Comments: Four years in, and the lack of recognition for women was getting to be a little bit ridiculous. Thirty-four nominations. One woman nominated. Sort of. Judy-Lynn del Rey was nominated as half of a nominated team along with her husband Lester del Rey. Over the first four years of the World Fantasy Award, there were only three nominations for women - and two of those nominations were shared with a male partner. To the modern eye this not only appears to be ridiculously sexist, but it is also surprising, as fantasy fiction has now come to be associated with large numbers of female authors. But when the World Fantasy Award was created, it is obvious that fantasy fiction was an almost entirely male preserve. Unfortunately, the World Fantasy Award, by failing to recognize any of the handful of excellent contributions to the genre made by women, seems to have helped compound this gender disparity.
Best Novel
Our Lady of Darkness by Fritz Leiber
Other Nominees:
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson
The Hour of the Oxrun Dead by Charles L. Grant
Best Short Fiction
The Chimney by Ramsey Campbell
Other Nominees:
The Bagful of Dreams by Jack Vance
Jeffty Is Five by Harlan Ellison
Loveman's Comeback by Ramsey Campbell
Manatee Gal Ain't You Coming Out Tonight by Avram Davidson
When All the Children Call My Name by Charles L. Grant
Best Anthology or Collection
Murgunstrumm and Others by Hugh B. Cave
Other Nominees:
Cold Chills by Robert Bloch
Swords and Ice Magic by Fritz Leiber
Whispers edited by Stuart David Schiff
The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series V edited by Gerald W. Page
Lifetime Achievement
Frank Belknap Long
Other Nominees:
Jorge Luis Borges
John Collier
Roald Dahl
Richard Matheson
Manly Wade Wellman
Best Artist
Lee Brown Coye
Other Nominees:
Stephen Fabian
Tim Kirk
Michael Whelan
Special Award, Professional
Everett F. Bleiler
Other Nominees:
Judy-Lynn del Rey and Lester del Rey
Edward L. Ferman
Donald A. Wollheim
Special Award, Non-Professional
Robert Weinberg
Other Nominees:
Jonathan Bacon
W. Paul Ganley
Stephen Jones
Gary Hoppenstand
Harry O. Morris, Jr.
Special Convention Award
Kirby McCauley
Other Nominees:
None
Go to previous year's nominees: 1977
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 1979
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