James White Award


The James White Award is an annual short story competition open to writers from around the world. It was established in 2000 to commemorate the life and work of Irish science fiction author James White.
The competition was created to encourage new writers and is not open to professional authors. "Professional author" is defined as one who is eligible for active membership of the Science Fiction Writers of America – that is, a writer with three short story sales to qualifying markets or one novel sale to a qualifying market. Entries must be 6,000 words or less and written in English.
The winning story receives a cash prize and publication in Interzone magazine.
The award is sponsored by Interzone and the British Science Fiction Association, who took over the administration of the award in 2010.

Award history

The winners and judges of the Award, from 2000 until present. Bold is winner, others are shortlisted entries.
;2019
In 2019, the judges also awarded a special commendation to runner up Property Crime by Michael Donoghue – who missed out by the narrowest margin in the Award’s history. The judging panel consisted of Justina Robson, Chris Beckett, and Donna Scott.
;2018
In 2018, the judges also awarded a special commendation to A Sip of Pombé by Gustavo Bondoni. The judging panel consisted of Anne Charnock, RJ Barker and Una McCormack.
;2017
In 2017, the judges also awarded a special commendation to May the Pain Guide You Home by Daniel Roy. The judging panel consisted of Lorna Gibbs, David Gullen and Konrad Walewski.
;2016
The 2016 James White Award was presented at the 2016 Eastercon in Manchester. The judging panel consisted of the authors Neil Williamson, RJ Booth and Ian Sales.
;2015
The 2015 James White Award was presented at Dysprosium. The judging panel consisted of the authors Dave Hutchinson, Stephanie Saulter and Gareth L Powell.
;2014
The judges awarded a special commendation to Vina Jie-Min Prasad’s Flesh and Bone.
The 2014 James White Award was presented at Satellite4. The judging panel consisted of authors Sophia McDougall, Emma Newman and BSFA Award winner Adam Roberts.
The winning story published in Interzone 253 and in edited by Gardner Dozois.
;2012/13
The 2012 award was presented at EightSquaredCon in Bradford. The judging panel consisted of Hugo award winner Ian McDonald, Nebula award winner Aliette de Bodard and the Interzone editors Andrew Cox and Andrew Hedgecox.
The winning story was published in Interzone issue 246.
This year the judges awarded a runner up prize to Philip Suggars for his story Automatic Diamanté. This story was published in Interzone issue 247.
The James White Award changed the date given to the competition in this year - future dates reflect the year the award was presented rather than the date on which the competition opened for entries.
;2011
The award was presented at on 7 April. The judging panel consisted of novelists Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Juliet E. McKenna, and Interzone editor Andrew Cox.
;2010
The award was presented at the British Science Fiction Association AGM in June 2010 and the judges included novelist Ian Whates and Interzone editor Andy Cox. The winning story was printed in Interzone 232.
;2008-9
No competition.
;2007
The judges made the decision not to make an award.
;2006
The Award was presented at Octocon, the National Science Fiction Convention in Ireland on Saturday 14 October 2006. The final judging was conducted by a panel drawn from the science fiction field in Europe: Kelly Link, Alastair Reynolds, Andy Cox and Michael Carroll.
;2005
The Award was presented at Interaction, The World Science Fiction Convention 2005, during the Hugo Award ceremony in the Scottish Exhibition Centre on Sunday 7 August 2005. The final judging was conducted by a panel made up of: Andy Cox, Jasper Fforde, Michael Carroll, Teresa Nielsen Hayden and the late Robert Sheckley.
;2004
*
The Award was presented at a ceremony at Winter Gardens, in Blackpool, on Sunday 11 April 2004. This was the venue for Concourse, the National British Convention, also known as Eastercon. The final judging was conducted by a panel drawn from the science fiction field in the USA and Europe: Lois McMaster Bujold, Michael Carroll, Peter F. Hamilton, Christopher Priest and David Pringle.
;2003
The Award was presented at a ceremony at the Quality Inn, Walsall immediately following the Novacon 32 Science Fiction Convention. The final judging was conducted by a panel drawn from the science fiction field in the USA and Europe: Michael Carroll, David Pringle, Orson Scott Card, Christopher Fowler and Graham Joyce.
;2002
The Award ceremony took place in Queens University Belfast. The judging panel was made up of Ian McDonald, Mike Resnick, Kim Newman, Michael Carroll and David Pringle.
;2001
The judging panel was made up of Morgan Llywelyn, Dave Langford, Michael Scott, David Pringle and Michael Carroll. The award ceremony took place at the Dublin Writers’ Museum.