Gemmell Award shortlist 2016
The shortlist for the 2016 David Gemmell Awards have been announced and Gotrek & Felix: Slayer has made the cut. Here are thes shortlist for all three categories...
Legend Award (best novel)
The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (Gollancz)
Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia (Baen)
**Gotrek & Felix: Slayer by David Guymer (Black Library)**
Ruin by John Gwynne (Pan Macmillan)
The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence (Harper/Voyager)
Morningstar Award (best debut)
Battlemage by Stephen Aryan (Orbit)
The Traitor by Seth Dickinson (Pan Macmillan)
The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig (Harper/Voyager)
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom (Pan Macmillan)
The Vagrant by Peter Newman (Harper/Voyager)
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (Harper/Voyager)
(We normally have five finalists in each category, except in the case of a draw, which has happened only once in the awards’ history. However, as we had just six nominees for the Morningstar this year, and the number of votes separating fifth and sixth place weren’t that great, we thought it was fairest to let all six nominees go through to the final.)
Ravenheart Award (best cover art)
Kerem Beyit for The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (Gollancz)
Jason Chan for The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence (Harper/Voyager)
Larry Elmore & Carol Russo Design for Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia (Baen)
Raymond Swanland for Archaon: Lord of Chaos by Rob Sanders (Black Library)
Paul Young for Ruin by John Gwynne (Pan Macmillan)
The shortlists for 2016’s Gemmell Awards open for voting at midday (GMT) today (Friday 8th July). Website: www.gemmellawards.com and closes at midnight (GMT) on Friday 19th August.
The results will be announced at a presentation ceremony taking place at 8pm on Saturday 24th September at Fantasycon in Scarborough, UK
... now I had all sorts of happy things to say about this. I got a few congratulatory e-mails from editors and friends, which is lovely, but in a way undeserved - the Gemmells are awarded on public votes so it was YOU GUYS who really deserve the thanks. It's the passion of the fans of Gotrek & Felix and of Black Library generally that made this, particularly given that that better selling books by far more successful authors than I didn't make it. And as Scarborough is in my own county (short journey, yay!) I'm doubly thrilled to be at the party.
And then, my excitement bubbling down to background level, I read this blog on the subject by Mark Lawrence, my fellow shortlistee:
http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk...
Let's just say I'm not blind to the fact that Joe Abercrombie, Robin Hobb, and Brian Sanderson (and even Brian McClellan, dastardly thief of Headtaker's rightful Morningstar Award in 2014!) are far more deserving of this or any award than I. I know that. But the suggestion that because a book is less widely read it is underserving seems a bit... harsh. Sure there are some parts of Black Library's output that are a bit niche, but anyone could enjoy Gotrek & Felix, anyone could enjoy Gaunt's Ghosts or Malus Darkblade or the Horus Heresy.
I have no doubt that it wasn't meant unkindly, merely a statement of fact on the weird upside-down state of a world where a book with 93 ratings (Note: it's 96 now!) makes it through where one with 23,000 didn't, but it did sting, particularly from a big name author whom I admire so much. Maybe it's because as a struggling part-time professional I already feel a bit of a fraud without having to justify my presence amongst such august company. I get a little tongue-tied around Dan Abnett and Jim Swallow - how am I supposed to share a room with Joe Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence?
I'm sure that Joe, Brian, Robin (and yes, even Brian McClellan!) will get over their disappointment. I know I'd trade the Legend Award for selling half a million copies of Slayer any day.
And I suspect Black Library would too.
(Addendum: Brian McClelan may or may not in fact be dastardly; I've never met him, so the chances are like... 50%. You know who I have met though? John Gwynne. If I hadn't already voted for myself and for Raymond Swanland then I'd be behind John in both categories; a great guy, nice enough to congratulate me, and to console me when I missed out in 2014, and a fantastic writer. If you've not read his the Faithful and the Fallen series, then give Malice a go)
Legend Award (best novel)
The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (Gollancz)
Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia (Baen)
**Gotrek & Felix: Slayer by David Guymer (Black Library)**
Ruin by John Gwynne (Pan Macmillan)
The Liar’s Key by Mark Lawrence (Harper/Voyager)
Morningstar Award (best debut)
Battlemage by Stephen Aryan (Orbit)
The Traitor by Seth Dickinson (Pan Macmillan)
The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig (Harper/Voyager)
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom (Pan Macmillan)
The Vagrant by Peter Newman (Harper/Voyager)
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir (Harper/Voyager)
(We normally have five finalists in each category, except in the case of a draw, which has happened only once in the awards’ history. However, as we had just six nominees for the Morningstar this year, and the number of votes separating fifth and sixth place weren’t that great, we thought it was fairest to let all six nominees go through to the final.)
Ravenheart Award (best cover art)
Kerem Beyit for The Dread Wyrm by Miles Cameron (Gollancz)
Jason Chan for The Liar's Key by Mark Lawrence (Harper/Voyager)
Larry Elmore & Carol Russo Design for Son of the Black Sword by Larry Correia (Baen)
Raymond Swanland for Archaon: Lord of Chaos by Rob Sanders (Black Library)
Paul Young for Ruin by John Gwynne (Pan Macmillan)
The shortlists for 2016’s Gemmell Awards open for voting at midday (GMT) today (Friday 8th July). Website: www.gemmellawards.com and closes at midnight (GMT) on Friday 19th August.
The results will be announced at a presentation ceremony taking place at 8pm on Saturday 24th September at Fantasycon in Scarborough, UK
... now I had all sorts of happy things to say about this. I got a few congratulatory e-mails from editors and friends, which is lovely, but in a way undeserved - the Gemmells are awarded on public votes so it was YOU GUYS who really deserve the thanks. It's the passion of the fans of Gotrek & Felix and of Black Library generally that made this, particularly given that that better selling books by far more successful authors than I didn't make it. And as Scarborough is in my own county (short journey, yay!) I'm doubly thrilled to be at the party.
And then, my excitement bubbling down to background level, I read this blog on the subject by Mark Lawrence, my fellow shortlistee:
http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk...
Let's just say I'm not blind to the fact that Joe Abercrombie, Robin Hobb, and Brian Sanderson (and even Brian McClellan, dastardly thief of Headtaker's rightful Morningstar Award in 2014!) are far more deserving of this or any award than I. I know that. But the suggestion that because a book is less widely read it is underserving seems a bit... harsh. Sure there are some parts of Black Library's output that are a bit niche, but anyone could enjoy Gotrek & Felix, anyone could enjoy Gaunt's Ghosts or Malus Darkblade or the Horus Heresy.
I have no doubt that it wasn't meant unkindly, merely a statement of fact on the weird upside-down state of a world where a book with 93 ratings (Note: it's 96 now!) makes it through where one with 23,000 didn't, but it did sting, particularly from a big name author whom I admire so much. Maybe it's because as a struggling part-time professional I already feel a bit of a fraud without having to justify my presence amongst such august company. I get a little tongue-tied around Dan Abnett and Jim Swallow - how am I supposed to share a room with Joe Abercrombie or Mark Lawrence?
I'm sure that Joe, Brian, Robin (and yes, even Brian McClellan!) will get over their disappointment. I know I'd trade the Legend Award for selling half a million copies of Slayer any day.
And I suspect Black Library would too.
(Addendum: Brian McClelan may or may not in fact be dastardly; I've never met him, so the chances are like... 50%. You know who I have met though? John Gwynne. If I hadn't already voted for myself and for Raymond Swanland then I'd be behind John in both categories; a great guy, nice enough to congratulate me, and to console me when I missed out in 2014, and a fantastic writer. If you've not read his the Faithful and the Fallen series, then give Malice a go)
date
newest »
newest »
"Perhaps because as a struggling part-time professional I already feel enough of a fraud without having to justify my presence amongst elite company."In no way are you a fraud, David! As far as I'm concerned you're just as deserving of recognition and success as anyone else - a good book is a good book, whether written by someone who writes for a living or someone who fits it in around a job and a family!
Well done - you got my vote.
Michael wrote: ""Perhaps because as a struggling part-time professional I already feel enough of a fraud without having to justify my presence amongst elite company."In no way are you a fraud, David! As far as I..."
Just to dispel any myths here ... all my published work was written whilst being fitted around a day job, a family, and being sole carer for a very disabled (4th) child. There's no elite vs honest Joe thing happening here.
Hi Mark,There's no suggestion of elitism here, I assure you. Absolutely not. By 'elite company' I just meant, you know, a better class of person! Everyone has to write part-time to begin with after all.
I'm also sorry if I read too much into the point you were trying to make. I felt a bit deflated after reading it but, you're right, it should be pointed out. And you're not the only to do so, actually. This guy did so too, though I hadn't read that one at the time
http://tomlloyd.co.uk/
... and really, four children? I've got one, only work part-time, and I'm a mess with trying to fit writing in
What's the 655 book? I'm currently reading the Regeneration Trilogy, the 1995 Booker Prize winner with 1400 ratings :)
David wrote: "What's the 655 book? I'm currently reading the Regeneration Trilogy, the 1995 Booker Prize winner with 1400 ratings :)"Free Fall, by William Golding.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I don't believe that suggestion is one I have ever made or implied.
However, if the elephant in the room were not addressed then it would breed confusion (rather than baby elephants).
It's important, in my opinion, for Gemmell voters to understand the circumstances leading to the shortlist so that they don't lose faith in the voting system.
Quality and 'deservingness' are at best very loosely coupled to sales success. The book I hold in highest regard out of all the books I have ever read has 655 ratings on Goodreads.