I’ve posted a bunch of stuff over the last few weeks about my recommendations for this year’s Ditmar Awards, so to make it easy for the casual browser, I’ve compiled my recommendations and the links to the original posts (which explain in greater detail my choices and offer some extra information) right here.

So in summary, I’ve given the thumbs up to:

Novels

• The Dead Path by Stephen M. Irwin (Hachette Australia)
• Shadow Queen by Deborah Kalin (Allen & Unwin)
• Worldshaker by Richard Harland (Allen & Unwin)
• Slights by Kaaron Warren (Angry Robot)

Novelette/Novella

• “The Message” by Andrew J. McKiernan (Midnight Echo #2, AHWA)
• Phoenix and the Darkness of Wolves by Shane Jiraiya Cummings (Damnation Books)
• After the World: Gravesend by Jason Fischer (Black House)

Short Story

• “Shadow of Drought” by Joanne Anderton (Midnight Echo #2)
• “Six Suicides” by Deborah Biancotti (A Book of Endings)
• “Black Water” by David Conyers (Jupiter #24)
• “Losing Tahlia” by Jason Crowe (Midnight Echo #2)
• “Chasing Jormungand” by Shane Jiraiya Cummings (ASIM #38)
• “Wrack” by Shane Jiraiya Cummings (Shards)
• “for want of a jesusman” by Jason Fischer (Aurealis #42)
• “Behind Dark Blue Eyes” by Robert Hood (Exotic Gothic 3)
• “The Dumbshow” by Andrew J. McKiernan (Masques)
• “A Tour in the City of Assassins” by Kyla Ward (Ticon4)
• “The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfall” by Kaaron Warren (Exotic Gothic 3)
• “Black Peter” by Marty Young (Festive Fear)

Collected Work

• Shards by Shane Jiraiya Cummings (Brimstone Press)
• Midnight Echo #2, edited by Angela Challis & Shane Jiraiya Cummings (AHWA)
• Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror Volume 3, edited by Angela Challis (Brimstone Press) **
• Slice of Life by Paul Haines (The Mayne Press)
• Festive Fear, edited by Stephen Clark (Tasmaniac Publications)
• Grants Pass, edited by Amanda Pillar & Jennifer Brozek (Morrigan Books)
• Eclecticism, edited by Craig Bezant (Dark Prints Press)

** A bit of trivia: none of the Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror anthology series has ever been nominated for any Australian awards. Volume 3, published in 2009, was the last.

Artwork

• Andrew J. McKiernan (for Shards illustrations)

Fan Artist

• Dave Schembri (for Midnight Echo)

Fan Publication

• HorrorScope, edited by Shane Jiraiya Cummings et al.
• ScaryMinds, edited by Jeff Ritchie [a late new entry!]
• A Writer Goes on a Journey, edited by Nyssa Pascoe
• Specusphere, edited by Stephen Thompson
• Studies in Australian Weird Fiction, edited by Benjamin Szumskyj

Fan Writer

• Talie Helene (HorrorScope)
• Chuck McKenzie (Horrorscope)
• Shane Jiraiya Cummings (HorrorScope)
• Stephanie Gunn (HorrorScope)
• Craig Bezant (Horrorscope)
• Matthew Tait (HorrorScope)
• Tony Owens (HorrorScope)
• Troy King (HorrorScope)
• Mark Smith-Briggs (Horrorscope)
• Brenton Tomlinson (Horrorscope)
• Robert Hood (Horrorscope and Undead Backbrain)
• Juliet Bathory (Sinister Reads)
• Satima Flavell (Specusphere)

Achievement

• Angela Challis for the Australian Dark Fantasy & Horror series  [a late new entry]
• Marty Young for his five years work as President (and founder) of the Australian Horror Writers Association.
• Talie Helene for her work as AHWA News Editor.
• Juliet Bathory for Sinister Reads.

William Atheling Jr Award

• “The Dead Walk! … Into a Bookstore Near You” by Chuck McKenzie (Eye of Fire #1, August 2009, Brimstone Press)

New Talent

• Stephen M. Irwin
• H. M. Brown
• Greig Beck
• Deborah Kalin
• Jason Crowe
• Pete Kempshall
• Christopher Green

I have one more Ditmar post left in me. It will be about my own work and its place in the Aussie spec fic landscape from last year. There may well be some freebies attached to that post, but this is to be confirmed. Stay tuned!

At first, I didn’t think I could come up with a good set of new talent recommendations, primarily because I read less short fiction last year. However, when I put my mind back to some of the great debut novels from last year, everything fell into place.

The ‘new talents’ I’ll put forward are:

• Stephen M. Irwin (author of The Dead Path, shortlisted for the Australian Shadows Award and Aurealis Award). Irwin is my pick for this category. The Dead Path is an awesome debut horror novel and has been picked up by enthusiastic publishers in the UK and USA, making him a global threat (but in a cool kind of way).
• H. M. Brown (author of Red Queen, winner of the Aurealis Award for horror novel). Another strong debut novelist with a bright future ahead (and her second book, The Good Daughter is out this month but it appears to have more of a YA/lit slant rather than spec fic).
• Greig Beck (author of Beneath the Dark Ice and Return of the Prophet). Greg flew under my radar somewhat in 2009, but he’s now released two supernaturalish action thriller (in the Matthew Reilly vein) and is definitely a guy to watch.
• Deborah Kalin (author of Shadow Queen and Shadow Bound). Deb’s debut fantasy novel in early 2009 was a promising effort, and she has some good credits amongst her handful of published stories (Shadowed Realms, Postscripts). Definitely a rising star!
• Jason Crowe. Jason caught my attention with a gritty, surreal story in Midnight Echo #2 (“Losing Tahlia”). It’s a rare Australian story set in a beachside suburb, and blends dark magic, sacrifice, and surfie culture seamlessly. Jason has followed up with stories in Midnight Echo #3 and #4, ASIM, and pro-zine Shroud.
• Pete Kempshall. The other short story writer on my list. The first story I read of Pete’s was his creepy crime thriller in Voices. Since then, Pete’s kicked on with several stories sold to publishers such as Apex Publications, Morrigan Books, and Twelfth Planet Press. He’s also debuted as an editor with Morrigan, co-editing Scenes from the Second Storey with Amanda Pillar.
• Christopher Green – a belated entry (see the comments) but certainly worthy. Chris has racked up a few Aurealis Award and Australian Shadows Award nominations in short order and is deserving of your consideration.

Several members of the AHWA crit groups appear to be doing well, but I haven’t read much of their work (yet). For their feats, check out the AHWA crit group page. The most prolific writers of these groups are:

• Mark Farrugia
• Amanda Spedding
• Alan Baxter

Any other suggestions on awesome new talents are very welcome!

So that’s it from me. I’m going to summarise my Ditmar posts this weekend as a convenient guide for any interested parties. Keep an eye out for it soon!

Two posts in one here, namely because I don’t have enough recommendations to fill two separate posts!

The Best Achievement category is a toughie. While a few individuals had great years, I’m largely drawing a blank on standout achievements/events/milestones etc. The outstanding achievements I can recall include:

• Marty Young is retiring as President (and founder) of the AHWA after five glorious years. I think that deserves an individual recognition.
• Talie Helene stepped down as AHWA News Editor recently, but she had an exceptional 2009 (look through the HorrorScope posts from last year to see what I mean).
• Juliet Bathory established Sinister Reads and volunteered her heart out for it, which was a great effort.

I’d appreciate other people’s thoughts on the outstanding achievements of 2009.

As for the William Atheling Jr. Award for Criticism or Review, I only have one (very fine) recommendation in that category this year:

• “The Dead Walk! … Into a Bookstore Near You” by Chuck McKenzie (Eye of Fire #1, August 2009, Brimstone Press)

This was a brilliant long article on the zombie fiction phenomenon and filled with wit and insightfulness. Eye of Fire #1 can be downloaded for free from here. [Edit: broken link has been fixed!]

Last but not least, New Talent …

Let’s get a little controversial here. It’s no secret that HorrorScope reviewers have done well in this category for the past few years. The good showing has been interpreted by a few as some sort of collusion on behalf of the Australian Horror Writers Association. That, my friends, is utter bullshit.

Let me clear this up right now. There has never been, and never will be, a coordinated effort by the AHWA to stack the Ditmar Award nominations. These Ditmar posts of mine may influence some but that’s about it. All a conspiracy theory about the AHWA/horror community does is detract from the good work people in this category have done. The honest truth is that HorrorScope is a very popular blog, is widely read as the news source for all things horror Down Under, and consequently, the fine folks who volunteer their time for HorrorScope have a reasonably high profile.

So let’s not be haters, ok? Alright then.

In no particular order, my recommendations for this year’s fan writer are:

• Talie Helene (HorrorScope)
• Chuck McKenzie (Horrorscope)
• Shane Jiraiya Cummings (HorrorScope)
• Stephanie Gunn (HorrorScope)
• Craig Bezant (Horrorscope)
• Matthew Tait (HorrorScope)
• Tony Owens (HorrorScope)
• Troy King (HorrorScope)
• Mark Smith-Briggs (Horrorscope)
• Brenton Tomlinson (Horrorscope)
• Robert Hood (Horrorscope and Undead Backbrain)
• Juliet Bathory (Sinister Reads)
• Satima Flavell (Specusphere)

Yes, I’m biased, but as you’ll see from the various posts that have and will crop up over the next few days, so is everyone else. And you know what, I’m recommending a hell of a lot more stuff than simply my own work. If you don’t like this slant, refer to my opening post and have a great day.

Next, Best Achievement and the Atheling …

Another interesting category, and one that I think is split between the old guard fanzine creators and the new web-based e-zines. Obviously, my passions lie with the latter category, but I think the Ditmar Awards will be poorer when the old fanzines eventually drop off the shortlists.

This year, I’m recommending these publications:

• HorrorScope, edited by Shane Jiraiya Cummings et al.
• A Writer Goes on a Journey, edited by Nyssa Pascoe
• Specusphere, edited by Stephen Thompson
• Studies in Australian Weird Fiction, edited by Benjamin Szumskyj

I’m sure plenty of other publications will crop up in other people’s recommendations.

Next, Fan Writer …

Okay, I admit it, I have no idea about the art categories.

The only definite recommendations I can make are:

BEST ARTWORK

• Andrew J. McKiernan (Shards illustrations)

FAN ARTIST

• Dave Schembri (Midnight Echo)

Who would you recommend in the art categories?