Sir Julius Vogel Award Nominations - 2010

(Nominations are numbered because otherwise the
text of the descriptions of each nominee may make it
hard to determine where each entry begins and
ends -- the number has no other significance).

A young, rising writer trained in film with some scripts turned into short films.

He recently produced his exciting first book titled Dreams and Nightmares: Vol 1

It is a collection of ten short stories of the fantasy nature with high-moral themes and rich imagination. Each spellbinding story tackles human concerns in settings out of this world, ranging from the lonely surface of the moon, to the terrifying deep ocean trench.

Current projects underway are the anticipated Dreams and Nightmares: Volume 2, and also, a thrilling, adventure-paced, young adults novel.

Books:

Rare Unsigned Copy: tales of Rocketry, Ineptitude, and Giant Mutant Vegetables, Peggy Bright Books (forthcoming)

Stories:

The Ballad of P'toresk, Belong, Ticonderoga Publications (forthcoming) Storm in a T-Suit, Aurealis 45 (forthcoming) Must've Been While You Were Kissing Me, ASIM 46 (forthcoming) Dark Rendezvous, Destination: Future, Hadley Rille Books (forthcoming) The Speed of Heavy, Kaleidotrope 8 (forthcoming) Jack Makes a Sale, FlashShot (forthcoming) Latency, Aurealis 43 (forthcoming)

The Fridge Whisperer, Semaphore Magazine, (2010) Day of the Carrot, Ticon4 (2010) Negotiation, Antipodean SF 137 (2009) Dream(TM), ASIM 42 (2009) Postosuchus kirkpatrickii..., Murky Depths 9 (2009) Talking with Taniwha, Borderlands 11 (2009) Scuttle, BBT Magazine 4 (2009) Downdraft, Sybil's Garage 6 (2009) Yarn, FlashShot (2009) Bodysurfing, Antipodean SF 131 (2009) Irritant, Beyond Centauri 24 (2009) Single Handed, Kaleidotrope 6 (2009) Bard Tempered, FlashShot (2009) Sixes, Sevens, Escape Velocity 4 (2009) The Fall Guy, Masques (CSFG publishing, ed. Polack & Hopkins, 2009) Ancient Chinese Proverb #44 (poem), The Battered Suitcase (2009) Podcast, Hope 1 (2009) Feedback, The Nautilus Engine 2:3 (2009) Writeoff, Eclecticism 7 (2009) Guy Walks Into A Bar..., Antipodean SF 127 (2008) Hope Anew, Antipodean SF 127 (2008) MRE, Jupiter 22 (2008) Tall Poppies, Antipodean SF 125 (2008) Fahrenheit 41, Antipodean SF 123 (2008) Tsiligup, Antipodean SF 121 (2008) Alnilam's Planet, Alienskin (2008) Florence, 1504, Late Winter, Eclecticism 4 (2008) Open and Shut, Antipodean SF 119 (2008) DragonBlog, ASIM 33 (2008) Six Subliminals, ASIM 33 (2008) Lacerta pynbawii, Antipodean SF 118 (2008) Stranger Than..., Antipodean SF 118 (2008) Dragonsick, Big Pulp 1 (2008) Field Dynamics, Antipodean SF 117 (2008) 21st Century Nursery Rhymes #126 (poem), ASIM 32 (2008) Fomalhaut 451, Antipodean SF 116 (2008) Airlock, Antipodean SF 115 (2007) Afar, 365 Tomorrows (2007) Division of Labour, 365 Tomorrows (2007) Hare Redux, ASIM 30 (2007) Three-Horned Dilemma, Yog's Notebook 2 (2007) Bookseller, Antipodean SF 110 (2007) Carbon Sequestration, Ripples 9 (2007) Chrysalis, Flash Spec vol. 2 (Equilibrium Books, ed. Cladingboel) Critical, Worlds of Wonder (2007) The Elder, Antipodean SF 109 (2007) Murder on the Zenith Express, ASIM 29 (2007) Greengrocer, Antipodean SF 108 (2007)

Editing credits:

Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue 40 (2009), featuring stories by Felicity Dowker, Ruskin Drake, Darren Goossens, Dan McCormick, Ian McHugh, KT McRae, KC Shaw, Jason Stoddard, Douglas A Van Belle, and Melissa White Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue 35 (2008), featuring stories by Stuart Barrow, Lawrence Buentello, Aliette de Bodard, Geoffrey Maloney, John Plunket, Lettie Prell, Emma-Jean Stewart, Douglas A Van Belle and Katherine Woodbury

Since his first fiction sale in November 2006 (‘Murder on the Zenith Express’, published May 2007 in Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue 29), Simon has had many stories published. Excluding items shorter than 1000 words (of which there are several), his published short stories to December 2009 are:

‘Murder On The Zenith Express’, ASIM 29 (2007) (Aus) 

‘Hare Redux’, ASIM 30 (2007) (Aus)

‘Carbon Sequestration’, Ripples Magazine 9 (2007) (Aus)

‘Three-Horned Dilemma’, Yog’s Notebook 2 (2007) (USA)

‘DragonBlog’, ASIM 33 (2008) (Aus)

‘M.R.E.’, Jupiter 22 (2008) (UK)

‘Writeoff’, Eclecticism 7 (2009) (Aus)

‘Podcast’, Hope fanzine 1 (2009) (Aus)

‘The Fall Guy’, Masques anthology (CSFG Publishing: eds Polack & Hopkins, 2009) (Aus)

‘Sixes, Sevens’, Escape Velocity 4 (2009) (USA)

‘Single Handed’, Kaleidotrope 6 (2009) (USA)

‘Irritant’, Beyond Centauri 24 (2009) (USA)

‘Downdraft’, Sybil’s Garage 6 (2009) (USA)

‘Scuttle’, BBT Magazine 4 (2009) (USA)

‘Talking With Taniwha’, Borderlands 11 (2009) (Aus)

‘How Postosuchus kirkpatricki, Arguably The Most Brutal, Vicious, And Ruthless Ambush Predator To Have Ever Walked The Earth (I Mean, Check Out Those Teeth!) Was Inadvertently Reincarnated As The Hindbrain Of Mr. Gregory Q. Whimple, A Mild-Mannered Complaints Officer With The Small Croydon-Based Electronics And Household Appliance Firm Of Bettavolt Industries, Ltd.’, Murky Depths 9 (2009) (UK)

Stories accepted, but not yet published as of December 2009, are due to appear in Aurealis, ASIM, the Belong and Destination:Future anthologies, Semaphore Magazine and Ticon4.

Simon has also contributed upwards of 70 genre book reviews to the review sections of the Australian Specfic in Focus! (ASif!), ASIM, and Specusphere websites. Also appearing on the latter two websites, or in ASIM’s print edition, are interviews with Iain M. Banks, Richard Morgan, Alistair Reynolds, Douglas A. Van Belle, Greg Bear, and Greg Egan.

Simon has served on the Aurealis Award judging panels for two successive years, in 2008 in the SF Novel category and in 2009 in the Anthology/Collection category.

Simon is also an active member of the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild (CSFG), the core collective of the fledgling SpecFicNZ body, and the Andromeda Spaceways Publishing Co-operative. His involvement with the latter group has included slushreading, proofreading, magazine layout, subediting, and editing. The two ASIM issues edited by Simon (ASIM 35, 2008; ASIM 40, 2009) have featured 19 stories by such authors as Aliette de Bodard, Geoffrey Maloney and Jason Stoddard, and the awards finalists ‘The Jackal’s Waltz’ by Douglas A. Van Belle (#35, shortlisted in the SJV Novella/Novelette category), ‘Jesse’s Gift’ by Felicity Dowker (#40, shortlisted in the Aurealis Awards Horror Short Story category), and ‘Once a Month, on a Sunday’ by Ian McHugh (#40, shortlisted in the Aurealis Awards Young Adult Short Story category, and joint winner of the Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story). Simon’s first SF sale, ASIM 29’s ‘Murder on the Zenith Express’, was itself a finalist in the SJV short story category in 2008.

Simon’s debut short fiction collection, Rare Unsigned Copy: tales of Rocketry, Ineptitude, and Giant Mutant Vegetables (Peggy Bright Books), was accepted for publication in late 2009 and was released in March 2010.

David Hair is the author of  The Bone Tiki (HarperCollins NZ), a YA/adult fantasy novel which draws on NZ myth and history. It was released in April 2009, and was awarded a Storylines Notables Books YA Fiction certificate, and listed in the Listener magazine top 50 childrens books of 2009 (a list that included international authors). It has also been given the Best First Book award in the NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010.  It's sequel The Taniwha's Tear was released in April 2010 and a further novel in the series will follow in 2011. David currently lives in India, where he has another fantasy series pending release - a quartet of YA/adult fantasy novels set in India with the overall series title The Return Of Ravana. The first volume, Pyre of Queens (Penguin India), is due for release in India in August 2010.

(Nominations are numbered because otherwise the
text of the descriptions of each nominee may make it
hard to determine where each entry begins and
ends -- the number has no other significance).

The E-mail group that started it all was called Embark to Madness located on Yahoo Groups. E2M started with seven members, friends the founder had made online who also liked horror and SF. In 2004 the group was 50 strong and this group released a horror anthology via the small press. Nicholas Grabowsky (writer of Halloween 4 and member) wrote our introduction.

In 2007, the founder Lee Pletzers moved the group to a Ning site called horror writers, where the group and marketing efforts attracted more members all lovers of horror whether it be writing, reading, poetry, film production, publishing and editing. There is also a critique group (closed to the public) called Masterful Writer that has assisted many writers stuck on scenes. We do not operate like Critters, all advise is voluntary. There is also a group called, called Dark Musings, where writers can "showcase" their latest work.

The site is constantly moderated by its founder to ensure fake accounts are not created and participation is encouraged. In 2008, around August, the site name "horror writers" changed to "Masters of Horror" as the site had evolved from just horror writers to all lovers of the Spec Fic genre. Several groups have been formed within MoH: book reviews, author interviews, publishers, submission call outs, currently reading, etc. We also highlight new books by our community on the front page.

It is encouraged at Masters of Horror that any work an artist releases, gets published, or creates is made known to the community. Book trailers are added to the video section of the community and blogs and forums are open to all. 

The community was created as a place for lovers of genre fiction, mainly horror (but SF and Fantasy get look in as well) to get together, learn what's around and out there and to improve and advertise their work. Coming out in 2010 is an anthology of horror from members of this community and will be released by Triskaideka Books, a small press that opened in 2010, which is also founded by Lee Pletzers.

I am delighted to do this. The reasons are personal. I joined Masters of Horror Ning last January having had writer’s block for six months. Due to the encouragement I received and the invitations by Lee Pletzer to writing groups on the site, I started to write again. In May I had a story selected by Mythica Publishing for their Sci Fi Anthology, MAYBE TOMORROW which is being published shortly.

I then wrote two other sci-fi stories after that. One has just been published in a collection and the other is being published next week.

I also wrote a sci fi novel that I am in the process of editing.

And I have a current work in progress, a horror novel that I am working on and hope to have ready for submission by the spring.

Recently Lee has started a group seeking horror stories for a horror anthology and my story has just been selected.

Okay, that’s about me. Now looking at my reasons for nominating more broadly—Lee is a hands on creator. He fully participates and encourages all members on his network to write and keep writing.

What better recommendation can I possibly make then that?

Masters of Horror is run by a master! It is a site fully committed to the supernatural genre. It is superb and is superbly run.

Top marks!

The Masters of Horror site is a great place for writers and fans of horror to congregate. The site is well run (by Lee Pletzers) and has an active membership. In just the short time I have been a member I have gotten many great recommendations for books and short stories. I've also discovered lots of new authors I want to read. The more time I spend on the site the more I realize what a valuable networking and marketing tool it is for writers. Masters of Horror is a asset to the Horror community and deserving of the Horror Special Award.

Nomination of the Masters of Horror Website is something that has been long overdue. 

Masters of Horror came into being by a small group of likeminded writers who wanted to share their experiences of writing about Horror.  When the group outgrew their yahoo service, they set up the Horror Writers Ning.  This was subsequently altered last year to Masters of Horror because it encompasses Artists as well as writers. 

It was set up and established by Lee Pletzers from Wellington, who has spent hours dedicated to the cause. If there is a problem at the site he is the first one working on it to get it back up and running again. It is frequented by people from all over the globe.

Horror is something that is kept in the dark, especially in New Zealand, as is Speculative Fiction.  To get something like the Masters of Horror Website acknowledged as a great source of information for Horror writers and artists alike would really give Speculative Fiction a boost in New Zealand.

The Masters of Horror ning site is a community where people get together.   There is information on writing, a critiquing service, a place where people can share their triumphs and tragedies.  It is supportive of people with similar tastes and interests and encourages writers and artists alike.

To get a service like the Masters of Horror recognised would really make readers aware that Speculative Fiction is alive and well and thriving in New Zealand.

The Masters of Horror community was created as a place for lovers of genre fiction, mainly horror (but also SF and Fantasy) to get together, learn what's around and out there and to improve and advertise their work. It offers editing, critiques, reviews, and marketing tips to New Zealand writers, and was set up by New Zealand writer Lee Pletzers.

There is also a critique group (closed to the public) called Masterful Writer giving writing assistance and advice; and a group called Dark Musings, where writers can showcase their latest work.

In 2008, around August, the site name "horror writers" changed to "Masters of Horror" as the site had evolved from just horror writers to all lovers of the Spec Fic genre. Several groups have been formed within MoH: book reviews, author interviews, publishers, submission call outs, currently reading, etc. Masters of Horror also highlight new books by members of its community on the front page.

It was organised to allow New Zealanders – and those with links to New Zealand – to publicise their own involvement in the field or share knowledge about its history, present state or prospects.

Bloggers posted about New Zealand speculative fiction on their own blogs, and let Anna know the links, which were collected at http://pterodaustrodreams.org/drupal-6.8/node/100

There were 52 posts, covering topics as diverse as new fiction, events being held during the week, significant and neglected New Zealand speculative fiction writers, and the distinctly New Zealand influences on speculative fiction. The week gave both readers and blog visitors a strong sense of a vital and growing field.

Phillip Mann is one of New Zealand's earlier authors of science fiction and fantasy. He has written 9 novels, 1st published between the years of 1984 to 1996, all of which were enjoyed by the fans who have copies of his novels and/or who have read them.

The Eye Of The Queen (1984)
Pioneers (1989)
Wulfsyarn - A Mosaic (1990)

Pawl Paxwax, The Gardener:
    Master Of Paxwax (1986)
    The Fall Of The Families (1987)

A Land Fit For Heroes:
    Escape To The Wild Wood (1993)
    Stand Alone Stan (1994)
    The Dragon Wakes (1995)
    The Burning Forest (1996)

The novels were published in hardback by Gollancz, and in paperback by Panther and Grafton.

The 2 novels about Pawl Paxwax were adapted to radio plays by Radio NZ, and have recently been replayed by Radio New Zealand. The series was also available for purchase at Replay Radio in a boxed audio CD set (please check for current availability by email here ).

"A Land Fit for Heroes" is a series consisting of 4 books featuring an alternate history & fantasy set in Britain. His other works can be described as science fiction, with the "The Fall of the Families" also containing science fiction poetry. Works of science fiction, fantasy, poetry and alternate history reflect the diverse talent of this author.

Phillip Mann has been a lecturer in Drama at Victoria University, a journalist in China, taught mime in various places, worked in theatre in various capacities and has written plays. He is semi-retired now but still teaches writing at Whitireia College and helps out with new writers at Huia, a Wellington-based publisher. This reflects a diverse artistic and academic career in the arts in general.

As the Patron of the Phoenix Science Fiction and Fantasy Society (a Wellington-based science fiction club), and which he has been since its founding in 1989, Phillip Mann has strong ties to science fiction and fantasy fandom. He attends Phoenix meetings every year or so to give a talk, reading and/or presentation to the members of the club. His last visit was the November 2009 meeting, where his talk and reading was warmly received by the attending members of the club. In another earlier, but note-worthy visit he spoke of his time in China as a journalist, and how he developed ideas from that time to incorporate into his science fiction novels.  

To read more about Phillip Mann and his Pawl Paxwax novels, please go here.

Phillip Mann's novels are available at various libraries nationwide. They are available at Wellington City Library and can be found via their on-line catalogue.