Otherwise Award (formerly the James Tiptree, Jr. Award)
An annual American literary award (established 1991) given to SF/fantasy works that expand and explore understanding of gender. Formerly known as the James Tiptree, Jr. Award; renamed Otherwise Award in 2019.
- Established
- 1991
- Organizer
- Tiptree Motherboard (Otherwise Award Steering Committee)
- Category
- Genre Fiction
- Selection Method
- Recommendation
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Application Deadline
- around December
- Announcement Period
- around May
- Status
- Active
Description
The Otherwise Award (formerly James Tiptree, Jr. Award) is an annual American literary award targeting SF/fantasy works that expand and explore understanding of gender. Founded in February 1991 by Pat Murphy and Karen Joy Fowler, it was named after Tiptree (Alice B. Sheldon), but due to controversy surrounding Sheldon, the name was changed to Otherwise Award on October 13, 2019. The jury operates under the Tiptree (Otherwise) Motherboard, and winning or nominated works are often announced by jurors as the Honor List. The traditional jury composition is 4 women and 1 man. Results are published on the official site and specialist media (e.g., Locus). The 2022 and 2023 editions were on hold; from 2024, policy changed from 1 winner to selecting 3-6 winners. Winning and nominated works are sometimes included in anthologies (Tachyon Publications, etc.).
Prize
- Main Prize
- Honorary award (inclusion in Honor List, publicity, opportunities for anthology publication, etc.)
- Inclusion in Honor List (recommended reading list)
- Opportunities for inclusion in anthologies or collections (e.g., Tachyon in the past)
- Publicity through announcements on official website and media
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomination / Honor List Creation | Jurors (selected by Tiptree/Otherwise Motherboard). Long-standing convention: 4 women and 1 man. | — | Jurors announce Honor List (longlist). Often published on official website. |
| Final Selection (Winner Determination) | Selected jurors choose winners from nominees. From 2024 onward, changed to select 3-6 winners. | — | Announced on official website and specialist media (e.g., Locus Online). |
| Administration / Award Management | Tiptree/Otherwise Motherboard (Steering Committee) manages award operations and announcements | — | Guidance and notifications provided on official website (otherwiseaward.org). |
Criteria
- The work expands or explores understanding of gender ('imagining gender otherwise')
- Classified as speculative fiction such as SF/fantasy
- Literary quality, expression quality, intellectual depth, and innovation
- Evokes new perspectives or discussions for readers
Application Tips
Dos
- Read past Honor Lists and winners to grasp selection trends and the breadth of themes sought
- Clearly present questions or imagination regarding gender, aiming for works that fulfill the spirit of 'gender otherwise (imagining gender from different perspectives)'
- Strive to refine the work's literary quality and expression (emphasis on not only theme but also expression quality)
- Regardless of short or long form, clarify the work's context and intent to facilitate nomination after editing and publication
Don''ts
- Relying on stereotypical gender expressions
- Aiming solely for topicality while neglecting deep theme exploration or story quality
- Creating works sloppily by prioritizing the award goal and concept over execution
From Judges
- "Otherwise means finding different directions to move in—toward newly possible places, by means of emergent and multiple pathways and methods." (Statement at name change—emphasizing 'imagining gender differently')
- "The Honor List is an important part of the award's identity and serves as a recommended reading list for many readers."
Related Awards
- Gender in speculative fiction (research/awards related to gender and speculative fiction)
- Sense of Gender Awards
- Sex and sexuality in speculative fiction (works related to sex and sexuality)
- Women in speculative fiction (opportunities related to female authors/themes)
- Women science fiction authors (support/opportunities for female SF authors)