I’m referring, of course, to the David Gemmell Awards.

David Gemmell

What, you were expecting a different award?  Everyone around here knows that the only awards worth paying attention to are the Gemmell, the Shamus, and in a good year, the World Fantasy Awards.

The shortlists are as follows (I’ll comment at the end):

Legend Award
(Best novel)

The Daylight War by Peter V Brett (Harper Collins UK)
Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence (Harper Collins UK)
The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch (Gollancz)
A Memory of Light by Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan (Tor/Forge)
War Master’s Gate by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Tor UK)

Morningstar Award
(Best debut novel)

The Garden of Stones by Mark T Barnes (47 North)
Headtaker by David Guymer (Black Library)
Promise of Blood by Brian McLellan (Orbit)
The Path of Anger by Antoine Rouaud (Gollancz)
The Grim Company by Luke Scull (Head of Zeus)

Ravenheart Award
(Best cover art)

Benjamin Carre for the cover of The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch
(Gollancz)
Jason Chan for the cover of Emperor of Thorns by Mark Lawrence (Harper
Collins UK)
Cheol Joo Lee for the cover of Skarsnik by Guy Haley (Black Library)
Gene Mollica and Michael  Frost for the cover of Promise of Blood by Brian
McClellan (Orbit)
Rhett Podersoo for the cover of She Who Waits by Daniel Polansky (Hodder)

I’ve not read any of the Legend nominees, although I’ve read most of those authors, and indeed, most of those series.  I’m just not current on them.  I’m disappointed Jo Spurrier’s Black Sun Light My Way didn’t make the cut.  I’m halfway through it, and it’s great.

In the Morningstar category for best debut, I’ve read Brian McClellan’s Promise of Blood and Antoine Rouaud’s The Path of Anger.  The Grim Company by Luke Scull is in the TBR pile, and I’ll read it in time to get a review up before voting closes at the end of May.

Now if they would just create an award for short fiction…