The first Awards were presented in the form of a scroll designed by Jim Cawthorn, but the 1974 AGM, held at the BSFA’s Tynecon, suggested that a more enduring symbol be used. The following year the BFS Awards came in the shape of a cowled figure designed by Jim Pitts.
For several years after this the Awards presented by the British Fantasy Society were collectively known as The August Derleth Fantasy Awards – including the addition of several other categories. As the Society grew, so the Awards widened their scope: besides the Best Novel and Short Story sections there were Small Press, Art, Comic and Film categories. The BFS decided it should promote itself on a wider scale, and in 1976 the August Derleth Fantasy Awards became the British Fantasy Awards, with a proviso that the original section of Best Novel retain the August Derleth title.
By now FantasyCon was established as an annual event, both to showcase the Awards and give a forum for the Society’s AGM. The BFS Awards now had form, style and a place in the yearly calendar.
In 1980 Jim Pitts’s cowled figure design gave way to the familiar dark fantasy statuette designed by Dave Carson. The award was redesigned again in 2005.
The Awards categories have changed over the years, with sections being introduced and dropped, as the focus of the Society’s members changed. The Comic Award, for instance, was dropped because the nominations and votes for this section had fallen to a point where it was no longer viable. Film, on the other hand, originally fell off the edge of the lists mainly due to a lack of interest from its recipients. However, both were resurrected in 2009, and two new categories were introduced: television and magazine.
The Icarus Award was intended to mark a promising newcomer and was renamed the Newcomer Award when the Icarus Society “ceased to be”. The question of whether this should remain a BFS Award came up several times, mainly on the point of cost; it was eventually decided that as an Award for Best Newcomer was still valid it should be assimilated into the Special Award. The award was reintroduced in 2007, funded by the estate of Sydney J. Bounds.
The Special Award was originally a discretionary Award, not presented every year. The recipient may be an author of long standing; an editor; any other person, who has contributed much to the genre; a BFS member that has given great service to the Society in some fashion; or a newcomer who, it is felt, shows special promise. It is now known as The Karl Edward Wagner Award.
Over the years there have been certain names which crop up time and again in the history of the Awards – as you might expect. Ramsey Campbell had won seven Awards by the time of this article's original publication in Silver Rhapsody (1996), each for different publications. The Sutton/Jones combo gained no less than eight for Fantasy Tales, plus one each separately (by that time, at least - Stephen Jones has gone on to win many more awards as editor of Best New Horror). Michael Moorcock had by then been bestowed with our Awards on five occasions. Others with several entries each include Karl Edward Wagner, Clive Barker and Stephen King.
In the following lists read Novel as The August Derleth Fantasy Award in all cases. (And in all cases the term “Best” is assumed – these are the BFS Awards we’re talking about.) I have listed all Awards under the year in which they were presented.
Adapted from an article by Jan Edwards appearing in Silver Rhapsody, the BFS booklet celebrating the society's twenty-fifth anniversary. Details of the awards from then till 2007 are taken from David Sutton's invaluable booklet, The British Fantasy Awards 1972-2008: a Listing, which lists all nominees as well as winners.
1972
Novel: Michael Moorcock, The Knight of the Swords
1973
Novel: Michael Moorcock, The King of the Swords
Short Story: L Sprague de Camp, The Fallible Fiend
Film: Tales from the Crypt
Comic: Conan
Special Award: Robert E Howard Marches of Valhalla
1974
Novel: Poul Anderson, Hrolf Kraki’s Saga
Short Story: Michael Moorcock The Jade Man’s Eyes
Film: Legend of Hell House
Comic: Conan
1975
Novel: Michael Moorcock, The Sword and the Stallion
Short Story: Karl Edward Wagner Sticks
Film: The Exorcist
Comic: Savage Sword of Conan
1976
Novel: Michael Moorcock, The Hollow Lands
Short Story: Second Book of Fritz Lieber
Film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Comic: Savage Sword of Conan
1977
Novel: Gordon Dickson, The Dragon and The George
Short Story: Karl Edward Wagner, Two Suns Setting
Small Press: John Martin Anduril
Artist: Michael Kaluta The Sacrifice
Film: The Omen
Comic: Howard the Duck 3
1978
Novel: Piers Antony, A Spell for Chameleon
Short Story: Ramsey Campbell In the Bag
Small Press: Stephen Jones/David Sutton Fantasy Tales 1
Artist: Steve Fabian
Film: Carrie
Comic: Marvel Première 38: Weirdworld
1979
Novel: Stephen Donaldson, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever
Short Story: Harlan Ellison Jeffty is Five
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton Fantasy Tales 2
Artist: Boris Vallejo, Amazon Princess and her Pet
Film: Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Comic: R Thomas/F Brunner The Scarlet Citadel
1980
Novel: Tanith Lee, Death’s Master
Short Story: Fritz Leiber, The Button Molder
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton, Fantasy Tales 3
Artist: Stephen Fabian
Film: Alien
Comic: Heavy Metal
1981
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, To Wake The Dead
Short Story: Robert Aickman, The Stains
Small Press: Dave McFerran/Stephen Jones/David Sutton Airgedlamh
Artist: Dave Carson
Film: The Empire Strikes Back
Special Award: Stephen King
1982
Novel: Stephen King, Cujo
Short Story: Dennis Etchison, The Dark Country
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton, Fantasy Tales
Artist: Dave Carson
Film: Raiders of the Lost Ark
1983
Novel: Gene Wolfe, Sword of the Lictor
Short Story: Stephen King, The Breathing Method
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton, Fantasy Tales
Artist: Dave Carson
Film: Blade Runner
Special Award: Karl Edward Wagner
1984
Novel: Peter Straub, Floating Dragon
Short Story: Karl Edward Wagner, Neither Brute Nor Human
Small Press: Ro Pardoe Ghosts & Scholars
Artist: Rowena Morrill
Film: Videodrome
1985
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, Incarnate
Short Story: Clive Barker In the Hills, the Cities
Small Press: Stuart David Schiff Whispers
Artist: Stephen Fabian
Film: Ghostbusters
Special Award: Manly Wade Wellman
1986
Novel: TED Kline, The Ceremonies
Short Story: Clive Barker, The Forbidden
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton, Fantasy Tales
Artist: JK Potter
Film: Nightmare on Elm Street
Special Award: Les Flood
1987
Novel: Stephen King, It
Short Story: Dennis Etchison, The Olympic Runner
Small Press: S Jones/D Sutton, Fantasy Tales
Artist: JK Potter
Film: Aliens
Special Award: Charles L Grant
1988
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, The Hungry Moon
Short Story: Steve Rasnic Tem, Leaks
Small Press: Carl Ford Dagon
Artist: J K Potter
Film: Hellraiser
Icarus Award: Carl Ford
1989
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, The Influence
Short Story: Brian Lumley, Fruiting Bodies
Small Press: Carl Ford Dagon
Artist: Dave Carson
Film: Beetlejuice
Icarus Award: John Gilbert
Special Award: R Chetwynd‑Hayes
1990
Novel: Dan Simmons, Carrion Comfort
Short Story: Joe Lansdale, On The Far Side Of The Desert With Dead Folk
Small Press: Carl Ford Dagon
Artist: Dave Carson
Film: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Newcomer: Nancy Collins
Special Award: Peter Coleborn
1991
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, Midnight Sun
Short Story: Michael Marshal Smith The Man Who Drew Cats
Collection: Stephen Jones/Ramsey Campbell, Best New Horror
Small Press: Carl Ford Dagon
Artist: Les Edwards
1992
Novel: Jonathan Carroll, Outside the Dog Museum
Short Story: Michael Marshall Smith, The Dark Land
Collection: Nicholas Royle, Darklands
Small Press: David Bell/Stuart Hughes Peeping Tom Artist: Jim Pitts
Newcomer: Melanie Tem
Special Award: Andrew Porter
1993
Novel: Graham Joyce, Dark Sister
Short Story: Nicholas Royle, Night Shift Sister
Collection: Nicholas Royle, Darklands 2
Small Press: D Bell/S Hughes Peeping Tom
Newcomer: Conrad Williams
Special Award: Michael Moorcock
1994
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, The Long Lost
Short Story: Dennis Etchison, The Dog Park
Collection: David Sutton/Stephen Jones, Dark Voices 5
Small Press: Pam Creais Dementia 13
Artist: Les Edwards
Newcomer: Poppy Z Brite
Special Award: Dave Sutton
1995
Novel: Michael Marshall Smith, Only Forward
Short Story: Paul McAuley, The Temptation of Dr.Stein
Collection: Joel Lane, The Earthwire
Small Press: Stefan Dziemianowicz/ST Joshi/ Michael Morrison Necrofile
Artist: Martin McKenna
Newcomer: Maggie Furey
Special Award: John Jarrold
The Best Newcomer Award (known as the Icarus Award) was subsequently dropped. It was revived in 2007 as the Sydney J. Bounds Best Newcomer Award.
1996
Novel: Graham Joyce, Requiem
Short Story: Michael Marshall Smith, More Tomorrow
Collection: Andy Cox (ed.), Last Rites and Resurrections: Stories from The Third Alternative
Small Press: Andy Cox, The Third Alternative
Artist: Josh Kirby
Special Award: Mike O'Driscoll and Steve Lockley, for Welcome to My Nightmare
1997
Novel: Graham Joyce, The Tooth Fairy
Short Story: Martin Simpson, Dancing About Architecture
Collection: Thomas Ligotti, The Nightmare Factory
Small Press: S.T. Joshi, H.P. Lovecraft: a Life
Artist: Jim Burns
Special Award: Jo Fletcher
1998
Novel: Chaz Brenchley, Tower of the King's Daughter
Short Story: Christopher Fowler, Wageslaves
Collection: Stephen Jones and David Sutton, Dark Terrors 3: the Gollancz Book of Horror
Small Press: David Pringle, Interzone
Artist: Jim Burns
Special Award: D.F. Lewis
Subsequently, the Best Collection award was divided into Best Collection and Best Anthology.
1999
Novel: Stephen King, Bag of Bones
Short Story: Stephen Laws, The Song My Sister Sang
Collection: Ramsey Campbell, Ghosts and Grisly Things
Anthology: Stephen Jones and David Sutton, Dark Terrors 4: the Gollancz Book of Horror
Small Press: Andy Cox, The Third Alternative
Artist: Bob Covington
Special Award: Diana Wynne Jones
2000
Novel: Graham Joyce, Indigo
Short Story: Tim Lebbon, White
Collection: Peter Crowther, Lonesome Roads
Anthology: Stephen Jones, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 10
Small Press: Darren Floyd, Razorblade Press
Artist: Les Edwards
Special Award: Anne McCaffrey
2001
Novel: China Mieville, Perdido Street Station
Short Story: Naming of Parts, Tim Lebbon
Collection: Kim Newman, Where the Bodies Are Buried
Anthology: Brian Willis, Hideous Progeny: a Frankenstein Anthology
Artist: Jim Burns
Special Award: Peter Haining
2002
Novel: Simon Clark, The Night of the Triffids
Short Story: Goblin City Lights, Simon Clark
Collection: Paul Finch, Aftershocks
Anthology: Stephen Jones, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 12
Artist: Jim Burns
2003
Novel: China Mieville, The Scar
Short Story: Mark Chadbourn, The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke
Collection: Ramsey Campbell, Ramsey Campbell, Probably: On Horror and Sundry Fantasies
Anthology: Stephen Jones, Keep Out the Night
Artist: Les Edwards
Special Award: Alan Garner
2004
Novel: Christopher Fowler, Full Dark House
Short Story: Christopher Fowler, American Waitress
Collection: Ramsey Campbell, Told By the Dead
Anthology: Stephen Jones, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 14
Artist: Les Edwards
Special Award: Peter Jackson, for The Lord of the Rings
2005
Novel: Stephen King, The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower
Novella: Christopher Fowler, Breathe
Short Story: Paul Meloy, Black Static
Collection: Out of His Mind, Stephen Gallagher
Anthology: Andrew Hook, The Alsiso Project
Artist: Les Edwards
Special Award: Nigel Kneale
2006
Novel: Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys
Novella: Stuart Young, The Mask Behind the Face
Short Story: Joe Hill, Best New Horror
Collection: Joe Hill, 20th Century Ghosts
Anthology: Allen Ashley, The Elastic Book of Numbers
Small Press: Peter Crowther, PS Publishing
Artist: Les Edwards
Special Award: Stephen Jones
2007
Novel: Tim Lebbon, Dusk
Novella: Paul Finch, Kid
Short Story: Mark Chadbourn, Whisper Lane
Collection: Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things
Anthology: Gary Couzens, Extended Play: The Elastic Book of Music
Artist: Vincent Chong
Newcomer: Joe Hill
Special Award: Ellen Datlow
2008
Novel: Ramsey Campbell, The Grin of the Dark (PS Publishing)
Novella: Conrad Williams, The Scalding Rooms (PS Publishing)
Short Fiction: Joel Lane, My Stone Desire (Black Static #1, TTA Press)
Anthology: Stephen Jones, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 18 (Robinson)
Collection: Christopher Fowler, Old Devil Moon (Serpents Tail)
Newcomer: Scott Lynch
Special Award: Ray Harryhausen
Non-Fiction: Peter Tennant (ed.), Whispers of Wickedness Reviews (website)
Artist: Vincent Chong
Small Press: Peter Crowther, PS Publishing
Subsequently, the comics and film awards were reintroduced, and magazine and television prizes were awarded for the first time. PS Publishing withdrew from competition in the small press award, choosing instead to sponsor the award. Also, the winners of each category were decided entirely by a vote on the shortlisted nominees, whereas in most previous years a vote on the longlist had decided them.
