The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. It is named after British author Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008), who gave a grant to establish the award in 1987. The book is chosen by a panel of judges from the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation, and a third organisation, which as of 2012 is the Sci-Fi-London film festival. The award has been described as "the UK's most prestigious science fiction prize".
Any "full-length" science fiction novel written or translated into English is eligible for the prize, provided that it was first published in the United Kingdom during the prior calendar year. There is no restriction on the nationality of the author, and the publication history of works outside of the United Kingdom is not taken into consideration. Books may be submitted for consideration by the publishers or by members of the judging panel. The judges form a shortlist of approximately six works that they feel are worthy of consideration from the nominees, which they select a winning book from. The winner receives an engraved bookend and a prize consisting of a number of pounds sterling equal to the current year, such as £2012 for the year 2012. Prior to 2001, the award was £1000. The prize money was given by Clarke through his Rocket Publishing company from the award's inception until his death in 2008. As of 2012, the award is presented on the opening night of the Sci-Fi-London film festival.
During the 26 nomination years, 96 authors have had works nominated, 23 of whom have won. China Miéville has won three times, while Pat Cadigan and Geoff Ryman have won twice; no other author has won multiple times. Stephen Baxter and Gwyneth Jones have the most nominations at seven, and Baxter has the most nominations without winning. Neal Stephenson has won once out of six nominations, and Ken MacLeod, Paul J. McAuley, Miéville, and Kim Stanley Robinson have been nominated five times; McAuley has one win, whereas MacLeod and Robinson have none.
Read more about Arthur C. Clarke Award: Winners and Nominees
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