Sunburst Award


The Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic is an annual literary award given for a speculative fiction novel or a book-length collection, first awarded in 2001. A young adult category was created in 2008, to differentiate from adult works; and a short fiction award as well. The award was on hiatus between 2020 and 2024 and has returned for the 2025 award.

History

The name of the award comes from the title of the first novel by Phyllis Gotlieb, Sunburst.
The first award was given out in 2001. The award consists of a cash prize and a medallion. The winner is selected by jury; a new jury is struck each year.
On 2 June 2020, the Sunburst Award Society announced the awards were going on a hiatus due to impacts related to COVID-19.
In December 2024, the return of the award for 2025 was announced. The cash price was changed to for a novel length work.

Winners

General

Prior to 2008, the Sunburst Award was presented in a single category. In later years, it was broken down into two or three categories, including adult, young adult, and short story.
After the 2020-2024 hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the award seems to have returned to a single category.
YearAuthorResultResultRef.
2001GalvestonWinner
2002When Alice Lay Down with PeterWinner
2003Skin FolkWinner
2004Winner
2005AirWinner
2006In the Palace of ReposeWinner
2007Fabrizio's ReturnWinner
2025Blackheart ManWinner
2025Mood SwingsFinalist
2025Bird SuitFinalist
2025Code NoirFinalist
2025 A Seal of SalvageFinalist

Adult

Short story

The Sunburst Award for Short Story was introduced in 2016.
YearAuthorResultResultRef.
2016"Hide and Seek" Winner
2016"La Héron" Finalist
2016"The Glad Hosts" Finalist
2016"Stuck in the Past" Finalist
2016"Two-Year Man" Finalist
2016"Get the Message" Finalist
2017""Winner
2017"La Corriveau" Finalist
2017"The Dog and the Sleepwalker" Finalist
2017"Caro in Carno" Finalist
2017"The Men from Narrow Houses" Finalist
2018""Winner
2018"Spiked" Finalist
2018"Meridian" ''Finalist
2018"Hacker’s Faire" Finalist
2018"Animate" Finalist
2019""Winner
2019"Domestic Violence" Finalist
2019"Candied Sweets, Cornbread, and Black-Eyed Peas" Finalist
2019"Meat And Salt And Sparks" Finalist
2019"" Finalist
2020""Winner
2020"Florilegia" Finalist
2020"The Inland Beacon" Finalist
2020"The Hundred Gardens" Finalist
2020"Wheetago War II: Summoners" Finalist

Young adult

Lists of nominees

For a complete and up to date listing of current and past long-listed and short-listed works, please see the .

Eligibility

The Sunburst Award administration and juries use the broadest possible definition of speculative fiction for eligibility purposes: "science fiction, fantasy, magic realism, horror, surrealism, fantastique, fabulism, myth and legend, fantastical storytelling, and any other writing beyond the strictly realistic". To be eligible for the award, a work must be published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year. Only Canadian citizens and landed immigrants are eligible.