It’s that time of year again – book awards are beginning. The Christy Award nominations came out recently. The ACFW Book of the Year judging is underway. I’m sure there are a host of other fiction awards soon to be made as well.
In 2007 a group of Christian speculative fiction writers conceived of an award to draw attention to our genre and especially to call attention to the best books being published in that category.
Because of organizational issues, the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction took nominations for two years without choosing a winner. However, in 2009 the award turned to a Readers’ Choice format, and Donita Paul became the first winner.
Once again it’s time to accept nominations.
The books that are eligible are those considered Christian because of overt Christian content or a Christian worldview, published in English by a royalty paying publisher from January 2009 through December 2009 in the science fiction/fantasy/allegory/futuristic/supernatural/supernatural suspense category.
Of course, we’re not looking for an exhaustive list but the books readers believe to be the best in the category. Below are standards to consider.
If you would like to nominate a book, please leave a comment including the title, author, and publisher.
Nominations for the Clive Staples Award should be evaluated in these categories:
Writing Style/Mechanics
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Does the quality of the author’s prose (syntax, tone, voice, pacing etc.) enhance the story?
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Do concrete and particular details appeal to various senses and strengthen each scene?
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Is there a balance between exposition and dramatization (telling and showing)?
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Are there errors in word use, spelling, grammar, paragraphing, and punctuation?
Setting
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Is the setting well established and realistic?
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Are the speculative elements believable and necessary to the story?
Characterization
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Does the main character have clear internal and external goals?
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Are the characters complex, with both strengths and weaknesses?
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Are the characters believably and realistically motivated?
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Is dialogue natural and does it contribute to characterization so that each person possess a unique voice?
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Is there discernible and appropriate character development?
Plot
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Is the story structured with a clearly recognizable arc of conflict, crisis, and resolution?
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Does the narrative flow, or does it tend toward the disjointed?
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Are the obstacles to be overcome sufficiently challenging to the protagonists?
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Are the complications and the protagonist’s efforts to overcome them unpredictable?
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Is the resolution innovative? Credible? Authentic?
Theme
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Does the story contain a central or dominating idea?
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Does the theme arise from the characters and events of the story?
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Is the theme consistent with a Christian worldview?
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Does the theme overwhelm the story, or is it well integrated into the story?
Are you giving awards for different genres? If so, in the YA category, I nominate:
Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter
RJ Anderson
HarperCollins
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Vanishing Sculptor
Donita K Paul
WaterBrook Press
Hunter Brown and the Consuming Fire
Christopher and Allen Miller
Warner Press
I might think of others later.
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My first consideration is one I can’t see changing:
North! Or Be Eaten
Andrew Peterson
Waterbrook Press
Although Blaggard’s Moon gives it a good run, Peterson has just done too good a job with his series.
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By Darkness Hid
Jill Williamson
Marcher Lord Press
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Sally, no divisions yet, but I’ll happily include Faery Rebels as one of the nominations.
What a great group of books so far! Thanks for each one of these.
I’m going to add one as well:
Blaggard’s Moon
George Bryan Polivka
Harvest House
Becky
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A Star Curiously Singing
Kerry Nietz
Marcher Lord Press
This book was hands down one of the best speculative reads I’ve had in a long time, Christian or secular. It was imaginative, well-written, character and plot driven, and forced me to think about my world in a new way. For those who have read the sequel, you know this is a great series. I heartily recommend both books, and pray that Nietz is hard at work on the third.
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[…] Bryan Polivka, Jill Williamson, Kerry Nietz, R. J. Anderson Nominations have begun to come in at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. Readers and authors alike may add a nomination there or here at the award site. Below is the list […]
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Stuart Vaughn Stockton’s Starfire by Marcher Lord Press.
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I LOVED Blaggard’s Moon! What a great pirate story.
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People have already beaten me to my three favorites (By Darkness Hid, North! Or Be Eaten, and Vanishing Sculptor), and my 4th wasn’t published in 2009. Narrowly skirted by on either side. I am getting good ideas though! That Faery Rebels sounds interesting…
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Eternity Falls by Kirk Outerbridge
Marcher Lord Press
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Steve Rzasa’s “The Word Reclaimed,” from Marcher Lord Press is one of my favorite novels. I’d nominate for any awards any day, and that day is today!
Brayden Hirsch
Teen Author of The Yellow Eye, Chinkara, and Flaming, winners in the Steward House Youth Writers Contest
http://writebig.wordpress.com/
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The Word Reclaimed, Steve Rzasa, Marcher Lord Press
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This one may already be in there, but By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson. Marcher Lord Press.
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If it is permitted, I’d like to nominate my own book The Last Cordate, published by OakTara in 2009. It is a fantasy set on another planet. Thank you. Alison Pickrell
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By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, Marcher Lord Press was a great read!
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Wayback by Sam Batterman
VMI Publishers
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The Muse by CSFF member Fred Warren
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Curse of the Spider King
Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper
Thomas Nelson Publishing
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[…] Ted Dekker, Wayne Batson Here are the latest nominations, garnered from this site and at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. If you don’t see yours, check to be sure the book you nominated meets the award criteria and […]
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The Word Reclaimed, Steve Rzasa, Marcher Lord Press,
And,
Curse of the Spider King
Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper
Thomas Nelson Publishing
😀
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I second, or third, the nominations for Curse of the Spider King, Faery Rebels: Spell Hunter, and By Darkness Hid. Enjoyed all three books.
😀
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Curse of the Spider King
Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper
Thomas Nelson Publishing
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I’m sorry, I forgot to name the publisher. Let’s try that again.
The Muse by Fred Warren, Splashdown Books
(this publisher is on the ACFW approved list)
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[…] so if you know of a book that should be included, please add your nomination at my site – https://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/clive-staples-award-2010-accepting-nominations/ or at the award site – […]
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I was going to nominate By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson, but see that someone already has. Great Book!
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Wayback by Sam Batterman; VMI Publishers
intense plot, brings new vantage point to time travel and the time of Noah and the Flood. Brilliant writing!
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Sara and Marnie, I’ve left Wayback off the list because VMI is not strictly a royalty paying publisher. Note the eligibility statement in the post above:
Sorry about that.
Becky
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[…] have begun to come in at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. Readers and authors alike may add a nomination there or here at the award site. Below is the list […]
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[…] are the latest nominations, garnered from this site and at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. If you don’t see yours, check to be sure the book you nominated meets the award criteria and […]
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