World Fantasy Awards and BORN TO FEAR

[matt cardin]

I wasn't sure whether to post this in Ligotti news or my own subforum, so I chose the latter.

The World Fantasy Awards will be announced a week from this Sunday, on November 8. When this year's nominees were announced and Born to Fear turned up on the list, I began checking to see if any memberships in the con were still available so that I could attend the ceremony. I ended up getting on a waiting list since all of the memberships were sold out -- and then it recently came about that a spot opened up. So, in short, I'll be heading up there next week to witness the outcome in person. I'll let everybody here know the result just as soon as I'm able, probably a few hours after the awards ceremony.

(Unrelatedly, but in what amounts to a nicely weird twist of fate, my wife will be competing in a separate big event that likewise goes by the initials WFC in Florida next week. Sometimes I wonder who's writing these existential scripts and why their sense of humor is so ironic. Then I remember that it's the Great Chymists, and all becomes clear again.)

[dr. locrian]

Good luck, Matt (to you, your wife and Ligotti)! Fingers crossed!

[mgriffin]

Good luck, Matt -- to you and your wife as well!

[ramonoski]

A Great Chymist, or an unseen playwright handing out his scripts from a basement theater? Same difference, maybe...

Either way, that's some good news! Hoping both you and your wife win in your respective categories.

[T.E. Grau]

Mountains of luck to you and your wife, Matt!

[Michael]

Very much deserved accolade!!!

[Arthur Staaz]

Good luck, Matt. Although, you understand, many of us consider your book the winner regardless of the decision of the awards committee. Good luck to your wife, too. And thanks for the link to her event. God, am I getting hungry.

[matt cardin]

Just got back from the World Fantasy Awards banquet. Born to Fear did not win the award, which went instead to Ray B. Russell and Rosalie Parker for Tartarus Press. Tom himself mentioned to me a few weeks ago that they really ought to win it since they stand to benefit the most. I had to agree, so although I'm sorry that I can't report Born to Fear won in its category, I'm glad to report who did.

Tangentially, but also of considerable interest, is the fact that David Hartwell, who was handing out the awards with Gordon Van Gelder, announced that this is the final year the venerable bust of Lovecraft that has always served as the World Fantasy Award trophy will be used. It is now officially retired, and a new design for the statue will be announced sometime in the next year. It would have been nice to win one of the final Howies for Tom.

[miguel1984]

Congratulations nonetheless, Matt.

Regarding the Lovecraft bust, it is another triumph for the PC gang. To Hell with them.

[ramonoski]

Thanks for the update, Matt. Sad you/Ligotti didn't win, but happy that Tartarus did. They're certainly also deserving of recognition.