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Aurealis Awards finalists and winners in each category are selected by our judges.
Panel sizes may vary among categories – and from year to year – depending on the perceived workload required and the availability of judges for a particular category. However, each panel will consist of at least three judges one of which will be the panel convenor.
Judges are volunteers and are drawn from the speculative fiction community; from diverse professions and backgrounds, and may include academics, booksellers, librarians, published authors, publishing industry professionals, reviewers and enthusiasts. The only qualification necessary is a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in their chosen category.
Being an Aurealis Awards judge involves reading entries in a single category, which may comprise several dozen novels and/or more than a hundred short stories in the process of evaluating the year’s entries. Judges may keep their reading copies of entries.
It is vital that judges be able to work as part of a team and meet stringent deadlines. Most of the judges’ discussions are conducted via an online forum or email.
All discussions are confidential between the judges in each panel and the judging coordinator and/or the Aurealis Awards management team, as required. The Aurealis Awards judging coordinator will have no input into these decisions unless a panel of judges is unable to reach a consensus.
Judges from previous Aurealis Awards processes are welcome – indeed encouraged – to re-apply. But, in the interests of transparency and impartiality, no one may judge the same category for more than two consecutive years, and a break of two consecutive years is required before a judge can reapply to be a judge in that particular category again.
Because fantasy and science fiction are the largest categories, they have been split into two separate judging panels, one for novels and one for short stories.
The Aurealis Awards accept some short fiction (up to ten thousand words) electronically. Judges of short fiction must be willing to accept and read some entries in this format.
The winner of the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award for Excellence will be reached by a consensus of the convenors of each of the judging panels. Each judge receives one complimentary ticket (non-transferrable) to the Aurealis Awards 2010 ceremony to be held in late April/early May 2010 in Sydney.
2010 Judging Panels
Judging Coordinator: Keith Stevenson
Bios 2010
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Science Fiction: Novel
convenor - Stuart Mayne
Stuart Mayne has been a book and magazine editor for 18+ years. An expert on Australian crime fiction author Arthur Upfield, he edited Upfield's last published novel. In 2009 he published Paul Haines' multi-award winning collection Slice of Life. He currently edits Aurealis -- Australian Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine.
Sean Williams
#1 New York Times-bestseller Sean Williams has been called "the premier Australian speculative fiction writer of the age", the "Emperor of Sci-Fi", and the "King of Chameleons" for the diversity of his output. That award-winning output includes thirty novels for readers all ages, seventy short stories across numerous genres, and even the odd published poem. He is also a judge of the international Writers of the Future Contest and the Somerset National Novella Writing Competition, and is the current Overseas Regional Director of SFWA.
Alisa Krasnostein
Alisa Krasnostein is editor and publisher for Twelfth Planet Press. As an avid reader of speculative fiction, she is Executive Editor for the review website ASif! and a member of the 'Not if You Were the Last Story on Earth' project, which attempts to read the majority of specfic shorts published in the calendar year. In her role as editor and publisher, she has produced six issues of Shiny, two issues of New Ceres, the anthologies 2012, New Ceres Nights and Sprawl (2010), as well as the collections A Book of Endings and Glitter Rose (2010). She is also the editor of Twelfth Planet Press's ongoing novella series including Angel Rising, Horn, Roadkill/Siren Beat and Robot War Espresso. She has previously been part of the Aurealis Awards as judge and convenor in 2006 on the science fiction panel and judge in 2009 on the graphic novels/illustrated works panel.
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Science Fiction: Short Story
convenor - Bill Congreve
Bill is an award winning writer, editor, book reviewer and independent publisher (MirrorDanse Books). He has published over forty short stories in a range of magazines and anthologies both in Australia and internationally. His collection of vampire stories is called Epiphanies of Blood. A new collection will be published by Blade Red Press later this year. He is the publisher and co-editor of The Year's Best Australian SF & Fantasy anthology series, and has been a judge for Australia's Aurealis Awards for genre fiction seven times. He recently completed a fifteen year stint as book reviewer for Aurealis magazine, and works as a technical writer and editor in the emergency services sector.
Kathryn Linge
Kathryn Linge is a university academic and an avid reader. She has been an Aurealis Awards judge since 2008 (SF long fiction in 2008, and YA short and long fiction in 2009). She was nominated for the William Athling Jr Award for Criticism or Review in 2007. In 2008, she was part of the team that won the Ditmar for Best Fan Production for the 2007 Snapshot, in which 83 people in the Australian speculative fiction scene were interviewed in a week. Recently she led the 2010 Snapshot team, which interviewed 90 people in the Australian scene in the lead up to Aussiecon 4.
Rob Riel
Rob Riel has been an avid reader of SF since the days when a young bloke could buy the latest Heinlein or Asimov novel for well under a dollar. He's been a (very occasional) contributor of short fiction to the genre, and for some years managed the SFWoE competition in Australia. Rob has worked as a sailor, metallurgist, university lecturer in English, electron microscopist, and disability services specialist. Ten years ago he established Picaro Press, which specialises in poetry publication using print-on-demand technology. He has twice received Australia Council grants for New Work, and has published two books. Rob lives in Cardiff, NSW, with partner Judy Johnson, whose 2nd novel has just been accepted by HarperCollins for their Fourth Estate imprint.
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Fantasy: Novel
convenor - Peter Hickman
Peter Hickman is a long suffering fantasy writer and a member of Melbourne's SupaNova writer's group. When he's not beating his head against the keyboard he works as a freelance editor and dabbles in tutoring a variety of subjects from poetry to playwriting to literary crticism to Year 9 maths. He fell in love with fantasy fiction ever since he read Tolkien as a boy and reads widely and happily in various SF genres (though he does find himself throwing half the fantasy books he reads at the wall in disgust!)
Rowena Specht-Whyte
Rowena Specht-Whyte is an avid reader and critic, with a speculative fiction addiction. She was a judge on the horror panel of the Aurealis Awards 2009 and is back for further punishment (and to feed her addiction). By profession, Rowena is a solicitor practising in commercial litigation and insolvency as a Senior Associate at Gadens Lawyers in Brisbane. She also moonlights as a singer/songwriter in Brisbane duo Opaque . Reading predominantly dark fantasy, Rowena is keen to delve further into the realm of Australian fantasy novels this year.
Angela Handley
Sydneysider Angela Handley made up her own fantasy worlds as a child, as she was never given any toys to play with. Nothing's really changed since then. Always an avid reader (early faves being Alan Garner, Joan Aiken, Ursula Le Guin and Tolkien), she did her honours degree on Victorian sensationalist fiction. She has worked as an editor since 1990, and has worked at Allen & Unwin book publishers since 2005. She has edited several fantasy novels and read quite a few more.
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Fantasy: Short Story
convenor - Tehani Wessely
Tehani Wessly was a founding member of Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine in 2001. Now firmly entrenched in Australian speculative fiction and independent press, she has edited for Twelfth Planet Press (among other duties), judges for the Aurealis Awards, reads far more in one genre than is healthy, and writes reviews, non-fiction and interviews for ASif!, Magpies and Fiction Focus. Tehani recently launched her own press, FableCroft Publishing. FableCroft's first book, Worlds Next Door, an anthology of speculative fiction for 9-13 year olds, will be released in July 2010. In her spare moments, Tehani works as a Teacher Librarian and enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Natalie Maddalena
Natalie Maddalena is a freelance editor who specialises in speculative fiction, particularly fantasy, as this is what she loves to read. She likes nothing more than sitting down with a good story -- unless it's sitting down with a good story and a big red marker to point out all the mistakes. She has a room devoted entirely to speculative fiction books and fantasy games like Dungeons and Dragons, and also plays nerdy computer games like World of Warcraft. She also reviews speculative fiction novels. Natalie lives in Canberra with her husband and two young children. This is her first time judging the Aurealis Awards.
Simon Petrie
Simon Petrie is a research scientist and speculative fiction writer living, or at least resident, in Canberra. He's a member of the Andromeda Spaceways publishing co-op, the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild, and the SpecFicNZ group; he also reviews books for ASIM, Australian Specfic in Focus, and The Specusphere. Simon's fiction, published in several Australian and overseas small-press magazines and anthologies, has been collected in Rare Unsigned Copy: tales of Rocketry, Ineptitude, and Giant Mutant Vegetables (Peggy Bright Books, released March 2010). A glutton for punishment, this is Simon's third successive stint at Aurealis judging: in previous years he's participated in the SF Novel and Anthology/Collection categories.
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Horror
convenor: Chuck McKenzie
Chuck McKenzie was born in 1970, and still spends much of his time there. Although he does read far more dark fiction than can possibly be good for any one person, at least it keeps him away from decent people, and directly supports his current roles as a Melbourne bookseller, reviewer, author, and zombie obsessive (only one of which actually pays any bills).
Mark Smith-Briggs
Mark Smith-Briggs is a newspaper editor, award-winning screenwriter, published short story writer and reviewer who lives in Melbourne, Australia. He is a member of the Australian Horror Writers' Association and reviewer for Ozhorrorscope. He has been a judge on the Australian Shadows awards (2007-08) and the Sydney Night of Horror's screenwriting competition (2009). He has won a Chronos Award (best fan writer -- 2009) and been shortlisted for two Ditmar Awards (best fan writer 2007 and 2009) for his review work.
Nyssa Pascoe
Nyssa Pascoe is a 3rd year student of writing and media in Sydney. She created awritergoesonajourney.com, a web-hub for lovers of spec fic, in 2007 and is now working to establish the Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. She also freelances as a webmistress for authors and other book industry professionals at nixelweb.com.
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Young Adult
convenor: Miffy Farquharson
Miffy Farquharson is the Head of Senior Library at Mentone Grammar School, having moved from Girton Grammar School at the start of 2010. She was the CBCA Vic judge for 2008-2009, and an Aurealis Award judge in 2009 on the Young Adult panel, and am a member of the CBCA Vic committee. She is also a member of the VPRC committee, and currently blogging, tweeting, facebooking, emailing, and ninging her way through a Web 2.0 course, which is heaps of fun, and a steep learning curve! In September she will be a panel member at AussieCon4, the 68th World Science Fiction convention, which is going to be a blast.
Elise Jones
Elise Jones completed her Diploma of Professional Writing & Editing at Chisholm Institute of TAFE in 2000, where she won the Herb Thomas Memorial Award upon graduation. Following this she worked as a freelance editor for five years, which included managing Allen & Unwin's kids' submissions, and editing the Australian Rationalist. Elise now edits books for children and teenagers full-time at Allen & Unwin in Melbourne; this is otherwise known as her dream job. She is the recent winner, with author Kim Kane, of the FAW Barbara Ramsden National Award for Excellence in Editing, and she just joined the Express Media board. Her passions include books for teenagers and kids, graphic novels, Buffy, and did we mention books?
Helen Patrice
Helen Patrice is a Melbourne writer who currently publishes in the new age and healing fields, as well as writing and publishing SF poetry in magazines such as ASIM. She has a BA in Creative Writing and Literature, and has taught Creative Writing at Monash University.
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Children's
convenor: Tansy Rayner Roberts
Tansy Rayner Roberts is a Tasmanian fantasy writer and mother of two. Her recent releases include Power and Majesty from HarperVoyager and Siren Beat/Roadkill from Twelfth Planet Press. Tansy also reviews for ASiF! and Not If You Were The Last Short Story on Earth, podcasts with Galactic Suburbia, and blogs at tansyrr.com.
Edwina Harvey
Edwina Harvey is a writer and editor as well as being a silk and ceramic artist. She is a member of the Andromeda Spaceways Inflight magazine publishing co-op, and her first YA SF novel, The Whale's Tale, was published by Peggy Bright Books in 2009.
Sarah Mayor Cox
Sarah has worked as a primary teacher, teacher-librarian and literacy coach and currently lecturers in Literacy Education and Children's and YA Literature at La Trobe University, Bendigo. In her spare time, when she's not 'talking texts' with the 4 gorgeous men in her life (3 of them sons), she is the Regional Director of the Bendigo Regional Group of the CBCA, is on the executive of the Central Victorian Local Council of ALEA and is an active member of IBBY Australia. Sarah is a co-author of Success with Reading and Writing: Helping at-risk students 8-13 years, Teacher Manual & Student Log (Gaelene Rowe, Helen Lamont, May Daly, Debra Edwards and Sarah Mayor Cox) Dellasta 2000, reprinted 2001. Her first trade book is Pictures Telling Stories: The Art of Robert Ingpen (Lothian 2004). You can hear Sarah talking with Fiona Parker on ABC Local Radio 91.1 (2nd Friday of the month after the 10.30am news) or follow her on twitter @BespokeShespoke.
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Illustrated work/Graphic novel
convenor: Grant Watson
Grant Watson is a writer and critic. Grant has been an avid enthusiast of comic books and graphic novels since childhood. In 1998 his university honours thesis focused on the narrative structure of American comic books. His own comic work includes Henry & Gil vs the Infinity Engine (with Edward J. Grug III), Dave Laconic & Skull and the award-winning The Angriest Video Store Clerk in the World. He currently edits the online journal EIGA: Asian Cinema.
Liz Argall
Liz Argall is a writer of poetry, prose, comics and song. Her work can be found in a diverse range of publications, including Meanjin, The Pedestal Magazine, Tango: Love and War and Eat Comics. She's even won an award or two. She has been part of the Australian independent comics mob for over a decade and has a deep love of sequential art. She's three parts speculative fiction, three parts idealism and four parts prone to mystery bruises. She's been a judge for Comikaze (the Australian 24 Hours Comics Challenge) since 2006. Visit her website.
Lee Battersby
Lee Battersby is the multi-award winning author of over seventy stories in Australia, the US and Europe, as well as numerous poems, reviews, and ephemera, including a stream of minicomics and comic strips spread out over the years like illegitimate children. He blogs irregularly at
The Battersblog.
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Anthology and collection
convenor: Robert Hoge
Robert Hoge is a professional communicator who has worked as a journalist, science writer and political adviser. He has published a number of short stories in Australia and overseas and has served as an Aurealis and World Fantasy Awards judge. He is a co-convenor of Clarion South Writers Workshop.
Jason Nahrung
Jason Nahrung has 20 years' experience as a newspaper journalist. He has been a director and judge for the Aurealis Awards. His writing has won the William Atheling Jnr award for Criticism or Review, been highly commended in the Aurealis Awards and been shortlisted in the Ditmars and the Australian Shadows. His debut novel, the paranormal thriller The Darkness Within, has also been published in Germany, and he has had several short stories appear in year's best anthologies. He has an MA in Creative Writing. He lives in Melbourne where he is writing new dark tales. Check out Jason's website.
Garry Wyatt
Garry Wyatt is a senior information technology specialist with the Australian Government. He lives in Canberra and is well known for his fascination with personal computers, science fiction and wargames. He is the editor of Sirius: The Australian Magazine for readers of science fiction, fantasy and the macabre, which is soon to become a webzine, and has edited two original anthologies of Australian science fiction. Garry writes non-fiction - mostly interviews, feature articles, reviews, checklists and critical works and is currently working on two books on aspects of fantasy and science fiction.
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