Since the Aurealis Award’ first ceremony, both the field of literature and the vibrancy of the Australian speculative fiction community have grown substantially. Congratulations to the winners of the 2008 Aurealis Awards! The winners were announced at the thirteenth annual Aurealis Awards ceremony at the Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts in Brisbane on Saturday 24 January 2009.
Best Science Fiction Novel
K A Bedford
Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait
Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
Best Science Fiction Short Story
Simon Brown
“The Empire”
Dreaming Again, Harper/Voyager
Best Fantasy Novel
Alison Goodman
The Two Pearls of Wisdom
HarperCollins
Best Fantasy Short Story
Cat Sparks
“Sammarynda Deep”
Paper Cities, Senses 5 Press
Best Horror Novel
John Harwood
The Seance
Jonathan Cape (Random House Australia)
Best Horror Short Story
Kirstyn McDermott
“Painlessness”
Greatest Uncommon Denominator (GUD), #2
Best Anthology
Jonathan Strahan (editor)
The Starry Rift
Viking Children’s Books
Best Collection
Sean Williams & Russell B Farr (editor)
Magic Dirt: The Best of Sean Williams
Ticonderoga Publications
Best Illustated Book/Graphic Novel
Shaun Tan
Tales From Outer Suburbia
Allen & Unwin
Best Young Adult Novel
Melina Marchetta
Finnikin of the Rock
Viking Penguin
Best Young Adult Short Story
Trent Jamieson
“Cracks”
Shiny, #2
Best Children’s Novel
Emily Rodda
The Wizard of Rondo
Omnibus Books
Best Children’s Illustrated Work/Picture Book
Richard Harland & Laura Peterson (illustrator)
Escape!, Under Siege, Race to the Ruins, The Heavy Crown
The Wolf Kingdom series, Omnibus Books
Peter McNamara Convenors’ Award for Excellence
Jack Dann