Baen Books and the National Space Society (NSS) recently announced the winner of the fourth annual Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest (see this article for more details on the contest). The winner is Patrick Lundrigan, of Boonton, New Jersey, for his story “Space Hero”. First runner-up is “Citizen-Astronaut” by David Levine (Portland, Oregon); second runner-up is “High Ground” by Stuart Gibbon (Australia).
The winning story will be published on the Baen Books web site, earning Lundrigan professional rates. All three prize-winners will receive memberships in the NSS and Baen Books and NSS merchandise.
This year’s judges were Baen Senior Editors Hank Davis and Jim Minz, and author David Weber.
Baen Publisher Toni Weisskopf reminds us that the contest was designed to promote and reward forward thinking science fiction authors who write exciting and innovative stories about the near future of manned space exploration. She also says “I was also favorably impressed by the positive spirit toward space science and the future found in each story. Space development was one of Jim Baen’s passions.”
Lundrigan’s “Burst Mode” came in second in last year’s contest.
For more information on the contest, see this page.