Compton Crook Award
Encyclopedia
The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best first novel of the year in the field of Science Fiction
, Fantasy
, or Horror
by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc, at their annual Baltimore
-area science fiction convention, Balticon
, held on Memorial Day
weekend in the Baltimore, Maryland area each year. Awards have been presented since 1983. The award is also known as the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Award.
BSFS has presented “The Compton Crook Award” each Balticon SM (since 1983) for “... the best first novel in the genre published during the previous year ...”. The list of eligible books is published in the monthly newsletter so all club members will have a chance to read and vote. The winning author is invited to BalticonSM (BSFS pays transportation and lodging to attend two years), and presented with the cash award set at $1000.00 post 2005. Compton Crook, who used the nom de plume Stephen Tall
, died in 1981. He was a long-time Baltimore resident, Towson University
professor, and science fiction author.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, Fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, or Horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc, at their annual Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
-area science fiction convention, Balticon
Balticon
Balticon is the Maryland Regional science fiction convention, sponsored by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society . It has been held annually since 1966...
, held on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend in the Baltimore, Maryland area each year. Awards have been presented since 1983. The award is also known as the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Award.
BSFS has presented “The Compton Crook Award” each Balticon SM (since 1983) for “... the best first novel in the genre published during the previous year ...”. The list of eligible books is published in the monthly newsletter so all club members will have a chance to read and vote. The winning author is invited to BalticonSM (BSFS pays transportation and lodging to attend two years), and presented with the cash award set at $1000.00 post 2005. Compton Crook, who used the nom de plume Stephen Tall
Stephen Tall
Stephen Tall was the most common pseudonym of American science fiction writer Compton Newby Crook .Born in Rossville, Tennessee, Crook studied biology at Peabody College, and did graduate work at Arizona State University and Johns Hopkins University...
, died in 1981. He was a long-time Baltimore resident, Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
professor, and science fiction author.
Winners
- 2011 - James Knapp, State of Decay
- 2010 - Paolo BacigalupiPaolo BacigalupiPaolo Tadini Bacigalupi is an American science fiction and fantasy writer.He has won the Hugo, Nebula, Compton Crook, Theodore Sturgeon, and Michael L. Printz awards, and was nominated for the National Book Award...
, The Windup GirlThe Windup GirlThe Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published in September 2009. It was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine, and as the best science fiction book of the year in the Reference and User Services Association's 2010 Reading List... - 2009 - Paul MelkoPaul MelkoPaul Melko is an American science fiction writer whose work has appeared in Realms of Fantasy, Asimov's Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Live Without a Net....
, Singularity's RingSingularity's RingSingularity's Ring is a science fiction novel by Paul Melko. The story is set in a future after a singularity event, which caused the bulk of humanity to disappear. The focus of this event was a huge space station which rings the Earth, and which remains uninhabited after the singularity... - 2008 - Mark L. Van NameMark L. Van NameMark L. Van Name is an American science fiction writer and technology consultant. As of 2009, Van Name lives in North Carolina.-About:With John Kessel, Van Name co-founded the Sycamore Hill Writer's Workshop in 1985, and in 1996 he, Kessel, and Richard Butner edited an anthology of stories written...
, One Jump Ahead - 2007 - Naomi NovikNaomi NovikNaomi Novik is an American novelist. She is a first-generation American; her father is of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry, and her mother is an ethnic Pole. She studied English Literature at Brown University, and holds a Master's degree in Computer Science from Columbia University...
, His Majesty's DragonHis Majesty's DragonHis Majesty's Dragon, published in the UK as Temeraire, is the first novel in the Temeraire alternate history/fantasy series by American author Naomi Novik first published in 2005.... - 2006 - Maria V. SnyderMaria V. SnyderMaria V. Snyder is an American fantasy author best known for her Study Series of books. Her first novel, Poison Study was published October 2005, and won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel.-Awards:...
, Poison StudyPoison StudyPoison Study is a 2005 fantasy novel written by Maria V. Snyder and the first book in the Study series.It tells the story of a nineteen year old girl named Yelena, who after spending just less than a year in a dungeon awaiting execution is given the chance to live on the condition that she will... - 2005 - Tamara Siler JonesTamara Siler JonesTamara Siler Jones is a writer of fantasy novels.Her first book, Ghosts in the Snow, won the Compton Crook Award in 2005. Her second, Threads of Malice, was nominated for the 2006 Gaylactic Spectrum Awards.-Books:...
, Ghosts in the Snow - 2004 - E. E. KnightE. E. KnightE. E. Knight is the pen name for a science fiction and fantasy writer, born in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He grew up in Stillwater, Minnesota and now resides in Oak Park, Illinois with his wife, newborn daughter and young son....
, Way of the Wolf - 2003 - Patricia Bray, Devlin's LuckDevlin's LuckDevlin’s Luck is the 2002 fantasy novel by Patricia Bray, the first in the The Sword of Change series.-Explanation of the novel's title:More often than not, Devlin seems to accomplish his tasks through luck rather than skill...
- 2002 - Wen SpencerWen SpencerWen Spencer is an American Science fiction and fantasy writer whose books center around characters with unusual abilities, and which might be regarded as original variations on the standard vampire and werewolf themes. In 2003, she was the winner of the John W...
, Alien TasteUkiah OregonUkiah Oregon is the hero of an eponymous series of science fiction/adventure novels written by Wen Spencer.As of 2005, the Ukiah Oregon series consists of four novels:#Alien Taste Winner of the Compton Crook Award#Tainted Trail... - 2001 - Syne MitchellSyne MitchellSyne Mitchell is a novelist in the science fiction genre. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration and master's degree in physics. She lives in Seattle, Washington and is married to author Eric S. Nylund. Her first science fiction novel was Murphy’s Gambit which won the Compton Crook...
, Murphy's Gambit - 2000 - Stephen L. BurnsStephen L. BurnsStephen L. Burns is a science fiction and fantasy author. In short fiction he is most associated with Analog Science Fiction and Fact and has won their "Anlab" readers poll four times. He has also won the Compton Crook Award and in 2000 was nominated for the Philip K...
, Flesh and Silver - 1999 - James Stoddard, The High House
- 1998 - Katie WaitmanKatie WaitmanKatharine Lura Waitman is an American science fiction writer. She is best known for the Compton Crook Award winning The Merro Tree. Her second book was The Divided.- External links :...
, The Merro Tree - 1997 - Richard GarfinkleRichard GarfinkleRichard Garfinkle is an American writer of science fiction.He is best known as the author of Celestial Matters, a novel published by Tor Books, which won the Compton Crook Award in 1997....
, Celestial MattersCelestial MattersCelestial Matters is a science fantasy novel, set in an alternate universe with different laws of physics, written by Richard Garfinkle and published by Tor Books in 1996... - 1996 - Daniel Graham Jr., The Gatekeepers
- 1995 - Doranna DurginDoranna DurginDoranna Durgin is an American author. In 1995 she won the Compton Crook Award for the novel Dun Lady's Jess.Durgin's works feature suspense elements and distinctive descriptions of animals and their behavior.-Buffyverse:...
, Dun Lady's Jess - 1994 - Mary RosenblumMary RosenblumMary Rosenblum is a science fiction and mystery author. Mary Rosenblum grew up in Allison Park, "a dead little coal mining town outside Pittsburgh PA," and attended Reed College in Oregon, earning a biology degree. She attended the Clarion West workshop in 1988.Her first story came out in 1990...
, The Drylands - 1993 - Holly LisleHolly LisleHolly Lisle is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, paranormal romance and romantic suspense novels. She is also known for her work in educating writers, including her e-book Mugging the Muse: Writing Fiction for Love And Money, the Forward Motion Writers' Community web site, and her...
, Fire in the MistFire in the MistFire in the Mist is a fantasy novel by Holly Lisle. It was published on August 1 1992 by Baen. It was the winner of the Compton Crook Award.-Plot:... - 1992 - Carol SeveranceCarol SeveranceCarol Severance is a U.S. science fiction writer, born in 1944.-Life:Severance grew up in Denver, Colorado. She served with the Peace Corps from 1966-1968 and later assisted in anthropological fieldwork in the remote coral atolls of Truk, Micronesia. She lives in Hilo, Hawaii where she lives with...
, Reefsong - 1991 - Michael Flynn, In the Country of the Blind
- 1990 - Josepha ShermanJosepha ShermanJosepha Sherman is an American author. In 1990 she won the Compton Crook Award for the novel The Shining Falcon.-Buffyverse:*Visitors *Deep Water ...
, The Shining Falcon - 1989 - Elizabeth MoonElizabeth MoonElizabeth Moon is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novel The Speed of Dark won the 2003 Nebula Award.-Biography:...
, Sheepfarmer's DaughterThe Deed of PaksenarrionThe Deed of Paksenarrion is an epic fantasy saga by the American author Elizabeth Moon. The Deed of Paksenarrion was originally published in three volumes in 1988 and 1989 and as a single trade edition of that name in 1992 by Baen. The three books included are Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided... - 1988 - Christopher HinzChristopher HinzChristopher Hinz is an American writer best known for the Paratwa science fiction trilogy. Hinz has also written comic book for DC Comics and Marvel Comics. He won the Compton Crook Award in 1988 for his novel Liege-Killer....
, Liege-KillerLiege-KillerLiege Killer is the first book in a science fiction trilogy written by American writer Christopher Hinz. The book and its sequels Ash Ock and The Paratwa are set in Human Colonies in orbit around a desolated post apocalyptic Earth.... - 1987 - Thomas WrenThomas Thurston ThomasThomas Thurston Thomas, also writing as Thomas T. Thomas and Thomas Wren, is a science fiction author.-Books:*The Doomsday Effect Winner of the Compton Crook Award in 1987.*First Citizen...
Doomsday Effect - 1986 - Sheila FinchSheila FinchSheila Finch is a science fiction author. She has won the Nebula Award for her 1998 novella “Reading the Bones,” which was later expanded into a novel...
, Infinity's Web - 1985 - David R. PalmerDavid R. PalmerDavid R. Palmer , Highland Park High School , is a science fiction author who has been nominated three times for Hugo Awards. He is married and lives in Florida , where he works as a court reporter.-Published works:...
, EmergenceEmergence (novel)Emergence is a science fiction novel written by David R. Palmer. It first appeared as a novella published in Analog Science Fiction in 1981. Analog also published Part II, 'Seeking,' in 1983. The completed novel then was published by Bantam in 1984. The plot follows a precocious 11-year-old... - 1984 - Christopher RowleyChristopher RowleyChristopher Rowley is an American writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels.Rowley was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s...
, War For Eternity - 1983 - Donald KingsburyDonald KingsburyDonald MacDonald Kingsbury is an American–Canadian science fiction author. Kingsbury taught mathematics at McGill University, Montreal, from 1956 until his retirement in 1986.- Books :...
, Courtship RiteCourtship RiteCourtship Rite is a science fiction novel by American writer Donald Kingsbury, originally serialized in Analog magazine in 1982. The book is set in the same universe as some of Kingsbury's other stories, such as "Shipwright" and the unpublished The Finger Pointing Solward.In the UK, the novel was...