1954

INTERNATIONAL FANTASY AWARD 1954

LESLIE FLOOD

NEW WORLDS 27

Although somewhat late this year science-fiction's own literary award is still the outstanding annual event, and the bestowal of the I.F.A. Fiction Trophy is viewed with great interest by authors, publishers and readers of science-fiction.

The Adjudication Panel for the Award has now been reconstituted and comprises thirteen well-known science-fiction experts. The people who have been invited to choose the most outstanding literary work of science-fiction published for the first time in book form during 1953 represent a very reasonable cross-section of expert opinion in the fantasy field. Mainly from the professional side, their very activities speak for their eminent qualifications for knowing what is good science-fiction and their choices of books for the Award are subjected to a very fair points system of voting, so that the winning book is certain to be an excellent and literary piece of science-fiction. Since each individual reader has his own personal choice of the year, a universal poll of science-fictiondom would be no more convincing, and the Committee feels that if the object of the Award—to raise the literary standard of science-fiction—is assisted in the slightest degree by the presentation of a trophy to the author of a worthy book, then the present method of selection is considered adequate.

The purpose of the International Fantasy Award is quite benevolent, has no axe to grind, and is scrupulously neutral regarding authors and publishers. If some measure of accord is provided for the science fiction reader by knowing that a favourite author has received some other recognition than a royalty cheque, then the I.F.A. is content. It is a non-profit-making scheme, and indeed its main expense, that of the trophy itself, is very rarely met by the few contributions from interested patrons.

The panel of judges includes many famous names in science-fiction. Hugo Gernsback has had a long and practical experience of 'Scientifiction' (as he first termed it), since he launched Amazing Stories and later Wonder Stories in the '20's and literally began the modern field of science-fiction as we know it today. P. Schuyler Miller started to make his name as an author in those early days and now reviews books for Astounding Science Fiction. Forrest J. Ackerman became well-known for his many fan activities, and later as an author and successful literary agent. Donald A. Wollheim is another old-time author and editor with considerable knowledge of science-fiction, whilst Groff Conklin has put his name to many fine science-fiction anthologies and still manages to review books for Galaxy Science Fiction. Co-editors of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science-Fiction, Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas (voting as one judge), have also lent their erudition to writing, reviewing and anthologising science-fiction. Other American members are Robert Frazier, book critic for Fantastic Universe and instructor at the C.C.N.Y. Science Fiction Workshop; August Derleth, author, editor, anthologiser and connoisseur of fine science-fiction; and. finally Basil Davenport, who critically reads science fiction in his spare time as editor of the Book-of-the-Month Club Inc.

From France there is Georges H. Gallet, genial editor of Le Rayon Fantastique and a lively propagator of English and American science-fiction in France; and Igor B. Maslowski, book critic for Fiction. Representing England for the moment are John Carnell, leading personality in English science-fiction, anthologist and editor of New Worlds and Science Fantasy; and Fred C. Brown, a science-fiction bibliophile of long repute.

A brief statistical survey of the 1953 science-fiction books shows that approximately eighty new titles were published, excluding anthologies (not eligible for the Award), and books produced specifically for the Juvenile market. Of this total fifty appeared in the U.S.A. first, with twenty-one of these being reprinted later in England or announced for early publication. Most of the English originals were inferior, being mainly hard-cover editions of paper-backs, but two notable exceptions were John Wyndham's The Kraken Wakes (retitled Out of the Deeps when published in America), and Arthur C. Clarke's Prelude to Space. In fact, on the whole, quantity, rather than quality, was the keynote.

However, the selections of the judges (who have to submit five titles in order of preference), covered a total of twenty-two books. The winner, chosen by the Committee to receive the 1954 International Fantasy Award Fiction Trophy, appeared in no less than ten of the selections, including five first places. This book was

MORE THAN HUMAN

by Theodore Sturgeon, the brilliant American author whose previous books Without Sorcery, The Dreaming Jewels, and E Pluribus Unicorn, and many fine magazine stories have established him as one of the leading exponents of science-fantasy in this decade. Published in America by Farrar, Strauss and Young, in collaboration with Ballantine Books, Inc., this superlative novel is to be published in England by Victor Gollancz.

The middle part of More Than Human originally appeared as a novella 'Baby Is Three' in Galaxy Science Fiction. Complete in itself—as it seemed then—and polished to perfection in Sturgeon's inimitable style, the author accomplished the apparently impossible by creating an even more impressive introduction to the setting, and although the last part of the book tends to fade (the only criticism I can agree with personally), the whole is a tour-de-force on a fascinating super-being theme, and a literary achievement of great importance.

Mr. Sturgeon will be presented in due course with the customary Award trophy, retained outright each year, comprising a model space-ship in classic style, executed in heavy, chromium-plated metal and mounted with a cigarette lighter on an oak plinth, suitably inscribed.

A close second choice was Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man, published in America by Shasta Publishers, and in England by Sidgwick and Jackson. This appeared in eight of the final selections and gained four first places. A remarkable action story in which science fiction and murder combined successfully with a novel treatment of the ESP theme, it caused a small sensation when it first appeared serially in Galaxy Science Fiction. My condolences to Mr. Bester for narrowly missing the Trophy, but with his exceptional talent I am sure we can look forward soon to another potential winner.

Galaxy has also serialised the third place book The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and C. M. Kornbluth (original title was 'Gravy Planet'), which was published in book form by Ballantine Books Inc. This was a scintillating satire of a world of the future in which advertising agencies are all-powerful with the industrial combines. The clever author combination has already produced another two novels so far this year, Search the Sky and Gladiator At Law, which wil be hot contenders for honour next year.

Among the well-mentioned also-rans in the finalists were Arthur C. Clarke's two other novels of the year, Childhood's End and Against the Fall of Night, and Ray Bradbury's two contributions Fahrenheit 451 and Golden Apples of the Sun. Three off-trail fantasy novels were highly voted—Ward Moore's Bring the Jubilee and two which have also been published both in England and America, David Karp's One and You Shall Know Them by Vercors (Jean Bruller).

In previous years a subsidiary Award, the I.F.A. Non-Fiction Trophy was also presented annually for the winning book dealing with non-fictional subjects allied closely to science-fiction. For example such titles as The Exploration of Space by Arthur C. Clarke, The Conquest of Space by Willy Ley, and last year's Lands Beyond by L. S. de Camp and Willy Ley, have been Award winners. However, the Committee have decided to discontinue the Non-Fiction Award owing to the many difficulties which have become apparent. Whereas the primary object of the Award is the advancement of literary standards in science-fiction, the association of a non-fiction category has always been considered incongruous. Furthermore the impracticability of defining qualifications of entry, and the inability of the majority of the judges to include such non-fictional works in their survey by the standard of criticism applicable to fiction, has confirmed the decision. In place of this the Committee has decided to give the author of the runner-up in the Fiction Award a Certificate of Merit as a token of recognition and consolation.

So to the Roll of Honour of the I.F.A. is added Theodore Sturgeon's More Than Human which, with City, Fancies and Goodnights and Earth Abides, is typical of the well-written, non-stereotyped science-fantasy books which are helping to bridge the narrowing gap between what is called “mainstream" literature and the not yet widely accepted or successful tributary science-fiction.

Leslie Flood

TED STURGEON WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD

FANTASY TIMES VOL 9 NO 10, JULY 1954

New York, NY, - The 1954 International Fantasy Award has been won by Theodore Sturgeon for his book MORE THAN HUMAN . In October his novelette, "From Here To The Easel" will also be published by Ballantine Books as one in STAR SCIENCE NOVELS edited by Frederik Pohl, along with short novels by Jessamyn West and Lester Del Rey. MORE THAN HUMAN was co-published in October 1953 by Ballantine Books and Farrar, Straus & Young, simultaneously in paper and hardbound editions at 35cents and 059- and $2.00 respectively.

The runners-up for the International Fantasy Award are Alfred Bester for THE DEMOLISHED MAN published by Shasta and now available in Signet edition, and Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth for their co-authored book THE SPACE MERCHANTS published in 1953 by Ballantine in simultaneous paper and hardbound editions at 35cents and $1.50 respectively.

The 1954 International Award is being made by an adjudication panel consisting of Forrest Ackerman (Fantasy Times), Anthony Boucher & J. Francis McComas (Fantasy and Science Fiction), Fred C. Brown, Groff Conklin (Galaxy), Basil Davenport (Book of the Month Club), August Derleth, Robert Frazier, George H, Gallet, Hugo Gernsback, Igor M Maslowski, P. Sohuyler Miller (Astounding Science Fiction), and Donald A Wollheim (Ace Pocket Books).

Last year's International Award Winner for fiction was Clifford D. Simak for CITY, issued by Gnome Press, and L Sprague de Camp and Willy Ley who got the non-fiction award for LANDS BEYOND, published by Rinehart

INTERNATIONAL FANTASY AWARD

(original publication details have been mislaid - operator error!)

Annually since its inception in 1951, the International Fantasy Award Committee has presented a trophy to the author whose work of science-fiction or fantasy has been chosen by an international panel of experts as the BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR in this specialised field.

The judges are well-known in the science-fiction world, and have particularly made their name on the critical side of this increasingly popular form of literature.

The books which are eligible for consideration for the Award are those which have been published in book form for the first time during the previous year. The Trophy takes the form of a handsome desk ornament consisting of a symbolic chromium plated spaceship mounted on an oak plinth with a cigarette lighter, suitably inscribed, and is presented outright each year. The Award scheme is completely independent of any publishing venture, and is non-profit making.

Previous Trophy winners have been :

1951 George R. Stewart for “Earth Abides” (Random House and Victor Gollancz).

1952 John Collier for “Fancies and Goodnights” (Doubleday).

1953 Clifford D. Simak for “City” (Gnome Press and Weidenfeld & Nicolson).

This year’s recently announced winner is

1954 THEODORE STURGEON for “MORE THAN HUMAN” (Farrar, Straus & Young, with Ballantine Books, and Victor Gollancz).

Also, in previous years, the subsidiary Non-Fiction Award winners were:

1951 Willy Ley for “The Conquest of Space” ( Viking Press and Sidgwick & Jackson).

1952 Arthur C. Clarke for “Exploration of Space” (Harper and Temple Press).

1953 L. Sprague de Camp & Willy Ley for “Lands Beyond” (Rinehart and Sidgwick & Jackson).

The Non-Fiction Award has now been discontinued and in its place a Certificate of Merit for the runner-up in the Fiction category will be awarded. This year it goes to Alfred Bester for “The Demolished Man” (Shasta Publishers and Sidgwick & Jackson).

Increasing publicity is given the annual International Fantasy Award on both sides of the Atlantic, and it is looked forward to as the literary hallmark in the science-fiction world. Preparations for the 1955 Award are now in hand, and closing date for eligible entries will be December 31st, 1954. Further details maybe obtained from the Secretary of the International Fantasy Award Committee, 52, Stoke Newing ton Road, London, N. 16. (Telephone: CLIssold 5541).

I.F.A. ADJUDICATION PANEL - 1954

FORREST J. ACKERMAN (USA) ROBERT FRAZIER (USA) ANTHONY BOUCHER & J. FRANCIS McCOMAS (USA) GEORGES H. GALLET (FRANCE) FRED C. BROWN (ENGLAND) HUGO GERNSBACK (USA) JOHN CARNELL (ENGLAND) IGOR B. MASLOWSKI (FRANCE) GROFF CONKLIN (USA) P. SCHUYLER MILLER (USA) BASIL DAVENPORT (USA) DONALD A. WOLLHEIM (USA) AUGUST DERLETH (USA)

1954 INTERNATIONAL FANTASY AWARD

EDITORIAL, JOHN CARNELL

NEW WORLDS 32 February 1955

Readers will be interested in knowing that on December 9th last Theodore Sturgeon was presented with the I.F.A. Trophy he won for his outstanding novel More Than Human. The presentation took place at the Brooklyn Public Library during their Book Week Festival and was made by Ian Ballantine, editor-in-chief of Ballantine Books, New York, taking over at short notice from Nova's Chairman John Copeman who had to sail earlier than expected after a ten-week business trip through Canada and the U.S.A. Following the presentation interesting speeches centred upon science fiction were made by Theodore Sturgeon and prominent authors Henry Kuttner and Frederik Pohl.