Albedo One, Ireland’s “premiere magazine of speculative fiction,” has launched its International Aeon Award 2008 short fiction contest.
As in past years, the contest is open to submissions of up to 8000 words (no minimum word limit) in any speculative fiction genre, “from fantasy and science fiction to horror or anything in-between or unclassifiable.” The grand prize is €1000 and publication in Albedo One. Second and third place prizes will be €200 and €100, and will also be published in the magazine.
The contest will run in four rounds (ending 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 30 November), with stories making the quarterly shortlist announced shortly after each closing date. After the final round, “the top six stories from the shortlist will be chosen and passed on to respected science fiction, fantasy and horror author, Ian Watson, who will act as Grand Judge and pick the winner and second and third place stories.”
Frank Ludlow and the Albedo One team note that “The Aeon Award is all about promoting new writers and writing in the speculative fields, which has long been the goal of Albedo One. The quality of stories and submissions to the first and second Award has served to affirm our faith in the value of the speculative genres, and in the direction they will be taking in the future.” Last year’s winner, “Angelus” by Nina Allan, will be published in issue 34 of the magazine, due out in February. “The contest is open to writers from all nationalities, though the entries must be written in English. Full details and guidelines for entering the Award can be found on this page.