Australasian Shadows Awards
The Australasian Shadows Awards, formerly known as the Australian Shadows Awards, are annual literary awards established by the Australasian Horror Writers Association in 2005 to honour the best published works of horror fiction written or edited by an Australian/New Zealand/Oceania resident in the previous calendar year.
Awards Criteria and History
Works are judged on their overall effect within the horror genre based on the author's skill, delivery, and the work's lasting resonance. Each year, a director is appointed by the AHWA to administer the award. Shortlists for each category are determined by a panel of judges, and the shortlisted nominees are announced in March/April every year.From 2005 to 2008, the Australian Shadows Award evaluated novels, anthologies, and short stories against each other in a single category. In 2009, the award was expanded into three categories: Short Fiction, Long Fiction, and Edited Publication.
From 2011, the award was restructured to consist of five categories: Novel; Long Fiction ; Short Fiction ; Collection ; and Edited Publication. In 2013, the 'Long Fiction' award category was renamed the 'Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction' in honour of New Zealand/Australian author Paul Haines. In 2015, two additional categories were added: Best Comic/Graphic Novel and The Rocky Wood Award for Non-Fiction and Criticism.
The Australian Shadows Awards were sponsored by Altair Australia Books in its first two years, through the donation of two statuettes created by dark fantasy artist Brom. Currently, winners of the awards receive a gravestone-shaped trophy hand-crafted by Sydney-based artist, Adam Galea.
Winners and Nominees
In the below list, the years correspond to the year of the book's eligibility; the awards are always announced the following year. If the short story was originally published in an anthology with other stories rather than by itself or in a magazine, the anthology title and anthology publisher's name is included.2005
Judges
- Guest judge: Kim Wilkins
- Award Director: Marty Young
Winner
'Father Muerte and the Flesh, Lee Battersby, Aurealis'' #36'''Nominees
Pater Familias, Lee Battersby, Shadowed Realms #3Shadow Box, Shane Jiraiya Cummings & Angela Challis The Red Priest's Homecoming, Dirk Flinthart, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #17The Grinding House, Kaaron Warren2006
Judges
- Judging panel: David Schembri, Miranda Siemienowicz, Mark Smith-Briggs
- Guest judge: Robert Hood
- Award Director: Marty Young
Winner
'The Pilo Family Circus'', Will Elliott '''Nominees
Father Renoir's Hands, Lee Battersby, Through Soft Air The Dying Light, Deborah Biancotti, Eidolon I The Blow-Off, Stephen Dedman, Brutarian #47The Bridal Bier, Carol Ryles, ''Eidolon I''Honourable Mentions
Silk and Pearls, K. J. Bishop, Shadowed Realms #9The Cup of Nestor, Simon Brown Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear, Terry Dowling The Mother, Brett McBean2007
Judges
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Gary Kemble, Mark Smith-Briggs
- Guest judge: Richard Harland
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
Winner
'Toother, Terry Dowling, Eclipse 1'' '''Nominees
Between the Memories, Matthew Chrulew, Aurealis #38/39Subtle Invasion, David Conyers, The Black Book of Horror The Dark and What It Said, Rick Kennett, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #28There Was Darkness, Martin Livings, Fantastic Wonder Stories The Darkness Within, Jason NahrungHonourable Mentions
The Spiraling Worm, David Conyers & John Sunseri Cooling the Crows, Kaaron Warren, In Bad Dreams The Wildflowers, Marty Young, ''Fantastic Wonder Stories''2008
Judges
- Judging panel: Shane Jiraiya Cummings, Brett McBean, Chuck McKenzie
- Guest judge: Sarah Endacott
- Award Director: Kirstyn McDermott
Winner
'The Claws of Native Ghosts, Lee Battersby, The Beast Within'' '''Nominees
This Way To The Exit, Sara Douglass, Dreaming Again Rick Gets A Job, Jason Fischer, Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #37Lakeside, Christopher Green, Dreaming Again Her Collection of Intimacy, Paul Haines, Black: Australian Dark Culture #22009
Judges
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Chuck McKenzie
- Guest judges: Bill Congreve, James Doig, Martin Livings
- Award Director: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Long Fiction
Winner
'Slights'', Kaaron Warren '''Nominees
A Book of Endings, Deborah Biancotti Red Queen, Honey Brown Wives, Paul Haines, X6 The Dead Path, Stephen M. IrwinEdited Publication
Winner
'Grants Pass'', Jennifer Brozek & Amanda Pillar '''Nominees
Festive Fear, Stephen Clark Aurealis #42, Stuart MayneShort Fiction
Winner
'Six Suicides, Deborah Biancotti, A Book of Endings'' '''Nominees
The Emancipated Dance, Felicity Dowker, Midnight Echo #2Busking, Jason Fischer, Midnight Echo #3The Message, Andrew J. McKiernan, Midnight Echo #2The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfalls, Kaaron Warren, Exotic Gothic 3, Ash-Tree Press2010
Judges
- Judging panel: Craig Bezant, Stephanie Gunn, Jeff Ritchie
- Guest judges: Kaaron Warren, Rocky Wood, Chuck McKenzie
- Award Director: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
Long Fiction
Winner
'Under Stones'', Bob Franklin '''Nominees
Bleed, Peter M. Ball Guardian of the Dead, Karen Healy Madigan Mine, Kirstyn McDermott The Girl With No Hands, Angela SlatterEdited Publication
Winner
'Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears'', Angela Challis & Marty Young '''Nominees
Midnight Echo #4, Lee Battersby Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb Scenes From the Second Storey, Amanda Pillar & Pete KempshallShort Fiction
Winner
'She Said, Kirstyn McDermott, Scenes from the Second Storey'' '''Nominees
Bread and Circuses, Felicity Dowker, Scary Kisses Brisneyland by Night, Angela Slatter, Sprawl All The Clowns In Clowntown, Andrew J. McKiernan, Macabre: A Journey through Australia's Darkest Fears Dream Machine, David Conyers, ''Scenes from the Second Storey''2011
Judges
- Judging panel: Marty Young, James A. Moore
Novel
Winner
No awardHonourable mention
The Broken Ones, Stephen M. IrwinLong Fiction
Winner
'The Past is a Bridge Best Left Burnt, Paul Haines, The Last Days of Kali Yuga'' '''Nominees
And the Dead Shall Outnumber the Living, Deborah Biancotti, Ishtar Sleeping and the Dead, Cat Sparks, Ishtar From the Teeth of Strange Children, Lisa L. Hannett, ''Bluegrass Symphony''Short Fiction
Winner
'Shovel Man Joe, Amanda J. Spedding, Shades of Sentience'''''Nominees
Out Hunting for Teeth, Joanne Anderton, Midnight Echo #6The Sea at Night, Joanne Anderton, Dead Red Heart Taking It for the Team, Tracie McBride, Dead Red Heart The Wanderer in Darkness, Andrew J. McKiernan, Midnight Echo #6Edited Publication
Winner
'Dead Red Heart'', Russell B. Farr '''Nominees
More Scary Kisses, Liz Grzyb Midnight Echo #6, David Kernot, David Conyers and Jason Fischer The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Liz Grzyb and Talie HeleneCollection
Winner
'Tales of Sin and Madness'', Brett McBean '''Nominees
Bluegrass Symphony, Lisa L. Hannett The Last Days of Kali Yuga, Paul Haines Matilda Told Such Dreadful Lies, Lucy Sussex Apocrypha Sequence, Shane Jiraiya Cummings2012
Judges
- Short Stories/Collections/Edited Works panel: Steve Gerlach, Greg Chapman, Stephen Clark
- Novels/Novellas panel: Gerry Huntman, Jenny Blackford, B. Michael Radburn
Novel
Winner
'Perfections'', Kirstyn McDermott '''Nominees
The Corpse Rat King, Lee Battersby Blood and Dust, Jason NahrungLong Fiction
Winner
'Sky, Kaaron Warren, Through Splintered Walls'' '''Nominees
Critique, Daniel I. Russell Escena de un Asesinato, Robert Hood, ''Exotic Gothic 4''Short Fiction
Winner
'Birthday Suit, Martin Livings, Living with the Dead'' '''Nominees
To Wish On A Clockwork Heart, Felicity Dowker, Bread and Circuses Pigroot Flat, Jason Fischer, Midnight Echo #8They Don't Know That We Know What They Know, Andrew J. McKiernan, Midnight Echo #8Creek, Kaaron Warren, Through Splintered Walls Mountain, Kaaron Warren, Through Splintered Walls Road, Kaaron Warren, Through Splintered Walls A Monstrous Touch, Marty Young, ''Dangers Untold''Edited Publication
Winner
'Surviving The End'', Craig Bezant '''Nominees
Cthulhu Unbound 3, David Conyers and Brian M. Sammons The Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror, Liz Grzyb and Talie HeleneCollection
Winner
'Through Splintered Walls'', Kaaron Warren '''Nominees
Bread and Circuses, Felicity Dowker Living With The Dead, Martin Livings2013
Judges
- Short Stories/Collections/Edited Works panel: Steve Gerlach, Gitte Christensen, Lee Pletzers
- Novels/Novellas panel: Gerry Huntman, Geoff Brown, Chuck McKenzie
Novel
Winner
'809 Jacob Street'', Marty Young '''Nominees
Undead Kelly, Timothy Bowden Topsiders, Scott TysonPaul Haines">Paul Haines (fiction writer)">Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'The Unwanted Women of Surrey, Kaaron Warren, Queen Victoria's Book of Spells'' '''Nominees
Soul Killer, Robert Hood, Zombies vs Robots: Diplomacy The Home For Broken Dolls, Kirstyn McDermott, ''Caution: Contains Small Parts''Short Fiction
Winner
'Caterpillars, Debbie Cowens, Baby Teeth - Bite Sized Tales of Terror'' '''Nominees
Nip, Tuck, Zip, Pluck, John Paul Fitch, Psychopomp Volume 4 Fence Lines, Joanne Anderton, The Bone Chime Song and other stories The Nest, C. S. McMullen, Nightmare Magazine #12The Dead Way, J. C. Hart, ''Baby Teeth - Bite Sized Tales of Terror''Edited Publication
Winner
'Baby Teeth - Bite Sized Tales of Terror'', Dan Rabarts and Lee Murray '''Nominees
Midnight Echo #9, Geoff Brown A Killer Among Demons, Craig Bezant Star Quake 1, Sophie YorkstonCollection
Winner
'The Bone Chime Song and other stories'', Jo Anderton '''Nominees
- There was no nominee shortlist in 2013
2014
Judges
- Short Stories/Collections/Edited Works panel: Christine Ferdinands, Natalie Satakovski, B. R. de Loryn
- Novels/Novellas panel: Jay Caselberg, Kathy Williams-DeVries, Lee Pletzers, B. R. de Loryn
Novel
Winner
'Wolf Creek: Origin'', Aaron Sterns and Greg McLean '''Nominees
Suicide Forest, Jeremy Bates Book of the Dead, Greig Beck Dark Deceit, Lauren Dawes Davey Ribbon, Matthew TaitPaul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'Dreams of Destruction'', Shane Jiraiya Cummings '''Nominees
Ghost Camera, Darcy Coates The Shark God Covenant, Robert Hood, Dimension6 #3Short Fiction
Winner
'Shadows of the Lonely Dead, Alan Baxter, Suspended in Dusk'' '''Nominees
Mephisto, Alan Baxter, Daily Science FictionMummified Monk, Rebecca Fung, Daylight Dims Volume 2Bones, Michelle Jager, SQ Mag #14Last Year When We Were Young, Andrew J. McKiernan, ''Last Year When We Were Young''Edited Publication
Winner
'SQ Mag'' #14, Sophie Yorkston '''Nominees
SNAFU, Geoff Brown and Amanda J. Spedding Suspended in Dusk, Simon DewarCollection
Winner
'Last Year When We Were Young'', Andrew J. McKiernan '''Nominees
- There was no nominee shortlist in 2014
2015
The Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
In Vaulted Halls Entombed, Alan BaxterNominees
The Haunting of Gillespie House, Darcy CoatesNight Shift, Dirk FlinthartThe Whimper, Robert HoodEdited Work
Winner
'Blurring the Line'', Marty Young'''Nominees
Bloodlines, Amanda PillarLighthouses, Cameron TrostMidnight Echo 11, Kaaron WarrenCollected Work
Winner
'Peripheral Visions: The Collected Ghost Stories'', Rob Hood'''Nominees
The Abandonment of Grace and Everything After, Shane Jiraiya CummingsCherry Crow Children, Deborah KalinShort Fiction
Winner
'Mine Intercom'', Kaaron Warren'''Nominees
The Bone Maiden, Greg ChapmanEight Seconds, Pandora HopeEl Caballo Muerte, Martin LivingsPerfect Little Stitches, Deborah SheldonComic/Graphic Novel
Winner
'The Road to Golgotha'', G. N. Braun & Amanda J. Spedding'''Nominees
Troll, Michael MichalandosThe Monster, Ben RosenthalUndad, Shane W. SmithThe Rocky Wood Award for Non-fiction and Criticism
Winner
'The Literary Gothic'', Marija Elektra Rodriguez'''Novels
Winner
'The Catacombs'', Jeremy Bates'''Nominees
The Haunting of Blackwood House, Darcy CoatesThe Transgressions Cycle: The Mother, Mike JonesThe Transgressions Cycle: The Reparation, Mike JonesThe Big Smoke, Jason Nahrung2016
Award Director: Claire FitzpatrickShort Fiction
Winner
'His Shining Day'', Richard Harland '''Nominees
D Is for Death, Pete Aldin Midnight in the Graffiti Tunnel, Terry Dowling Protege, Anthony Ferguson No Other Men in Mitchell, Rose Hartley Selfie, Lee Murray What the Sea Wants, Deb Sheldon Uncontainable, Helen Stubbs All Roll Over, Kaaron Warren Fade to Grey, Janeen WebbComic/Graphic Novel
No awardCollected Work
Winner
'Crow Shine'', Alan Baxter '''Nominees
Concentration, Jack Dann Everything Is Fine, Grant StoneEdited Work
Winner
'Dead of Night'', Shane Jiraiya Cummings, ed. '''Nominees
Dreaming in the Dark, Jack Dann, ed. At the Edg'e, Dan Rabarts & Lee Murray, eds.Novel
Winner
'The Grief Hole'', Kaaron Warren '''Nominees
Hollow House, Greg Chapman The Devil's Prayer, Luke Gracias Presumed Dead, Rick Kennett The Invasion, Brett McBean Into the Mist, Lee Murray Unbidden, TJ Park Devil Dragon, Deborah SheldonPaul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'Tipuna Tapu'', Dan Rabarts '''Nominees
Box Of Bones, Jeremy Bates Served Cold, Alan Baxter The Eschatologist, Greg Chapman The Heart of the Mission, Matthew R. Davis Burnt Sugar, Kirstyn McDermott2017
Award Director: J. Ashley SmithThe Rocky Wood Award for Non-Fiction and Criticism
Winner
'The Body Horror Book'', Claire Fitzpatrick '''Nominees
101 Weird Writers #46 – Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Kat Clay Literary Serial Killer Fiction: The Evolution of a Genre, William Cook It Follows is the Millennial STD Parable of Our Time, Maria Lewis A Shared Ambition: Horror Writers in Horror Fiction, Kyla Lee WardWritten Work in a Comic/Graphic Novel
No awardEdited Work
Winner
'Cthulhu Deep Down Under'' Volume 1, Steve Proposch, Christopher Sequeira & Bryce J. Stevens '''Nominees
Midnight Echo #12, Shane Jiraiya Cummings & Anthony P. Ferguson Below the Stairs – Tales from the Cellar, Steven DillonCollected Work
Winner
'Perfect Little Stitches and Other Stories'', Deborah Sheldon '''Nominees
Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories, Margo LanaganShort Fiction
Winner
'The Banksia Boys'', Matthew J. Morrison '''Nominees
Outside a Drifter, Lisa L. Hannett The Hand Walker, Rue Karney The Circle Line, Martin Livings The Little Mermaid, in Passing, Angela Slatter The Big Reveal, David StevensThe Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'Ismail's Expulsion'', Brian Craddock '''Nominees
Hope and Walker, Andrew Cull This Impossible Gift, Matthew R. Davis No Good Deed, Angela Slatter Furtherest, Kaaron Warren Eden in the End, Ashlee ScheuermanNovel
Winner
'Corpselight'', Angela Slatter '''Nominees
Aletheia, J. S. Breukelaar Slithers, W. W. Mortensen Soon, Lois Murphy Providence Place, Matthew Tait2018
Award Director: Silvia BrownPoetry
Winner
'Revenants of the Antipodes'', Kyla Lee Ward '''Nominees
Polarity, Jay Caselberg The Middle of the Night, Rebecca Fraser Your Mortician Knows, Bee Nielsen Matinee, Hester J. RookWritten Work in a Comic/Graphic Novel
Winner
'The Demon: Hell is Earth'', Andrew Constant '''Nominees
The judges for Graphic Novel unanimously agreed on a winner but not a shortlistEdited Work
Winner
'Hellhole: An Anthology of Subterranean Horror'', Lee Murray, ed. '''Nominees
Behind the Mask, Steve Dillon, ed. Cthulhu: Land of the Long White Cloud and Cthulhu Deep Down Under, Volume 2, Steve Proposch, Christopher Sequeira & Bryce J. Stevens, eds.Collected Work
Winner
'Shadows on the Wall'', Steven Paulsen '''Nominees
Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories, Margo Lanagan Bones, Andrew Cull The Dalziel Files, Brian Craddock Exploring Dark Fiction #2: A Primer to Kaaron Warren, Eric J. Guignard, ed. Beneath the Ferny Tree, David SchembriShort Fiction
Winner
'Riptide'', Dan Rabarts '''Nominees
The House of Jack's Girls, Lee Battersby The Ward of Tindalos, Debbie Cowens & Matt Cowens Planned and Expected, Piper Mejia Slither, Jason NahrungThe Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'The Black Sea'', Chris Mason '''Nominees
Time and Tide, Robert Hood Thylacines, Deborah Sheldon Love Thee Better, Kaaron WarrenNovel
Winner
'Tide of Stone'', Kaaron Warren '''Nominees
Devouring Dark, Alan Baxter Teeth of the Wolf, Dan Rabarts & Lee Murray Contrition, Deborah Sheldon2019
The winners were announced in June 2019:Poetry
Winner
- '''"Taxonomy of Captured Roses", Hester J. Rook '''
Nominees
Separation, Jay Caselberg Please Do Not Feed the Animals, Anne Casey Ode to a Black Hole, Charles Lovecraft Brine and Vanishings, Hester J. Rook Boat of a Million Years, Kyla Lee WardWritten Work in a Comic/Graphic Novel
Winner
'DCeased'', Tom Taylor, '''Nominees
The Eldritch Kid: The Bone War, Christian D. Read Matinee, Emmet O'Cuana Geebung Polo Club, Jason Fischer,Edited Work
Winner
'Midnight Echo'' Volume 14, Deborah Sheldon, ed. '''Nominees
Beside the Seaside: Tales from the Day-Tripper, Steve Dillon, ed. Trickster's Treats, Volume 3: The Seven Deadly Sins Edition, Marie O'Regan & Lee Murray, eds.Collected Work
Winner
'Served Cold'', Alan Baxter '''Nominees
Collision: Stories, J. S. Breukelaar Figments and Fragments, Deborah SheldonShort Fiction
Winner
'Steadfast Shadowsong'', Matthew R. Davis '''Nominees
The Ocean Hushed the Stones, Alan Baxter Ave Rune, J. S. Breukelaar Vivienne & Agnes, Chris MasonThe Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction
Winner
'Supermassive Black Mass'', Matthew R. Davis'''Nominees
1862, C. J. Halbard Enemy of My Enemy, Rick Kennett Out of Darkness, Chris Mason The Neverwhere Line, Matthew J. MorrisonNovel
Winner
'Shepherd'', Catherine Jinks '''Nominees
The Flower and the Serpent, Madeleine D'Este Fusion, Kate Richards Contrition, Deborah SheldonRocky Wood Award for Non-Fiction and Criticism
Winner
'The Danse Macabre'', Kyla Lee Ward '''Nominees
Suffer the Little Children, Kris Ashton Horror and the paranormal, Eugen Bacon Horror Movies That Mean Something and Childhood Trauma Manifested, Maria Lewis2020
Judges
- Short Fiction: Paul Sheldon, Paul Mannering, Chris Jacobs
- Non-Fiction: Rebecca Fraser, Tracie McBride, Al Hodge
- Graphic Novel: Eugen Bacon, Bernie Rutkay, Jason Franks
- Poetry: Kathryn Hore, Lee Murray, Kyla Lee Ward
- Novel: Joanne Anderton, Paul Sheldon, Cem Bilici
- Long Fiction: Al Hodge, Joanne Anderton, Paul Mannering
- Collected Works: Louise Zedda-Sampson, Lynette Watters, Alannah Pearson
- Edited Works: Dominique Davidson, Lynette Watters, Bernie Rutkay