Frank Mann of Albedo One writes to tell us of the winners of their 2008 Aeon Award. Grand Judge, author Ian Watson has made his decision on the winners of the 2008 contest. Forty stories were shortlisted, and of those, seven were chosen by the judging panel to go to Ian Watson for the final verdict. Watson chose as the winner “Twinkle, Twinkle” by British author Colin Henchley, who receives the €1000 grand prize and publication in the next issue (#36) of Albedo One. Watson said that “the winner has to be ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’ because it’s so incredibly powerful and vividly written. The morphine idea is brilliant. The sight of an apparent airman on the wing is a shocker.”
The second placed winner is “Aegis” by US author David T. Neale, who receives €200. “Aegis” will be published in issue 37 of Albedo One. Watson said the story was “wonderfully descriptive and powerful and mythopaeic.”
Third place goes to “The Better to See You With” by US author Allison Francisco. Watson’s comments: “the story reminds me in its stylishness and atmosphere of Ray Bradbury or Tom Reamy… a lovely idea… very evocative.” This story will be published later this year in issue 38 of Albedo One.
The entire forty-story shortlist is on this page. There’s also a notice for the 2009 contest.