Mythopoeic Awards

みそぽいえてぃっくしょう

Awards honoring outstanding works in fantasy literature and Inklings scholarship, with categories for Adult, Young Adult, and Children's fantasy, plus scholarship awards.

Fantasy (Adult)Children's literatureScholarship (Inklings Studies, Myth and Fantasy Studies)Young Adult (from 2024)Student Paper Award (Alexei Kondratiev Award)

Established: 1971
Organizer: The Mythopoeic Society
Category: Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Selection Method: Recommendation
Target: Professional
Frequency: 1 per year
Status: Active

Description

The Mythopoeic Awards were established in 1971 by the Mythopoeic Society and are awarded annually for myth and fantasy works, as well as scholarly research related to them. From 1971–1991, there was one award per category, but since 1992, they have been divided into awards for adult fantasy, children's fantasy, and scholarship for Inklings Studies and Myth and Fantasy Studies. The Student Paper Award (later renamed the Alexei Kondratiev Award) was introduced in 2010, and the Young Adult Literature Award was newly established in 2024. Winners receive a statuette modeled after a seated lion (often referred to as 'Aslan'), and announcements are typically made at the Mythopoeic Society's summer seminar (Mythcon / Midsummer Seminar), though in recent years they may also be announced online.

Prize

Main Prize: Statuette modeled after a seated lion (with a plaque on the base) and the honor of the award

Publicity and recognition from winning
Academic evaluation and recognition for scholarship awards

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Nomination (Recommendation)	Accepts nominations from Mythopoeic Society members and affiliates (details follow the organizer's guidelines)	—	Follow the organizer's announcements for nomination acceptance and candidate availability
Shortlist (Finalists) Creation	Mythopoeic Society's Awards Committee creates the shortlist from nominees	—	The shortlist may be published on the Mythopoeic Society's website, etc.
Final Selection / Winner Determination	Voting and selection by the Awards Committee	—	Usually announced at the Mythopoeic Society's Midsummer Seminar (Mythcon). In recent years, online announcements are also possible
Scholarship Award Special Rules (Eligibility)	Awards Committee	—	Scholarly works are eligible for 3 years after publication, and may appear on the final shortlist up to 3 times (details follow organizer's criteria)

Nomination (Recommendation)

Judges Accepts nominations from Mythopoeic Society members and affiliates (details follow the organizer's guidelines)

Announcement Follow the organizer's announcements for nomination acceptance and candidate availability

Shortlist (Finalists) Creation

Judges Mythopoeic Society's Awards Committee creates the shortlist from nominees

Announcement The shortlist may be published on the Mythopoeic Society's website, etc.

Final Selection / Winner Determination

Judges Voting and selection by the Awards Committee

Announcement Usually announced at the Mythopoeic Society's Midsummer Seminar (Mythcon). In recent years, online announcements are also possible

Scholarship Award Special Rules (Eligibility)

Judges Awards Committee

Announcement Scholarly works are eligible for 3 years after publication, and may appear on the final shortlist up to 3 times (details follow organizer's criteria)

Criteria

Fictional quality in the spirit of the Inklings (Mythopoeic Fantasy emphasizes 'In the spirit of the Inklings')
Mythopoeic quality, fantasy quality, and literary merit (style, structure, depth of themes)
Suitability for target age and creativity for children's literature and young adult
Originality, research contribution, and methodological rigor (source citation, etc.) for scholarship awards
Publication year and eligibility requirements for scholarly works (within 3 years of publication, etc.)

Application Tips

Dos

Confirm that the work aligns with the Mythopoeic Awards' criteria (mythopoeic quality, fantasy quality, scholarly contribution)
For scholarship awards, clearly state sources and methodology, and verify that the publication year meets the requirements (scholarly works generally within 3 years of publication)
Follow the organizer's application/nomination procedures and accurately provide required information (author name, publisher, publication year, summary, etc.)
For children's and YA categories, explicitly indicate suitability for the target age and category

Don''ts

Avoid double submissions, unauthorized reprints, or plagiarism that violate application rules
Do not forcibly submit scholarship awards outside the eligibility period (long after publication)
Avoid dishonest alterations to content solely to increase winning chances

From Judges

Emphasizes mythical depth of the narrative, integration of themes, and maturity of style
For scholarship awards, clear source citations, original arguments, and rigorous methodology are crucial
For children's literature, imagination and age-appropriate expression are highly valued