The shortlist will be determined by votes from BSFA members until the February 20th deadline.
By Helena Olori
The British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) has announced the longlist of nominees for the various categories of the awards, for work published in 2023.
The longlists feature several works from authors of African descent, including Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction (2022) edited by Nigerian writer, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Tanzania-born Australian author, Eugen Bacon, and award-winning Black Speculative fiction writer, Milton Davis. The collection, published by Arc Manor, is a sequel to Ekpeki’s highly acclaimed 2021 anthology and has been described as “a testament to the power of speculative fiction to transcend boundaries and explore new horizons”. It is longlisted in the Best Collection category.
Also longlisted are Dare Segun Falowo, Wole Talabi, Ugandan writer-filmmaker, Dilman Dila, South Africa’s Stephen Embleton and Lauren Beukes, as well as Yvette Ndlovu from Zimbabwe.
The BSFA, presented annually since 1970, celebrates outstanding achievements in science fiction. The winners are determined by votes from members of the British Science Fiction Association and members of the year’s Eastercon – the British National Science Fiction convention, with BSFA members voting for up to four nominations per category until 20th February, 2024. Voting forms can be accessed here.
The winners will be announced at this year’s Eastercon Levitation, scheduled to be held at the Telford Internationa Centre, from March 29 to April 1, 2024.
See the African titles nominated:
Best Collection
Where Rivers Go to Die by Dilman Dila
Drinking From Graveyard Wells by Yvette Ndlovu
Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2022 by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Eugen Bacon, and Milton Davis
Between Dystopias: The Road to Afropantheology by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Joshua Uchenna Omenga
Caged Ocean Dub: Glints & Stories by Dare Segun Falowo
Jackal, Jackal by Tobi Ogundiran
Languages of Water by Eugen Bacon
Mothersound: The Sauútiverse Anthology by Wole Talabi
New Suns 2 by Nisi Shawl
Best Non-Fiction (Long)
Ex Marginalia: Essays on Writing Speculative Fiction by Persons of Colour by Chinelo Onwualu
Best Novel
Bridge by Lauren Beukes
More Perfect by Temi Oh
Shigidi And the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi
Warrior of the Wind by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Best Short Fiction
“Blowout” by Wole Talabi
“Lady Koi Koi: A Book Report” by Suyi Davies Okungbowa
“Soyinka’s Memory” by Stephen Embleton
“Paperweight” by Eugen Bacon & Clare Rhoden
“Saturday’s Song” by Wole Talabi
“Sina the Child with No Echo “ by Eugen Bacon
“Taking Turns” by Stephen Embleton
“The Madding” by Nuzo Onoh
“The Pet of Olodumare” by Joshua Uchenna Omenga & Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki
“The Rafting of Jorge Santa Cruz” by Adelehin Ijasan
“The Strangefolk” by Nana Afadua Ofori-Atta
“The Way of Baa’gh” by Cheryl S. Ntumy
“This is How We Save Them” by Deji Bryce Olukotun
Best Artwork
Cover and Interior art of Mothersound the Sauutiverse Anthology by Stephen Embleton and Akintoba Kalejaye
Best Shorter Fiction
“Broken Paradise” by Eugen Bacon
“Undulation” by Stephen Embleton
“Land of the Awaiting Birth” by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki & Joshua Uchenna Omenga
For a complete longlist of nominees, see here.