The Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction is once again sponsored by Speculative Faith and the Realm Makers Conference for speculative fiction. Like last year, the winner will be announced at the conference, but this year, rather than being held in the fall, the two-day event will take place at the end of May.
Added to that fact, the CSA committee is planning to have a panel of judges choose the winner from the top three books selected via readers choice. Consequently, the schedule for the CSA is somewhat abbreviated compared to last year. Here’s what it looks like:
- Nominations: February 16-28
- Voters read books and reviews (nominations featured on CSA blog): March 1-15
- Readers vote for top three: March 17-24
- Judges read finalist books and vote: March 24-May 15
- Award Preparation: May 16-29
- Award Announcement: Realm Makers Conference, May 30-31
The first two rounds of the award are still in the hands of readers, beginning with the nominations which we’re opening today.
However there are some requirements, both for the books that are eligible and for the voters who can vote. Here’s what you need to know.
Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction
Recognizing the best in Christian Speculative Fiction
The books that are eligible must be all of the following:
- Christian—either overtly or because of a Christian worldview
- published in English
- published by a publisher which has no direct affiliation with the author and which pays a royalty (i.e. not self-published, even through any of the services offered by publishing companies)
- published between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013
- in the science fiction/fantasy/allegory/futuristic/supernatural/supernatural suspense/horror category
Nomination guidelines
- Because this is primarily a readers award, authors, agents, and publishers may not nominate books with which they are affiliated.
- Those wishing to nominate a book must leave a comment including the title, author, and publisher.
Readers’ Choice Voting
Voters will be eligible only if they have read two or more of the books nominated. We want this to be a selection by readers of Christian speculative fiction, not just the fans of particular authors.
Below are standards to consider.
Standards for Clive Staples Award books:
- Quality writing style and mechanics
- Believable and well-developed world-building
- Depth of characterization
- Well-structured, unpredictable, and interesting plot
- A central theme consistent with a Christian worldview that arises from the characters and events and is well-integrated into the story
If you would like to nominate a book for the Clive Staples Award, please leave the required information in the comments section below.
The Darker Road, by L.B. Graham (AMG Publishers / Living Ink Books)
A Hero’s Throne, by Ross Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
The Shadow Lamp, by Stephen R. Lawhead (Thomas Nelson)
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Anomoly by Krista McGee, published by Thomas Nelson
Luminary by Krista McGee, published by Thomas Nelson
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Pingback: SpecFaith Features — 2014 CSA Nominations Are Now Open
Broken Wings by Shannon Dittemore, pub. by Thomas Nelson
Merlin’s Blade by Robert Treskillard, pub. by Zondervan
Son of Truth by Morgan Busse, pub. by Marcher Lord Press
A Cast of Stones by Patrick W. Carr, pub. by Zondervan
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Pingback: Nominate Your Favorite Book of 2013 for the Clive Staples Award | Faith and Fantasy Alliance
the best Christian speculative fantasy was Constant Tower by Carole McDonnell (Wildside Press). Not the typical Christian speculative fantasy at all, but wow…
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Constant Tower, Carole McDonnell, (Wildside Press)
Innocence, Dean Koontz, Bantam
(I will be back….)
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Memory’s Door by James L Rubart ….
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Ian, thanks for your nomination. Do you remember who published Memory’s Door?
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Merlin’s Blade by Robert Treskillard, published by Blink
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Constant Tower by Carol McDonnell (Wildside Press)
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The Circle Girls by Anya Novikov (Watershed Books)
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Pingback: From The Rag Bag – 2014 | A Christian Worldview of Fiction
Failstate: Legends by John W. Otte (Marcher Lord Press)
King by RJ Larson (Bethany House)
Exodus Rising by Bryan Davis (Zondervan)
Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House)
Son of Truth by Morgan L. Busse (Marcher Lord Press)
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Heroes of the Horde 1: Unleashed
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
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Secrets kept, by J. L. Mbewe (AltWit Press)
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Heroes of the Horde 1: Unleashed
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
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Heroes of the Horde 1: Unleashed
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
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Future Savior Book 1: Revelation
Author: Jennifer Hartz
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
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The Staff & The Sword Trilogy: A Cast of Stones, The Hero’s Lot, A Draw of Kings by Patrick W. Carr, Zondervan
Books of the Infinite Series: Prophet, Judge, King by R. J. Larson, Bethany House
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Just a reminder Lauren that only the ones published in 2013 are eligible.
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Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers)
I also really enjoyed The Ryn and The Rymedy by Serena Chase, but I think those were self-published. They were great quality writing though!
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Thank you, Hannah. I appreciate your note. We’ve adjusted the list of nominations.
Becky
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Special thanks to all who contributed by nominating a book or books you feel are worthy to win the CSA.
This concludes the first phase of this year’s award. The 2014 nominations are officially closed.
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