesonDeath Most DefiniteOrbit Books[24]
Glenda LarkeStormlord RisingHarperVoyager[24]
Juliet MarillierHeart's BloodPan Macmillan[24]
2011Pamela Freeman*Ember and AshHachette[25]
Jennifer FallonThe UndividedHarperVoyager[26]
Glenda LarkeStormlord's ExileHarperVoyager[26]
Jo AndertonDebrisAngry Robot[26]
Tansy Rayner RobertsThe Shattered CityHarperVoyager[26]
2012Margo Lanagan*Sea HeartsAllen & Unwin[27]
Kate ForsythBitter GreensRandom House Australia[28]
Jay KristoffStormdancerTor UK[28]
Juliet MarillierFlame of SevenwatersPan Macmillan Australia[28]
Jo SpurrierWinter Be My ShieldHarperVoyager[28]
2013Mitchell Hogan*A Crucible of SoulsMitchell Hogan[29][30]
Max BarryLexiconHachette Australia[29]
Amie Kaufman & Meagan SpoonerThese Broken StarsAllen & Unwin[29]
Garth NixNewt's EmeraldJill Grinberg Literary Management[29]
Tansy Rayner RobertsInk Black MagicFableCroft Publishing[29]
2014Juliet Marillier*Dreamer's PoolPan Macmillan Australia[31]
Keri ArthurFirebornHachette Australia[32]
Amie Kaufman & Meagan SpoonerThis Shattered WorldAllen & Unwin[32]
Glenda LarkeThe Lascar's DaggerHachette Australia[32]
Scott WesterfeldAfterworldsPenguin Books Australia[32]
Kim WilkinsDaughters of the StormHarlequin Enterprises Australia[32]
2015Trent Jamieson*Day BoyText Publishing[33]
Kathryn BarkerIn the Skin of a MonsterAllen & Unwin[34]
Alison GoodmanLady Helen and the Dark Days ClubHarperCollins[34]
Glenda LarkeThe Dagger's PathHarperVoyager[34]
Juliet MarillierTower of ThornsPan Macmillan Australia[34]
Ilka TampkeSkinText Publishing[34]
2016Jay Kristoff*NevernightHarperVoyager[35][36]
Glenda LarkeThe Fall of the DaggerHachette Australia[35]
Juliet MarillierDen of WolvesPan Macmillan Australia[35]
Angela SlatterVigilJo Fletcher Books[35]
Mark SmithRoad to WinterText Publishing[35]
Kim WilkinsSisters of the FireHarlequin Australia[35]
2017Jay Kristoff*GodsgraveHarperCollins Publishers[37][38]
Thoraiya DyerCrossroads of CanopyTor Books[37]
Goldie GoldbloomGwenFremantle Press[37]
Kathryn GossowCassandraOdyssey Books[37]
Michael PryorGap Year in Ghost TownAllen & Unwin[37]
Robin ShorttWellsideCandlemark & Gleam[37]
2018Sam Hawke*City of LiesPenguin Random House[39][40]
Maria Lewis*The Witch Who Courted DeathHachette Australia[39][40]
Alan BaxterDevouring DarkGrey Matter Press[39]
Alison GoodmanLady Helen and the Dark Days DeceitHarperCollins Publishers[39]
Aletha KinselaLightning TracksPlainspeak Publishing[39]
Devin MadsonWe Ride the Storm(self-published)[39]
2019Garth Nix*Angel MageAllen & Unwin[41][42]
Jay KristoffDarkdawnHarperCollins Publishers[41]
Maria LewisThe Wailing WomanPiatkus[41]
Juliet MarillierThe Harp of KingsMacmillan[41]
P. M. FreestoneThe Darkest BloomScholastic[41]
Michael PryorGraveyard Shift in Ghost TownAllen & Unwin[41]
2020Garth Nix*The Left-Handed Booksellers of LondonAllen & Unwin[43][44]
Sam Hawke*Hollow EmpireBantam Press[43]
Claire McKennaMonstrous HeartHarperVoyager[43]
Astrid ScholteThe Vanishing DeepAllen & Unwin[43]
Dirk StrasserConquistChimaera Publications[43]
Bonnie WynneThe Ninth SorceressTalem Press[43]
2021C. S. Pacat*Dark RiseAllen & Unwin[45][46][47]
Angela SlatterAll the Murmuring BonesTitan Publishing[45][47]
Freya MarskeA Marvellous LightTor
Maria LewisThe Rose DaughterPiatkus
Shelley Parker-ChanShe Who Became the SunMantle
Meg GraceSupermums: And So It Begins(self-published)
2022Kate EmeryThe Not So Chosen OneText[48]
Trent JamiesonThe Stone RoadErewhon
Freya MarskeA Restless TruthTor
Daniel O'MalleyBlitzHarperCollins
Angela SlatterPath of ThornsTitan
Sean WilliamsHonour Among GhostsAllen & Unwon

Statistics

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

Most nominations:

Honourable mentions and highly commended novels

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

YearAuthorNovelPublisherRef
2003Ian IrvineScrutatorViking Press[49]
Anthony O'NeilLamplighterHarperCollins[49]
2005Trudi Canavan*Priestess of the WhiteVoyager Books[49]
2006Kylie ChanWhite TigerVoyager Books[49]
Lian HearnThe Harsh Cry of the HeronHachette Livre[49]
2007Pamela FreemanBlood TiesHachette Australia[49]
Karen MillerEmpress of MijakVoyager Books[49]

See also

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

References

External links