Zealot Script

The British Fantasy Society (BFS) has just released the shortlist for the highly anticipated 2023 British Fantasy Awards. Exciting stuff, right?

Starting with the Best Fantasy Novel (the Robert Holdstock Award) category, we have some fantastic contenders this year. David Green’s “Path of War,” Cat Hellisen’s “Cast Long Shadows,” Simon Jimenez’s “The Spear Cuts Through Water,” Oliver K. Langmead’s “Glitterati,” Sara A. Mueller’s “The Bone Orchard,” and Tasha Suri’s “The Oleander Sword” are all vying for the top spot.

Moving on to the Best Horror Novel (the August Derleth Award), things get even spookier. Gemma Amor’s “Full Immersion,” Daniel Church’s “The Hollows,” Sarah Gailey’s “Just Like Home,” Tim Mendees’ “Miracle Growth,” and Catriona Ward’s “Sundial” are sure to send chills down your spine.

In the Best Novella category, we have Malcolm Devlin’s “And Then I Woke Up,” Terry Grimwood’s “Interference,” Rhiannon A. Grist’s “The Queen of the High Fields,” Stewart Hotston’s “The Entropy of Loss,” Priya Sharma’s “Pomegranates,” and Adrian Tchaikovsky’s “Ogres” battling it out for the top honor.

For those who love short fiction, the Best Short Fiction category features gripping stories like James Bennett’s “Morta,” Eliza Chan’s “The Tails That Make You,” Shona Kinsella’s “The Call of El Tunche,” and Neil Williamson’s “A Moment of Zugzwang,” all guaranteed to leave you wanting more.

There’s also the Best Collection category, with E.M. Faulds’ “Under the Moon,” Andrew Hook’s “Candescent Blooms,” Penny Jones’ “Behind a Broken Smile,” and Cassandra Khaw’s “Breakable Things” showcasing the best of the best.

If you’re a fan of anthologies, you won’t be disappointed. The contenders for Best Anthology include “Sky Breaker: Tales of the Wanderer,” “Isolation: The Horror Anthology,” “Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction,” “The Book of Queer Saints,” “Great British Horror 7: Major Arcana,” and “Someone in Time.”

Additionally, the BFS recognizes the Best Independent Press, Best Non-Fiction, Best Magazine/Periodical, Best Artist, Best Audio, and Best Newcomer categories, ensuring that every aspect of the genre is acknowledged and celebrated.

So, mark your calendars for September 15-17, 2023, because that’s when the winners will be unveiled at FantasyCon, taking place at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Birmingham, UK. If you want more details, head over to the BFS website.

Get ready to celebrate the finest in fantasy and horror at the British Fantasy Awards. It’s going to be epic!