Nova Awards

The Nova Awards were presented annually, between 1973 and 2014, at the UK science fiction convention Novacon and recognised achievement in British and Irish sf fanzines.[1]

When initiated in 1973, members of Novacon could nominate fanzines but the actual judging was done by a panel of well-known fans, none of who could be said to be directly connected to a group or specific fanzine.[2]

In 1974 the judging panel were unable to reach a consensus and so the award was given jointly to Zimri and Big Scab. [3] In 1975 the panel announced that while they had wanted to give the award to Wrinkled Shrew they felt that under the rules it had to go to Maya.[4] The manner of the presentation led to some criticism in fanzines at the time.[5] From 1977 the judging panel was discontinued and the award was decided by popular vote of Novacon members able to demonstrate a basic familiarity with the field.[6] Following a debate at Novacon 39 and follow-up discussions at Novacon 40, the rules were changed in 2011 to allow voting by non-Novacon members resident in the UK and Eire able to meet the 'familiarity' criterion.[7]

Originally there was a sole award for best fanzine.[2] From 1981 Novas were also presented to the best fanzine writer and best fanzine artist[8] and from 1995 there were occasional committee awards for 'best fan'.[9]

Past administrators have included Dave Langford, Pam Wells, Paul Vincent, Martin Tudor, Sandra Bond and Tony Berry. In 2009, Steve Green stepped down after seven years in the post, and Tudor resumed the reins; Tudor was unable to see the year out and Green returned to run the 2010 Novas.

In March 2015, Novacon 45 announced the main categories were being retired, although occasional 'committee awards' might still be made.[10]

Past winners
Year Best Fanzine Best Fan Writer Best Fan Artist
1973[11] Speculation #32, ed. Peter Weston NA NA
1974[12] (tie) Zimri #6, ed. Lisa Conesa; Big Scab #2, ed. John Brosnan NA NA
1975[13] Maya #8, ed. Rob Jackson NA NA
1976[14] Maya, ed. Rob Jackson NA NA
1977[15] Twll-Ddu, ed. Dave Langford NA NA
1978[16] Gross Encounters, ed. Alan Dorey NA NA
1979[17] Seamonsters, ed. Simone Walsh NA NA
1980[18] One-Off, ed. Dave Bridges NA NA
1981[8] Tappen, ed. Malcolm Edwards Chris Atkinson Pete Lyon
1982[19] Epsilon, ed. Rob Hansen Chris Atkinson Rob Hansen
1983[20] A Cool Head, ed. Dave Bridges Dave Bridges Margaret Welbank
1984[21] Xyster, ed. Dave Wood Anne Hammill D West
1985[22] Prevert, ed. John Jarrold Abi Frost Ros Calverly
1986[23] Pink Fluffy Bedsocks, ed. Owen Whiteoak Owen Whiteoak Arthur Thomson ("Atom")
1987[24] Lip, ed. Hazel Ashworth D West D West
1988[25] Lip, ed. Hazel Ashworth Michael Ashley D West
1989[24] VSOP, ed. Jan Orys Simon Polley Dave Mooring
1990[26] Fuck the Tories, ed. Joseph Nicholas, Judith Hanna Dave Langford Dave Mooring
1991[27] Saliromania, ed. Michael Ashley Michael Ashley D West
1992[28] Bob?, ed. Ian Sorensen Michael Ashley Dave Mooring
1993[29] Lagoon, ed. Simon Ounsley Simon Ounsley Dave Mooring
1994[30] Rastus Johnson’s Cakewalk, ed. Greg Pickersgill Greg Pickersgill D West
1995[9] Attitude, ed. Michael Abbott, John Dallman, Pam Wells Simon Ounsley D West
1996[31] Banana Wings, ed. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Alison Freebairn D West
1997[32] Banana Wings, ed. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Mark Plummer Sue Mason
1998[33] Banana Wings, ed. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Maureen Kincaid Speller D West
1999[34] Barmaid, ed. Yvonne Rowse Yvonne Rowse Sue Mason
2000[35] Plokta, ed. Alison Scott, Steve Davies, Mike Scott Yvonne Rowse Sue Mason
2001[36] Head, ed. Doug Bell, Christina Lake Alison Freebairn Dave Hicks
2002[37] Plokta, ed. Alison Scott, Steve Davies, Mike Scott Claire Brialey Dave Hicks
2003[38] Zoo Nation, ed. Pete Young Claire Brialey Sue Mason
2004[39] Zoo Nation, ed. Pete Young Claire Brialey Sue Mason
2005[40] Banana Wings, ed. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Claire Brialey Alison Scott
2006[41] Banana Wings, ed. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Claire Brialey Sue Mason
2007[42] Prolapse, ed. Peter Weston Mark Plummer Alison Scott
2008[43] Prolapse, ed. Peter Weston Claire Brialey Alison Scott
2009[44] Banana Wings, eds. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Claire Brialey Sue Mason
2010[45] Journey Planet, eds. Christopher J Garcia, James Bacon, Claire Brialey Mark Plummer Arthur "Atom" Thomson (the first Nova Award ever won posthumously)
2011[46] Head, ed. Doug Bell, Christina Lake Claire Brialey Dave Hicks
2012[47] Banana Wings, eds. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Mark Plummer (tie) Sue Mason and D West
2013[48] Banana Wings, eds. Claire Brialey, Mark Plummer Mike Meara D West
2014[49] Vibrator, ed. Graham Charnock Christina Lake D West

Committee awards
Year Best Fan
1995[9] Brian Burgess
1996[31] Bob Shaw
1997[32] Ken Slater
2000 Vernon Brown
2003[38] Ina Shorrock
2004[39] Ray Bradbury (Note: not the US author but the

Birmingham SF Group fan who made the Nova Award trophies.)

2007[42] Peter Weston
2013 David A. Hardy

References
  1. ""Nova Awards"". Science Fiction Encyclopedia. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  2. ""Spec Wins Nova Award"". Checkpoint 43. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  3. Then : Science Fiction Fandom in the UK 1930-1980 by Rob Hansen, Ansible Editions, 2016, p311
  4. Then : Science Fiction Fandom in the UK 1930-1980 by Rob Hansen, Ansible Editions, 2016, p322
  5. Then : Science Fiction Fandom in the UK 1930-1980 by Rob Hansen, Ansible Editions, 2016, pp322-323, 331
  6. Then : Science Fiction Fandom in the UK 1930-1980 by Rob Hansen, Ansible Editions, 2016, p349
  7. ""Novacon and the Nova Awards by Steve Green"". eFanzines.com. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  8. ""NovaCon 11: 30 Oct - 2 Nov 1981"". Ansible 22, December 1981. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  9. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 101, December 1995. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  10. ""Nova Award Retired. Mostly."". File770. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  11. ""Spec Wins Nova Award"". Checkpoint 43, November 1973. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. ""NovaCon the Fourth"". Checkpoint 56, November 1974. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  13. ""NovaCon 5"". Checkpoint 63, December 1975. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  14. ""NovaCon"". Checkpoint 76, November 1975. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  15. ""NovaCon 7"". Checkpoint 85, Winter 1977. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  16. ""Decadence in Birmingham"" (PDF). Matrix 21, p15. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  17. ""The Nova Award"". Ansible 5, December 1979. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  18. ""NovaCon 10: 31 Oct - 3 Nov 1980"". Ansible 14, December 1980. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  19. ""NovaCon 12 — Birmingham 5-8 Nov"". Ansible 30, November 1982. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  20. ""NovaCon 13"". Ansible 36, December 1983. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  21. ""NOVACON 14 • Birmingham 9-12 Nov 1984"". Ansible 41, December 1984. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  22. ""Do You Remember NovaCon 15"". Ansible 45, February 1986. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  23. ""NovaCon 16"". Ansible 48, February 1987. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  24. ""Nova Award Winners 1987-1994"" (PDF). Time Bytes (August 1995) p14. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  25. ""Fans & Fandom"" (PDF). Critical Wave 8, p6. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  26. ""Farewell, Award and Fanzines"" (PDF). Matrix 91, December 1990/January 1991, p22. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  27. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 53, December 1991. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  28. ""NovaCon 22"". Ansible 65, December 1992. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  29. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 77, December 1993. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  30. ""NovaCon 24"". Ansible 89, December 1994. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  31. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 113, December 1996. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  32. ""NovaCon 27"". Ansible 125, December 1997. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  33. ""NovaCon 28"". Ansible 137, December 1998. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  34. ""NovaCon 29"". Ansible 149, December 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  35. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 161, December 2000. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  36. ""Fan Awards"". Ansible 173, December 2001. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  37. ""Nova Awards Presented"". SF Site: News, 3 November 2002. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  38. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 197, December 2003. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  39. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 209, December 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  40. ""Nova Awards"". Ansible 221, December 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  41. ""The Nova Awards"". Ansible 233, December 2006. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  42. ""Still More Awards"". Ansible 245, December 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  43. ""Awards"". Ansible 257, December 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  44. ""NovaCon 39"". Ansible 269, December 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  45. ""Awards"". Ansible 281, December 2010. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  46. ""Awards"". Ansible 293, December 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  47. ""More Awards"". Ansible 305, December 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  48. ""Awards"". Ansible 317, December 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  49. ""Awards"". Ansible 329, December 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
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