These were filched from the ABC website , where they were reported by SpecFic’s “inside man”, Gary Kemble.

Best Science Fiction Novel
David Kowalski: The Company of the Dead, published by Pan Macmillan

Best Science Fiction Short Story
Cat Sparks: Hollywood Roadkill, published in On Spec #69

Best Fantasy Novel
Lian Hearn: Heavens Net is Wide: Tales of the Otori, The First Book, published by Hachette Livre Australia

Best Fantasy Short Story
Garth Nix: Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz go to War Again, published in Jim Baen's Universe April 2007

Best Horror Novel
Susan Parisi: Blood of Dreams, published by Penguin Group (Australia)

Best Horror Short Story
Anna Tambour: The Jeweller of Second-Hand Roe, published in Subterranean #7

Best Young Adult Novel
Anthony Eaton: Skyfall, published by UQP

Best Young Adult Short Story
Deborah Biancotti: A Scar for Leida, published in Fantastic Wonder Stories (Ticonderoga Publications)

Best Childrens (8-12 years) Long Fiction
Kate Forsyth: The Silver Horse, The Herb of Grace, The Cats Eye Shell, The Lightning Bolt, The Butterfly in Amber. (These comprise The Chain of Charms, Books 2-6) published by Pan Macmillan

Best Childrens (8-12 years) Short Fiction - Co-Winners
Marc McBride, World of Monsters, published by Scholastic Australia, and Briony Stewart, Kumiko and the Dragon, published by UQP

Peter McNamara Convenors Award for Excellence
Terry Dowling, Rynemonn, published by Coeur de Lion

Golden Aurealis Award - Best Short Story
Cat Sparks, Hollywood Roadkill, published in On Spec #69

Golden Aurealis Award - Best Novel
David Kowalski, The Company of the Dead, published by Pan Macmillan

An excellent field this year: one that must have made hard work for the judges. While it’s good to see a novice writer take the Big Prize, it’s also pleasing to see some stalwarts of the SpecFic scene, especially Terry Dowling and Cat Sparks receiving well-deserved recognition.

I’m also pleased to see that David Kowalski spent ten years writing his debut novel. Maybe there’s hope for me yet!