Kurd Laßwitz Award

くると・らーすゔぃっつしょう

German science fiction literary award. Named after Kurd Laßwitz, it primarily targets works first professionally published in German in that year.

Science fictionGerman-language NovelForeign Work (translation)German-language Short FictionRadio dramaGraphic ArtworkTranslationTranslatorMovieSpecial Award

Established: 1981
Category: Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Selection Method: Selection
Target: Professional
Frequency: 1 per year
Status: Active

Description

The Kurd Laßwitz Prize (Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis) is a German science fiction literary award established in 1981. Main categories include German-language Novel, Foreign Work (translated works), German-language Short Fiction, Radio drama, etc. In principle, excluding foreign language categories, works first professionally published in German in that year are candidates. There are detailed criteria per category, such as page count standards for long and short fiction (e.g., novels are generally 100 pages or more, short fiction less than 100 pages) and radio drama judging methods (established from 1987, jury selection from 1993 onward).

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Nomination / Eligibility		—	In principle, works first professionally published in German in that year are eligible (Foreign Work: German translations first published in that year).
Selection	Varies by category (mix of reader voting and jury selection)	—	Announcements are often made at annual events or conventions, etc., with methods varying by category and year. Radio drama category has jury selection since 1993.
Announcement / Awarding		—	Winners are announced at each year's event (conventions, etc.). Details vary by year.

Nomination / Eligibility

Judges

Announcement In principle, works first professionally published in German in that year are eligible (Foreign Work: German translations first published in that year).

Selection

Judges Varies by category (mix of reader voting and jury selection)

Announcement Announcements are often made at annual events or conventions, etc., with methods varying by category and year. Radio drama category has jury selection since 1993.

Announcement / Awarding

Judges

Announcement Winners are announced at each year's event (conventions, etc.). Details vary by year.

Criteria

In principle, being a work first professionally published in German in that year (Foreign Work: German translation first published in that year)
German-language Novel: Approximately 100 pages or more as a novel
German-language Short Fiction: Less than 100 pages as short fiction / novella
Meeting separately defined criteria for each category (translation, radio drama, etc.)

Application Tips

Dos

Confirm that the target work was first professionally published in German in that year
Confirm that it meets the page count criteria for novels and short stories (e.g., novels approximately 100 pages or more)
Accurately describe publisher, publication year, and edition information
For translated works, specify the year of translation publication as they correspond to the Foreign Work category

Don''ts

Do not mistakenly submit translated works to categories other than Foreign Work
Do not consider fanzine or purely non-professional self-published works as eligible for that year
Do not be vague about publication year or publisher information

From Judges

Clearly indicating publication year and first edition information impacts evaluation
Tendency to emphasize literary quality, originality, and professional publishing standards
For radio drama etc., accurately showing directing and production credits is advisable