New Award for S&S/Heroic fiction & Publishers

[camille]

Apologies if this is already mentioned elsewhere, but there's a new award being generated specifically for S&S / Heroic Fantasy.

Details here:

http://hamsizedfist.blogspot.com/2009/06/cry-havoc.html


Push of the Sky: short works by Camille Alexa
coming from Hadley Rille BooksJune 9, 2009

http://camillealexa.wordpress.com/

[AJCooper]

awesome!

Click here for my bibliography.

Website (I love feedback!): www.andrewjcooper.wordpress.com

[Christopher_Heath]

That's awesome, but the name of the award doesn't sound too respectable.

I guess the cash makes up for it.

Christopher M. Heath

'Azieran: Racked Upon the Altar of Eeyuu' in Demons: A Clash of Steel by RBE
'Azieran: Bound by Virtue' reprinted in Demons: A Clash of Steel by RBE
'Azieran: Rebirth' in Abandoned Towers
'Azieran: The Crown of Roon' in Abandoned Towers
'Azieran: Ghost Crane by Sunset' in Paper Blossoms, Sharpened Steel by Fant. Ent.
'Azieran: Claimed by Birthright' in Return of the Sword by Rogue Blades Ent.
'Azieran: Oathbreaker's Promise' in Flashing Swords
'Azieran: The Hollow Kings' in Flashing Swords
'Azieran: Savior in a Flask' in Magic and Mechanica by Ricasso Press
'Azieran: The Travelers Four' in Black Dragon, White Dragon by Ricasso Press
'Azieran: Distilling the Essence' in Sails and Sorcery by Fantasist Enterprises

+ others

[AJCooper]

yeah I'd suggest a name change... I won the Ham Sized Fist Award!

Click here for my bibliography.

Website (I love feedback!): www.andrewjcooper.wordpress.com

[AJCooper]

other than that it sounds great

Click here for my bibliography.

Website (I love feedback!): www.andrewjcooper.wordpress.com

[Chaos Perpetual]

How about the Fist-sized Ham Award? Or the Butterball Turkey-sized Fist Award?

Anyway, I'm guessing the list of nominees isn't up yet. I'm not seeing one anywhere.




-Tommy B. Smith

In the Eye of the Storm

[JeffCrook]

It is entirely respectable, especially the name, and hopefully the money will make up for it. If you have any questions about it, you may ask me, as I am the sponsor.

[crystalwizard]

Jeff... you might want to rethink the name of the award. The guys telling you that the name doesn't sound too good are some of the experienced, award winning S&S authors. If they're not overly impressed with it, even though they aren't named R.E. Howard, you should still consider listening to them.

New content added on a regular basis.

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[erazmus]

I see Steve Gobel has had a story nominated. Its the comments below on the nominating page.

Jeff, I hate the name. Remember the winner will be stuck with that name on his resume forever. No agent is going to want to promote their new talent as a winner of that. I'm as proud of the pulp origins of S&S as anyone on the planet. I've defended and sang praises for some of the most reviled writers of our genre, past and present. But I don't want to nominate one of my friends, and its likely that anyone rating consideration for this award is a friend of mine, for the Ham Sized Fist award. They might take it the wrong way, and I'm to old, fat and sick to evade most them these days!

That being said, I think we need an award, and this one looks as good as any I can imagine. Are you open to name suggestions?

Mike

Michael D. Turner
'Psyched Up' in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
'Dutchman Rescue'in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

'An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern' in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
'Pink Plastic Flamingos' in Big Pulp
www.bigpulp.com/m.html
'Stains' in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
'Morning Coffee' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
'The Jewel Below' in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
'Happy Landings' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
'Teller of Tales' in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read 'Silver Shells' In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

[JeffCrook]

Of course I'm open to suggestions, but honestly after talking to a good many people about this, this is the first time anyone has mentioned having a problem with the name.

Whether or not someone wants their name mentioned with the award depends on the recognition the award brings, and that will only be established with time and a consistant pattern of selecting the best examples of the genre. If, in the future, the Ham-Sized Fist Award becomes THE award for this genre, that's what the collection of words 'Ham-Sized' and 'Fist' will become. It wouldn't matter if it were called The Bango Hotbelly Whizzle Worfer Award, as long as everybody knows The Bango Hotbelly Whizzle Worfer Award is THE premiere award in the genre. If 'The Hammy' doesn't acquire that prestige, then it's name will become meaningless, so no harm done, except to my bank balance. If the name offends your sensibilities, please feel free to exclude yourself and your friends, but won't you feel silly six years from now when having a Hammy on your resume becomes an automatic ticket to the !!BIG TIME!!

And a pony.

As for the legitimacy of this award - there is no entry fee or reading fee, and the published works of the judge or judges are automatically excluded.

I created the award to do two things - to provide an award in a genre lacking in such recognition, and to monetarily encourage publishers to publish more stories in these genres. I also created it to have a little fun.

[crystalwizard]

JeffC said...
Of course I'm open to suggestions, but honestly after talking to a good many people about this, this is the first time anyone has mentioned having a problem with the name.

The people you talked to:

Are they mostly readers?
mostly publishers
Mostly long term S&S writers?

JeffC said...

As for the legitimacy of this award - there is no entry fee or reading fee, and the published works of the judge or judges are automatically excluded.

Will you have a panel of judges and publicly post the names of that panel? What sorts of public steps are you taking to make sure even causal visitors know at a glance that everything is above board?

The reason I ask this is because down the road, you're going to get asked those sorts of questions if you haven't been making sure take care of those issues from the start.

Kelly

New content added on a regular basis.

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[erazmus]

I never questioned the legitimacy of the award, not even a little. 'Hammy' actually sounds all right to me. Its a good idea, and I never meant to imply different.

Mike

Michael D. Turner
'Psyched Up' in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
'Dutchman Rescue'in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

'An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern' in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
'Pink Plastic Flamingos' in Big Pulp
www.bigpulp.com/m.html
'Stains' in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
'Morning Coffee' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
'The Jewel Below' in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
'Happy Landings' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
'Teller of Tales' in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read 'Silver Shells' In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

[crystalwizard]

erazmus said...
'Hammy' actually sounds all right to me.
Mike

meanwhile, Hammy makes me think of sandwiches, pigs, and pork chops. I can't get the image of a large, reclining pig on the top of a trophy out of my mind now.

New content added on a regular basis.

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[erazmus]

Well, once the award is associated with a body of work I can see that changing, Kelly.

Truthfully, the more I think about it the less I care what it is called. It can't bring much more ridicule to the sub-genre of S&S. I get that on panels now, when I can get S&S in the programming at all.

Mike

Michael D. Turner
'Psyched Up' in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
'Dutchman Rescue'in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

'An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern' in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
'Pink Plastic Flamingos' in Big Pulp
www.bigpulp.com/m.html
'Stains' in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
'Morning Coffee' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
'The Jewel Below' in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
'Happy Landings' in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
'Teller of Tales' in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read 'Silver Shells' In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

[JeffCrook]

Will you have a panel of judges and publicly post the names of that panel?

That is my intention. It's a balancing act, because those most qualified to serve as judges would probably rather not have their work or the stories in their magazines/anthologies disqualified. Those not publishing in the genre tend not to care enough about it to give is serious consideration. I may go with a single celebrity judge for the finalists, different one every year, just to make things simpler. I'm very much open to suggestions on this aspect, and I'm willing to offer a small payment for the services of the selected judge.

The people you talked to:
Writers and editors and one other contest sponsor.

As for the trophy, I was thinking more of a big meaty fist grasping a broken sword. Or something. I'm not sure I could get that at my local trophy shops.

[AJCooper]

Jeff, I think this sounds wonderful. And if you *must* call it the ham sized fist award, go ahead. I'm sure all of us Sword n Sorcery writer appreciate this a great deal. I suggest a name change, but I would rather have a S&S award called the Ham Sized Fist than nothing at all.

Click here for my bibliography.

Website (I love feedback!): www.andrewjcooper.wordpress.com

[AJCooper]

The abbreviation 'Hammy' sounds good enough, for me.

Click here for my bibliography.

Website (I love feedback!): www.andrewjcooper.wordpress.com

[Swashbuckler]

I say the people putting up the money get to name the award, period. I think the whole 'ham-sized fist' phrase derives from Robert E. Howard, does it not?

Anyway, I'm thrilled to see a story of mine on the nomination list ... but I think there has been a goof. The rules say publication in 2009, and I think the 'Black Dragon, White Dragon' antho was published in late December 2008. I could be remembering incorrectly, though. If the BD,WD antho is eligible it would be cool, because there some other potential nominees in that book.

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

My short story, 'The Gods-Forsaken World,' published in GrendelSong No. 2 and reprinted in Flashing Swords ezine, received an honorable mention in the ?Year?s Best Fantasy and Horror 2008? edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant.

[JeffCrook]

I'll have to look at my copy again to see what the pub date is. Amazon shows it as December 2008. If so, I'll have to pull your story from the list, alas.

[Swashbuckler]

JeffC: It's an honor to be nominated, even if I get un-nominated ...

But rules is rules. No sweat.

Steve Goble

Visit my blog, Swords Against Boredom, for news on published fiction and upcoming stories.

My short story, 'The Gods-Forsaken World,' published in GrendelSong No. 2 and reprinted in Flashing Swords ezine, received an honorable mention in the ?Year?s Best Fantasy and Horror 2008? edited by Ellen Datlow, Kelly Link and Gavin J. Grant.

[JeffCrook]

Yeah, I had to pull your story last night, but somebody nominated another of your stories, so you're even.

[camille]

Hello, Friends.

It seems some people think I have something -- anything -- to do with this award.

No. I was merely reporting a news item of potential interest to SFR forum members, and trying to spread the word on the internet about someone's interesting spec-lit-related project.

For what it's worth, my personal opinion is that people get to call their own projects whatever they wish. When you make your own award/publish your own antho/have your own baby/build your own universe, you can name that whatever *you* wish.

Hearty congrats to Swashbuckler for being nommed, and to JeffC for entering into a cool new word-related venture. Virtual cigars all 'round.





Push of the Sky: short works by Camille Alexa
coming from Hadley Rille BooksJune 9, 2009

http://camillealexa.wordpress.com/

[MichaelEhart]

I just wanted to add, Camille, that I am puzzled that you didn't name your collection "Stories I Would Have Written if I were Michael Ehart, but I'm Not, so You'll have to Settle for These."

Will we see you at OryCon? I want to buy a copy of <STRIKE>Stories I Would Have Written if I were Michael Ehart, but I'm Not, so You'll have to Settle for These Push of the Sky from your own sweaty hands. Looks like we will be having the launch party for The Tears of Ishtar there, too.

Click here to buy my book!
The Servant of the Manthycore from DEP
Illustrated by Rachel Marks, with an introduction by Michael Moorcock
Read me in 2009!
"Without Napier" Best of Every Day Fiction
"Night of Shadows, Night of Knives" Magic and Mechanica,Ricasso Press
"Only His Name" Best of Every Day Fiction
"An Exorcism Straight, Hold the Elvis" They Are Not What They Seem, Janrae Frank, ed., TBA
"The Death of Number 23" Arkham Tales, TBA
"The Tomb of the Amazon Queen" Dark Worlds, Winter 2009
"As From His Lair, the Wild Beast" Rage of the Behemoth, RBE, June 2009
Still in print!
"To Destroy All Flesh" Return of the Sword, RBE, 2008
"Six Zombies Doing That Mick Jagger Strut" Damned in Dixie, Tenoka Press, 2007
http://mehart.blogspot.com/

[camille]

MichaelEhart said...
I just wanted to add, Camille, that I am puzzled that you didn't name your collection "Stories I Would Have Written if I were Michael Ehart, but I'm Not, so You'll have to Settle for These."

Will we see you at OryCon? I want to buy a copy of <STRIKE>Stories I Would Have Written if I were Michael Ehart, but I'm Not, so You'll have to Settle for These Push of the Sky from your own sweaty hands. Looks like we will be having the launch party for The Tears of Ishtar there, too.

Dude! Stories I Would Have Written if I were Michael Ehart, but I'm Not, so You'll have to Settle for These would have been a NYT best seller! I simply wasn't ready for the fame &amp; fortune.

I'm *so* sorry I'll miss OryCon this year (again! 2nd year running!), but that's the time of year Texas weather becomes bearable, so I'm usually down there. Will you be at WorldCon? World Fantasy?


Push of the Sky: short works by Camille Alexa
coming from Hadley Rille BooksJune 9, 2009

http://camillealexa.wordpress.com/

[crystalwizard]

>that's the time of year Texas weather becomes bearable

You guys could both come down to Texas this October for FenCon, you know.

New content added on a regular basis.

Visit Abandoned Towers at
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