Last week, I celebrated NZ author Tamsyn Muir’s Locus Award 2020 for First Novel, received for her debut book, Gideon The Ninth.

In the comments, Liz was kind enough to cite my own Morningstar Award with approval and asked if many other NZ writers had won similar international awards for speculative fiction.

I promised to put on my thinking cap and do a bit of google-fu, then answer this week.

While I can’t speak for “all time” on this topic, these are the other NZ speculative authors that I’m aware of, who have received international awards in the past decade.

Duly noting that I don’t keep close tabs, so if I’ve missed an author and book, please forgive the omission. Also, if you ping me with a comment I shall correct ‘interfrastically.’

2010: The Bridge by Jane Higgins — The Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing
.

2012: The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe* — the Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best First Novel
.

2016: The Chimes by Anna Smaill — World Fantasy Award for Best Novel
.

2017: Silver Silence by Nalini Singh — Romantic Times (RT) Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award winner (Paranormal World Building category);

In the same year, Nalini Singh also received the RT Career Achievement Award for Paranormal fiction—and she’s had more NY Times Bestseller spots than you can shake a stick at. #JustSayin’

I think this is pretty good testament to the strength of NZ speculative fiction writing!

Especially as for every win there are comparable shortlistings, both for the same authors and others in the field, such as Lee Murray, a three-time finalist for the Bram Stoker Award.

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* Yep, I know that's me, but I'm trying to do a "proper" list! :-)