Nova Award

In 1973, Novacon instituted the annual Nova Awards to celebrate achievement in British science fiction fanzines. Originally decided by a panel of judges, voting was subsequently extended to all Novacon members who could demonstrate a basic knowledge of current fanzines.

Following Novacon 32, the three categories - best fanzine, best fanzine writer, best fanzine artist - were extended to cover fanzines produced in Ireland. In addition, electronic fanzines are now eligible.

Beginning with the 2011 Nova Awards, voting was extended to all UK / Irish residents who have read at least six qualifying fanzines published during the eligibility period.

The award was suspended in 2015 and no further awards will be presented other than occasional Special Novas.

Year	Best Fanzine	Notes
1973	Speculation #32 ed. by Peter Weston	At this point, the award was decided by a panel of "worthy fans". Also nominated were Peter Roberts' Egg #6, Arthur Cruttenden's Idiocy Couchant #2, Ian Maule's Maya #5, Ian Williams' Siddhartha #3, Kevin Smith's Sfinx #7, Dave Sutton's Shadow #19 and Lisa Conesa's Zimri #5. The initial judges were Ken Bulmer, Jim Linwood, Phil Rogers and Tony Walsh. Linwood wrote in C #6 that an open vote "would lead to partisan voting, accusations of undue pressure and ballot rigging, and faneds wanting the award might tend to play to the gallery".
1974	Zimri #6 ed. by Lisa Conesa and Big Scab #2 ed. by John Brosnan.	This was the only occasion when the panel opted for a tie. The current rules allow a tie only if the voting patterns are identical.
1975	Maya #8 ed. by Rob Jackson	This was the final year where the award was made to a specific issue of a fanzine.
1976	Maya ed. by Rob Jackson
1977	Twll-Ddu ed. by Dave Langford
1978	Gross Encounters ed. by Alan Dorey
1979	Seamonsters ed. by Simone Walsh
1980	One-Off ed. by Dave Bridges

Starting in 1981, two additional awards were given for Best Fan Writer and Artist.

Year	Best Fanzine	Best Fan Writer	Best Fan Artist	Notes
1981	Tappen ed. by Malcolm Edwards	Chris Atkinson	Pete Lyon
1982	Epsilon ed. by Rob Hansen	Chris Atkinson	Rob Hansen	This was the first occasion one fan received two Novas in the same year.
1983	A Cool Head ed. by Dave Bridges	Dave Bridges	Margaret Welbank
1984	Xyster ed. by Dave Wood	Anne Hammill	D. West
1985	Prevert ed. by John Jarrold	Abi Frost	Ros Calverly
1986	Variously named fanzines by Owen Whiteoak	Owen Whiteoak	Arthur "ATom" Thomson
1987	Lip ed. by Hazel Ashworth	D. West	D. West
1988	Lip ed. by Hazel Ashworth	Michael Ashley	D. West
1989	VSOP ed. by Jan Orys	Simon Polley	Dave Mooring
1990	FTT* ed. by Joseph Nicholas, Judith Hanna	Dave Langford	Dave Mooring	*A polite acronym for Fuck The Tories.
1991	Saliromania ed. by Michael Ashley	Michael Ashley	D. West
1992	Bob? ed. by Ian Sorensen	Michael Ashley	Dave Mooring
1993	Lagoon ed. by Simon Ounsley	Simon Ounsley	Dave Mooring
[1994	Rastus Johnson's Cakewalk ed. by Greg Pickersgill	Greg Pickersgill	D. West
1995	Attitude ed. by Michael Abbott, John Dallman and Pam Wells	Simon Ounsley	D. West	Intriguingly, Attitude was intended both as a fanzine and a thematic progress report for the eponymous 1997 convention.
1996	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Alison Freebairn	D. West	This year's "best fanzine" began as two separate titles, which merged after their first issues, Waxen Wings & Banana Skins -- later contracted to Banana Wings -- carried on the numbering and made its debut with #2.
1997	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Mark Plummer	Sue Mason
1998	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Maureen Kincaid Speller	D. West
1999	Barmaid ed. by Yvonne Rowse	Yvonne Rowse	Sue Mason
2000	Plokta ed. by Alison Scott, Steve Davies and Mike Scott	Yvonne Rowse	Sue Mason
2001	Head ed. by Doug Bell and Christina Lake	Alison Freebairn	Dave Hicks
2002	Plokta ed. by Alison Scott, Steve Davies and Mike Scott	Claire Brialey	Dave Hicks
2003	Zoo Nation ed. by Pete Young	Claire Brialey	Sue Mason
2004	Zoo Nation ed. by Pete Young	Claire Brialey	Sue Mason
2005	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Claire Brialey	Alison Scott
2006	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Claire Brialey	Sue Mason
2007	Prolapse ed. by Peter Weston	Mark Plummer	Alison Scott	Peter Weston was also presented with one of the occasional "best fan" Novas, awarded by the Novacon committee.
2008	Prolapse ed. by Peter Weston	Claire Brialey	Alison Scott
2009	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Claire Brialey	Sue Mason
2010	Journey Planet ed. by James Bacon, Claire Brialey, James Bacon and Chris Garcia (with guest editor Pete Young)	Mark Plummer	Arthur "ATom" Thomson	Chris Garcia and Pete Young were the first non-UK/Irish residents to win a Nova, ATom the first person to be awarded one posthumously.
2011	Head ed. by Doug Bell & Christina Lake	Claire Brialey	Dave Hicks
2012	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Mark Plummer	Sue Mason & D. West (tie)
2013	Banana Wings ed. by Claire Brialey and Mark Plummer	Mike Meara	D. West
2014	Vibrator ed. by Graham Charnock	Christina Lake	D. West

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Award

1973—2014

This is an award page. If you know something about it, such as who awarded it, who the winners were, what the criteria were, and when it was awarded, please add it! See Standards for Awards.