| Stoker Awards | 6.14.2009 |
For those who don't know, the Stoker Award is given by the Horror Writer's Association for outstanding achievement in a variety of categories within the written horror genre. For specifics from them, check out their site http://www.stokers2009.com/
The award is named in honor of Bram Stoker, whose work gave us the legendary Dracula. He is a founding father of horror. No question about it. The Stokers were presented in Burbank California this past weekend. Here is a list of the winners:
Looking over this list and the recent years winners as well, I think the HWA has a problem. They are supposed to present an award for the best work in each category, yet every year that King puts out a book, he wins. Yes, he is good and has done a tremendous amount for the genre, but they are doing a disservice to the rest of the horror writers by refusing to give serious consideration to any other authors. The old comment "It is an honor just to be nominated" has never been so true as it is with regard to the Stokers. Because if King is in the running, you lose. This year Gary Braunbeck, Nate Kenyon and Greg Lamberson were all legitimate contenders for the best novel. Continuing to allow King to receive the award creates a situation where the awards themselves become irrelevant. Who cares if you get nominated when everyone knows King will win.
Not only does Stephen King not need the recognition from such an award (whether the work in question deserves it or not) but he doesn't even care enough to attend the ceremony. I imagine they continue to give him the award hoping that he will come to the ceremony and help raise their status. I would say they need to just give him a lifetime achievement award and leave it at that, but they did that back in 2002.
In fairness to every other writer in the genre, the Stokers need to create an award for King every year that simply states he wins for still being alive. Give him that award, but keep his book out of the best novel category.
Bloody MonkeyZ
The award is named in honor of Bram Stoker, whose work gave us the legendary Dracula. He is a founding father of horror. No question about it. The Stokers were presented in Burbank California this past weekend. Here is a list of the winners:
The 2009 Stoker Winners:
NOVEL: DUMA KEY by Stephen King
FIRST NOVEL: THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti
LONG FICTON: MIRANDA by John R. Little
SHORT FICTION: "The Lost" by Sarah Langan
FICTION COLLECTION: JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King
ANTHOLOGY: UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder
NONFICTON: A HALLOWE'EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton
POETRY COLLECTION: THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston
NOVEL: DUMA KEY by Stephen King
FIRST NOVEL: THE GENTLING BOX by Lisa Mannetti
LONG FICTON: MIRANDA by John R. Little
SHORT FICTION: "The Lost" by Sarah Langan
FICTION COLLECTION: JUST AFTER SUNSET by Stephen King
ANTHOLOGY: UNSPEAKABLE HORROR edited by Vince A. Liaguno and Chad Helder
NONFICTON: A HALLOWE'EN ANTHOLOGY by Lisa Morton
POETRY COLLECTION: THE NIGHTMARE COLLECTION by Bruce Boston
Looking over this list and the recent years winners as well, I think the HWA has a problem. They are supposed to present an award for the best work in each category, yet every year that King puts out a book, he wins. Yes, he is good and has done a tremendous amount for the genre, but they are doing a disservice to the rest of the horror writers by refusing to give serious consideration to any other authors. The old comment "It is an honor just to be nominated" has never been so true as it is with regard to the Stokers. Because if King is in the running, you lose. This year Gary Braunbeck, Nate Kenyon and Greg Lamberson were all legitimate contenders for the best novel. Continuing to allow King to receive the award creates a situation where the awards themselves become irrelevant. Who cares if you get nominated when everyone knows King will win.
Not only does Stephen King not need the recognition from such an award (whether the work in question deserves it or not) but he doesn't even care enough to attend the ceremony. I imagine they continue to give him the award hoping that he will come to the ceremony and help raise their status. I would say they need to just give him a lifetime achievement award and leave it at that, but they did that back in 2002.
In fairness to every other writer in the genre, the Stokers need to create an award for King every year that simply states he wins for still being alive. Give him that award, but keep his book out of the best novel category.
Bloody MonkeyZ
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