Kitschies

きっちーず

A literary award presented in the UK from 2009 to 2024, recognizing progressive, intelligent, and entertaining works containing speculative/fantastic elements.

Speculative FictionFantasySFCover ArtNative Digital FictionDebut WorkSpecial Award (Discretionary Award)

Established: 2009
Organizer: The Kitschies (Founded: Pornokitsch, Operated: Kitschies non-profit organization)
Category: Genre Fiction
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Newcomer
Frequency: 1 per year
Status: Active

Description

The Kitschies was established in 2009 by Pornokitsch, with Anne C. Perry and Jared Shurin involved in its founding. It aimed to recognize 'works containing speculative or fantastic elements that are progressive, intelligent, and entertaining.' Main categories: Red Tentacle (Best Novel), Golden Tentacle (Best Debut Novel), Inky Tentacle (Best Cover Art), Invisible Tentacle (Native Digital Fiction), Glentacle (Discretionary Award / formerly Black Tentacle). Winners received prize money and a textile 'octopus tentacle' trophy. Sponsors varied by year, including Kraken Rum (2010–2013), Fallen London (2014–2015), Blackwell's (2017 onwards, etc.). No awards were given in 2016 and 2021; finally, final winners were announced in November 2024, and the award concluded.

Prize

Main Prize: Red Tentacle (Best Novel) — Main prize. Winners receive prize money and a textile octopus tentacle trophy.
Cash Prize: 1,000 GBP

Golden Tentacle (Best Debut Novel): £500
Inky Tentacle (Best Cover Art): £500
Invisible Tentacle (Native Digital Fiction): Prize money varies by year / not specified
Glentacle (Discretionary Award, formerly Black Tentacle): Recognition and special award

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Application Reception	Accepts submissions from publishers and authors (handled by the secretariat)	—	Publishes entry guidelines on the official website and accepts applications
Preliminary Selection (Longlist / Shortlist Creation)	Jury panel assembled each year (writers, critics, artists, etc.)	Unknown	Longlist and shortlist announced on official website and media
Final Selection	Final voting and deliberation by the jury panel	Unknown	Final decision by the judges
Award Announcement	Judges and secretariat	—	Announced on official website, SNS, and press releases (The Bookseller, The Guardian, etc.)

Application Reception

Judges Accepts submissions from publishers and authors (handled by the secretariat)

Announcement Publishes entry guidelines on the official website and accepts applications

Preliminary Selection (Longlist / Shortlist Creation)

Judges Jury panel assembled each year (writers, critics, artists, etc.)

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Longlist and shortlist announced on official website and media

Final Selection

Judges Final voting and deliberation by the jury panel

Pass Rate Unknown

Announcement Final decision by the judges

Award Announcement

Judges Judges and secretariat

Announcement Announced on official website, SNS, and press releases (The Bookseller, The Guardian, etc.)

Criteria

The work contains speculative or fantastic elements
The work was published in the UK (in accordance with the target range for that year)
Possesses 'progressive', 'intelligent', and 'entertaining' qualities
Originality in expression or structure that elevates genre literature standards