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Gender In Fiction: The Implication Of Failure
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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
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Clive Staples Award – 2010: Accepting Nominations

It’s that time of year again – book awards are beginning. The Christy Award nominations came out recently. The ACFW Book of the Year judging is underway. I’m sure there are a host of other fiction awards soon to be […]
Rebecca LuElla Miller on May 5, 2010 · 12 comments

It’s that time of year again – book awards are beginning. The Christy Award nominations came out recently. The ACFW Book of the Year judging is underway. I’m sure there are a host of other fiction awards soon to be made as well.

In 2007 a group of Christian speculative fiction writers conceived of an award to draw attention to our genre and especially to call attention to the best books being published in that category.

Because of organizational issues, the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction took nominations for two years without choosing a winner. However, in 2009 the award turned to a Readers’ Choice format, and Donita Paul became the first winner.

Once again it’s time to accept nominations.

The books that are eligible are those considered Christian because of overt Christian content or a Christian worldview, published in English by a royalty paying publisher from January 2009 through December 2009 in the science fiction/fantasy/allegory/futuristic/supernatural/supernatural suspense category.

Of course, we’re not looking for an exhaustive list but the books readers believe to be the best in the category. Below are standards to consider.

If you would like to nominate a book, please leave a comment including the title, author, and publisher.


Nominations for the Clive Staples Award should be evaluated in these categories:

Writing Style/Mechanics

    Does the quality of the author’s prose (syntax, tone, voice, pacing etc.) enhance the story?
    Do concrete and particular details appeal to various senses and strengthen each scene?
    Is there a balance between exposition and dramatization (telling and showing)?
    Are there errors in word use, spelling, grammar, paragraphing, and punctuation?

Setting

    Is the setting well established and realistic?
    Are the speculative elements believable and necessary to the story?

Characterization

    Does the main character have clear internal and external goals?
    Are the characters complex, with both strengths and weaknesses?
    Are the characters believably and realistically motivated?
    Is dialogue natural and does it contribute to characterization so that each person possess a unique voice?
    Is there discernible and appropriate character development?

Plot

    Is the story structured with a clearly recognizable arc of conflict, crisis, and resolution?
    Does the narrative flow, or does it tend toward the disjointed?
    Are the obstacles to be overcome sufficiently challenging to the protagonists?
    Are the complications and the protagonist’s efforts to overcome them unpredictable?
    Is the resolution innovative? Credible? Authentic?

Theme

    Does the story contain a central or dominating idea?
    Does the theme arise from the characters and events of the story?
    Is the theme consistent with a Christian worldview?
    Does the theme overwhelm the story, or is it well integrated into the story?
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Best known for her aspirations as an epic fantasy author, Becky is the sole remaining founding member of Speculative Faith. Besides contributing weekly articles here, she blogs Monday through Friday at A Christian Worldview of Fiction. She works as a freelance writer and editor and posts writing tips as well as information about her editing services at Rewrite, Reword, Rework.
Website ·
  1. Embracing Climate Change « A Christian Worldview of Fiction says:
    May 10, 2010 at 5:43 pm

    […] *Nominations are open for the Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction. Now is the time to tell your friends about the Readers’ Choice Award so they can become participants, either by nominating their favorite book or by reading at least two of the nominations so they may vote. Spread the word. Nominations may be made here or at the award site. […]

    Reply
  2. novelteen says:
    May 10, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    I would like to nominate Conlan Brown’s The Firstborn from Realms.
    🙂

    Reply
  3. Phyllis Wheeler says:
    May 11, 2010 at 11:23 am

    I would like to nominate North or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson, published by Waterbrook Press in 2009.

    Reply
  4. Original Books says:
    May 13, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    We would like to nominate the following books:
    Offworld by Robin Parrish; Bethany House
    The Sacred Cipher by; Terry Brennan
    Lunatic by Ted Dekker; Thomas Nelson
    The Enclave by Karen Hancock; Bethany House
    Lost Mission by Athol Dickson; Howard Books

    Reply
  5. Nomination Additions « Clive Staples Award for Christian Speculative Fiction says:
    May 13, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    […] of Fiction. If you don’t see yours, check to be sure the book you nominated meets the award criteria and that you included the required information (same link). *The Firstborn Conlan Brown Realms […]

    Reply
  6. Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy Blog Tour » Blog Archive » CSFF Tour – By Darkness Hid says:
    May 17, 2010 at 9:05 am

    […] or at the award site – http://clivestaplesaward.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/clive-staples-2010-accepting-nominations/#comments . Just as important, I need your help to alert readers to this award. This year anyone who has read […]

    Reply
  7. Craigsnedeker says:
    June 17, 2010 at 3:25 pm

    I’d like to nominate The Bones of Makaidos by Brian Davis published by Amg Publishers

    Reply
  8. Nick says:
    June 17, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    I’d like to nominate Bones of Makaidos by Bryan Davis, published by AMG Publishers.

    Reply
  9. Galadriel says:
    June 18, 2010 at 8:28 am

    I would like to nominate The Bones of Makaidos by Bryan Davis by AMG

    Reply
  10. Rebecca LuElla Miller says:
    July 1, 2010 at 1:12 pm

    Original Books, I left The Sacred Cipher by Terry Brennan off the list. While it sounds like an intriguing story, I couldn’t find any indication that there are speculative elements in the story.

    The books that are eligible are those considered Christian because of overt Christian content or a Christian worldview, published in English by a royalty paying publisher from January 2009 through December 2009 in the science fiction/fantasy/allegory/futuristic/supernatural/supernatural suspense category. (Emphasis added.)

    Sorry about that.

    Becky

    Reply
  11. Lyn says:
    July 14, 2010 at 5:01 am

    When do nominations close?

    Reply
  12. Rebecca LuElla Miller says:
    July 14, 2010 at 9:49 am

    Hi, Lyn,

    We accepted nominations from May 5 to June 30. On July 1 we posted the complete list of nominations—nineteen in all.

    Becky

    Reply

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Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.