At Boskone 44, its annual convention, the New England Science Fiction Association (NESFA) announced the recipients of its Skylark and Gaughan Awards.
The Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction (the Skylark) is presented annually by NESFA to some person, who, in the opinion of the membership, has contributed significantly to science fiction, both through work in the field and by exemplifying the personal qualities which made the late “Doc” Smith well-loved by those who knew him. This year’s Skylark Award recipient is Beth Meacham.
The Gaughan Award honors the memory of Jack Gaughan, a long-time friend of fandom and one of the finest SF artists of the 20th century. Because Jack felt it was important to encourage and recognize new blood in the field, NESFA presents the Gaughan Award annually to an emerging artist (an artist who has become a professional within the past five years) chosen by a panel of judges. The recipient of this year’s Gaughan Award is Dan Dos Santos.
Boskone was held at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. This was the convention’s first year in this new hotel, following several years in the Sheraton, which hosted the 2004 World Science Fiction Convention.