Tähtifantasia Award
たーてぃふぁんたしあ あわーど
An annual award given to foreign fantasy books published in Finland (Tähtifantasia Award).
FantasyForeign literature (published in Finland)Translated fictionFinnish literary award
- Established
- 2007
- Organizer
- Helsingin science fiction seura ry (Helsinki Science Fiction Society / Tähtivaeltaja)
- Category
- Research, Translation, and Scholarship
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Tähtifantasia Award is an annual award organized by Helsingin science fiction seura ry (Tähtivaeltaja), selecting and honoring the best foreign fantasy work published in Finland. Established in 2007, the winner and shortlist are typically selected and announced by the organizing body, with announcements usually made around summer each year. Details on prize money, prizes, or application methods are often not publicly disclosed, and the selection is mainly conducted by the organization's selection committee.
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortlist selection | Helsingin science fiction seura ry (organizing body) or the selection committee appointed by the same organization | — | Announcement by the organizing body (shortlist often published in spring to early summer) |
| Selection and announcement of the winning work | Selection committee (Helsingin science fiction seura ry) | — | Official announcement (usually around summer), and sometimes reported in specialized media |
Shortlist selection
Judges
Helsingin science fiction seura ry (organizing body) or the selection committee appointed by the same organization
Announcement
Announcement by the organizing body (shortlist often published in spring to early summer)
Selection and announcement of the winning work
Judges
Selection committee (Helsingin science fiction seura ry)
Announcement
Official announcement (usually around summer), and sometimes reported in specialized media
Criteria
- Being a foreign fantasy work published in Finland
- Literary achievement (style, structure, themes)
- Originality and quality of world-building
- Quality of the translation (for translated works)
Application Tips
Dos
- Clearly state the publication in Finland (publication date, publisher)
- Explicitly state that the work belongs to the fantasy genre
- For translated works, provide translator information and evidence of translation quality (translator's name, past awards, etc.)
- Organize and present the publisher's and author's backgrounds, reviews, and past awards
Don''ts
- Do not target editions not published in Finland
- Do not submit publication information that differs from facts
- Do not make inquiries ignoring the application guidelines or the organizer's instructions
- Do not neglect translation quality (if a translated edition is targeted)
From Judges
- Strong emphasis on literary quality and originality
- For translated works, not only the original but also the quality of the translation is evaluated
- Distribution status in Finland (publisher, publication date) is considered in the judging
Related Awards
- Tähtivaeltaja Award
Past Winners
Shaun Tan
Winner
Terry Pratchett
Winner
Bruno Schulz
Winner
Steph Swainston
Winner
Andrzej Sapkowski
Winner
Steph Swainston
Winner
Ellen Kushner
Winner
Jeff VanderMeer
Winner