2015 Sir Julius Vogel award winners

Press Release

Renowned fantasy author Hugh Cook has been posthumously honoured with a Sir Julius Vogel Award for his services to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.

The Sir Julius Vogel Awards recognise achievements by New Zealanders, both amateur and professional, in the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres.

This year voting took place at Reconnaissance, the 36th National Science Fiction convention held in Rotorua over Easter weekend, Voting was open to members of SFFANZ (the Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand) and Reconnaissance.

Mr Cook, who passed away from cancer in 2008, was nominated for his body of work – some 17 novels over his 25-year career. He was an early adopter of print-on-demand publishing. A previous Sir Julius Vogel Award winner and novelist Philippa Ballantine, who was also attending Reconnaissance, said she was pleased Mr Cook had been honoured.

“I grew up with a dream of being a writer, but being from New Zealand as well I always assumed that I could never write in the genre I loved: science fiction and fantasy. I remember finding Hugh Cook among the books my Dad was reading, and loving the worlds he so effortlessly carried me away to. And then I found out that he was from New Zealand too. From that moment on I knew my dream was possible. For both his talent and being a trailblazer I'll always be grateful to Hugh Cook."

SFFANZ president, Norman Cates, was pleased that Mr Cook had been honoured.

“We were glad to be able to announce Hugh Cook as the winner of the award for Services to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror.”

Mr Cates also acknowledged the growth of the awards this year, which saw the highest number of nominations recorded since the awards began in 2002. He particularly noted an increase in the number of younger creators appearing on the list.

“We were delighted by the response from nominators and nominees. And finding new works in the nomination list is especially wonderful.”

A full list of winners is appended.

Professional Awards Category Winners

Best Novel Engines of Empathy by Paul Mannering (Paper Road Press)

Best Youth Novel The Caller: Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier (Pan Macmillan)

Best Novella Peach and Araxi by Celine Murray

Published in Conclave: A Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy by Leapy Sheep

Best Short Story "Inside Ferndale" by Lee Murray

Best Collected Work Lost In The Museum by Phoenix Writers Group (Makaro Press)

Best Professional Artwork Cover for Lost In The Museum, created by Geoff Popham

Best Professional Production/Publication Weta Digital: 20 Years of Imagination On Screen

Clare Burgess with Brian Sibley with the support of Weta Digital

Best Dramatic Presentation What We Do In The Shadows

Directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi

Produced by Chelsea Winstanley and Taika Waititi

(c) Shadow Pictures 2014

Best New Talent AJ Fitzwater

Fan Award Category Winners

Best Fan Production / Publication Phoenixine by John & Lynelle Howell

Best Fan Artwork Keith Smith — for contributions in Novazine

Best Fan Writing Rebecca Fisher

Special Award Category Winners

Services to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Hugh Cook

SFFANZ promotes the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror in New Zealand by encouraging communication between fan groups, encouraging the creation of new fan groups, being a media contact, and increasing public awareness of local fan groups and activities. They organise and conduct the national science fiction and fantasy awards, The Sir Julius Vogel awards, and is a registered charity.

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