2007 Judge's Comments: Shane Jiraiya Cummings
In my first year of judging for the Australian Shadows Award (a task I took on simultaneously with judging on the horror panel of the Aurealis Awards), I felt considerable trepidation in comparing short stories with novels and anthologies. It was a challenge, but when weighing up the horrific elements of each work, I was surprised at how naturally the finalists were selected. I believe I speak on behalf of myself, Gary, and Mark, when I say that all three judges were very satisfied with this year's finalists.
Sophistication of prose and storyline characterised many of the finalists, and while the level of horrific content varied from story to story, there can be no doubt our six finalists sit comfortably in the dark end of dark fiction.
Matthew Chrulew's "Between the Memories" (Aurealis #38/39) was the most subtly horrific of our finalists. It was a very chilling descent (or recounting, as it turns out to be) of two intertwined lives unravelling. Equally sophisticated was Terry Dowling's "Toother" (Eclipse 1), which signals a welcome return to his Blackwater Days characters. "Toother", like many of Dowling's Blackwater Days stories, explores the mysteries of a very disturbed serial killer (one with a dentistry fetish) and is guaranteed to push the reader's buttons.
Rick Kennett is arguably Australia's best regarded writer of ghost stories (well, it's pens at 20 paces between Rick and fellow ghost story writer Robert Hood) and "The Dark and What It Said" (Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #28) is one of the best modern Aussie ghost stories ever written. My advice: don't read this and then go camping.
Horror with science fiction overtones crept into our finalist list with two stories: David Conyers' "Subtle Invasion" (The Black Book of Horror) and Martin Livings' "There Was Darkness" (Fantastic Wonder Stories). Livings' story is a well-crafted extrapolation of a classic science fiction/horror novel (and movie), darkened further with a deft touch from the author. Conyers' "Subtle Invasion" represents an improved effort from this prolific author. Once again, Conyers' ability to describe horrific alien concepts and use them to maximum effect is what makes this story stand out from the pack.
The only novel to make our shortlist was Jason Nahrung's (and Mil Clayton's) The Darkness Within (Hachette Livre). Part romance, part horror, and fully Australian, Nahrung's novel is a very solid debut and an entertaining thrill ride for readers dabbling with horror for the first time.
David Conyers once again featured in our Honourable Mentions list with his co-written collection The Spiraling Worm (Chaosium). I've sung this book's praises in a review on HorrorScope, but in a nutshell, it is an action-packed Cthulhu Mythos espionage thriller with plenty of guts and imagination. Certain rough patches of writing let the book down, but it's an innovative and brave release.
Another fine effort was from Marty Young, with his "The Wildflowers" (Fantastic Wonder Stories). The story is a little vague at times, but the chilling circularity hits the reader in the final paragraphs, and there is some brilliant outback imagery in the piece.
Aside from the very worthy finalists and honourable mentions, other works that caught my attention and came close to awards contention were Richard Harland's "Special Perceptions" (At Ease with the Dead), a very different and psychologically disturbing ghost story; Miranda Siemienowicz's "Lion's Breath" (Island #108), a short but powerful initiation story with bite; Sean Williams' novelette "Signs of Death" (Light Bodies Falling), a twisted Dowling-esque psychiatric pageturner; Susan Parisi's Aurealis Award-winning novel Blood of Dreams (Penguin); and the great debut anthology from Eneit Press, In Bad Dreams, edited by Mark S Deniz & Sharyn Lilley.
Overall, novels were up from last year, short stories were slightly down, and while not a lean year for horror, it was a year with a long 'tail' of average to below average stories. I'm very much looking forward to judging the Australian Shadows Award again in 2008 and seeing if more stories, anthologies, and novels can rise to the challenge set by this year's finalists.
Back to 2007 Shortlist