BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION AWARD

   This award developed from the British Fantasy Award, which was sponsored by the BRITISH SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION and made to a writer: John BRUNNER won the first in 1966. It became the British Science Fiction Award in 1970, and thereafter was for a book. From 1979 the number of categories was increased, and decreased again in 1993. The eligibility rules have occasionally changed; most early versions required UK authorship, but later only UK publication was required. The Best Artist award was normally given for a specific cover rather than for a body of work, and became officially Best Artwork in 1992. Special awards have been made only three times, in 1974, 1977 and 1994. In recent years the BSFA Awards, as they are often known, have been voted on by BSFA members and members of the UK national Easter CONVENTION, Eastercon, although often not by very many of them; in some early years the adjudication was done by a small judging panel. They are normally announced at Eastercon. Because the award has not been well publicized and has a narrow voting base, it has never had the hoped-for effect of acting as a counterweight to the US-dominated HUGOS and NEBULAS. Although usually named for the year in which works became eligible, the awards are listed below according to the year in which they were actually made (i.e., the following year):

   1970: STAND ON ZANZIBAR by John Brunner

   1971: The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner

   1972: The Moment of Eclipse by Brian W. ALDISS

   1973: No award (insufficient votes)

   1974: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA by Arthur C. CLARKE; special award to Brian W. Aldiss for Billion Year Spree

   1975: INVERTED WORLD by Christopher PRIEST

   1976: Orbitsville by Bob SHAW 1977: Brontomek! by Michael G. CONEY; special award to David A. KYLE for A Pictorial History of Science Fiction

   1978: The Jonah Kit by Ian WATSON

   1979: novel A SCANNER DARKLY by Philip K. DICK; collection Deathbird Stories by Harlan ELLISON; media The HITCH HIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY

   1980: novel The Unlimited Dream Company by J.G. BALLARD; short fiction "Palely Loitering" by Christopher Priest; media The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy record; artist Jim BURNS

   1981: novel TIMESCAPE by Gregory BENFORD; short fiction "The Brave Little Toaster" by Thomas M. DISCH; media The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy 2nd series; artist Peter Jones

   1982: novel THE SHADOW OF THE TORTURER by Gene WOLFE; short fiction "Mythago Wood" by Robert P. HOLDSTOCK; media Time Bandits; artist Bruce PENNINGTON

   1983: novel HELLICONIA SPRING by Brian W. Aldiss; short fiction "Kitemaster" by Keith ROBERTS; media BLADE RUNNER; artist Tim WHITE

   1984: novel Tik-Tok by John T. SLADEK; short fiction "After Images" by Malcolm EDWARDS; media ANDROID; artist Bruce Pennington

   1985: novel Mythago Wood by Robert P. Holdstock; short fiction "The Unconquered Country" by Geoff RYMAN; media The Company of Wolves; artist Jim Burns

   1986: novel Helliconia Winter by Brian W. Aldiss; short fiction "Cube Root" by David LANGFORD; media BRAZIL; artist Jim Burns

   1987: novel THE RAGGED ASTRONAUTS by Bob Shaw; short fiction "Kaeti and the Hangman" by Keith Roberts; media ALIENS; artist Keith Roberts

   1988: novel Grainne by Keith Roberts; short fiction "Love Sickness" by Geoff Ryman; media STAR COPS; artist Jim Burns

   1989: novel Lavondyss by Robert P. Holdstock; short fiction "Dark Night in Toyland" by Bob Shaw; media Who Framed Roger Rabbit; artist Alan Lee

   1990: novel Pyramids by Terry PRATCHETT; short fiction "In Translation" by Lisa TUTTLE; media RED DWARF; artist Jim Burns

   1991: novel TAKE BACK PLENTY by Colin GREENLAND; short fiction "The Original Doctor Shade" by Kim NEWMAN; media Twin Peaks; artist Ian MILLER

   1992: novel The Fall of Hyperion by Dan SIMMONS; short fiction "Bad Timing" by Molly Brown; media TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY; best artwork Mark Harrison

   1993: novel, RED MARS by Kim Stanley ROBINSON; short fiction "The Innocents" by Ian MCDONALD; artwork Jim Burns, cover for Hearts, Hands and Voices by Ian McDonald.

   1994: novel Aztec Century by Christopher EVANS; short fiction "The Ragthorn" by Robert Holdstock and Garry KILWORTH; artwork Jim Burns, cover for Red Dust (Gollancz) byPaul J. McAuley; special award The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ed John CLUTE and Peter NICHOLLS.

   PN