It’s hard to believe that we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing at the 2004 Conference of the Fantastic in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in late March. When author, Rick Wilber, and I came up with this award at the 1992 World Fantasy Convention in Pine Mountain, Georgia, we hoped it would help us find and nurture talented young writers. I’m delighted that the award has done that and much, much more. Winners such as Eric Choi, Lena DeTar, David Barr Kirtley, and Marissa K. Lingen, have sold stories to Asimov’s, Analog, Realms of Fantasy, and a number of science fiction anthologies. Many of our finalists have returned to the Conference to do readings, deliver papers, and soak up the Florida ambiance. Our finalists have formed writing groups and life-long friendships. It’s been wonderful and gratifying to be so involved with this award and these students.

The award is co-sponsored by two organizations that strongly believe in promoting the works of early career writers, the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts and our own magazine. It is also supported by the School of Mass Communications, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida. The judges for the award are Rick Wilber, who has worked tirelessly to ensure the award’s existence; Gardner Dozois; and me.

This year’s winner, Anthony Ha, is a junior majoring in urban studies at Stanford University. He is considering developing that interest in gritty realism by pursuing a career in either journalism or law. Anthony received an expense-paid trip to the Conference and a check for $500 for his story, "Orbiting."

Barbara Wright, a student at University of Houston, was our first runner-up. Ms. Wright is an aspiring novelist. Along with her certificate she received a two-year subscription to Asimov’s for her story, "Community."

This year’s second runner-up, Amelia Beamer, is a Michigan State University senior and science fiction historian. She received her award and a one-year complimentary subscription to Asimov’s for her tale "Assisted Living."

One of our honorable mentions, Michail Velichansky, from the University of Maryland at College Park, was on hand to receive his certificate for "Games on the Children’s Ward." Our other honorable mentions–including Austin Head-Jones of Brown University, who received his citation for "The Dark," and last year’s first runner-up, Matthew Kirby of Utah State University, who wrote the notable "Relic Monger’s Tale"–were unable to attend. One honorable mention, Michael Emmons of Northwestern University, had planned to pick up his certificate in person, was forced to decline when he was suddenly offered a position at Poetry Magazine.

Past winners and finalists at the Conference included Bryn Neuenschwander, Beth Adele Long, and Thomas Seay. Some of the authors in attendance were Brian W. Aldiss, Michael Bishop, Suzy McKee Charnas, John Clute, Charles De Lint, Andy Duncan, Stephen Donaldson, Eileen Gunn, Joe Haldeman, Elizabeth Hand, Nalo Hopkinson, Kij Johnson, James Patrick Kelly, John Kessel, Daniel Keyes, Ellen Kushner, David Lunde, Patricia McKillip, Delia Sherman, Peter Straub, and Tim Sullivan. One of the conference highlights always comes from the time these authors spend chatting informally with the Asimov Award finalists poolside at the conference hotel.

Last year’s winning story by Bryn Neuenschwander, "Calling Into Silence," is up on our website—www.asimovs.com. In the future, you may find Bryn’s fiction under her own name or Marie Brennan, her pseudonym.

In 2005, the award’s name is changing to the Dell Magazine Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing. Dell Magazine’s is the publisher of the Asimov’s and Analog, the world’s two leading science fiction magazines.

Dell Magazines is proud to support these academic awards with IAFA. The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts is a worldwide network of scholars, educators, writers, artists, filmmakers, critics, editors, publishers, and performers who share an interest in studying and celebrating the fantastic in all art forms, disciplines, and media.

We are actively looking for next year’s winner. The deadline for submissions is January 3, 2005. All full-time undergraduate students at any accredited university

or college are eligible. Stories must be in English, and should run from 1,000 to 10,000 words. No submission can be returned, and all stories must be previously unpublished and unsold. There is a $10 entry fee, with up to three stories accepted for each fee paid. Checks should be made out to the Asimov Award. There is no limit to the number of submissions from each writer. Each submission must include the writer’s name, address, phone number, and college or university on the cover sheet, but please do not put your name on the actual story.

Before entering the contest, please contact Rick Wilber for more information, rules, and manuscript guidelines. Rick can be reached care of:

Dell Magazines Award

School of Mass Communications

University of South Florida

Tampa, Florida 33620

Rwilber@chuma.cas.usf.edu

Next year’s winner will be announced at the 2005 Conference on the Fantastic, in the pages of Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine, and on our website.