Comments: 1985 saw not one, but two different ties in the World Fantasy Awards, with Barry Hughart and Robert Holdstock sharing the award for Best Novel, and Alan Ryan and Scott Baker tying for Best Short Story. 1985 was also a good year for Clive Barker, who won in the Best Anthology or Collection category and garnered another nomination in the Best Novella category. This was also the year that the World Fantasy Awards finally got around to recognizing Theodore Sturgeon for his illustrious career.
But this year also seems like something of a step backwards. The only women who received nominations this year were Diane Wynne Jones and Shawna McCarthy. Evangeline Walton won the Special Convention Award, which I am happy to see, given that she's one of my favorite fantasy authors. But the fact remains that one win and two other nominations seems to me to be a rather thin representation for half of the human race.
Best Novel
(tie) Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
(tie) Mythago Wood by Robert Holdstock
Other Nominees:
Archer's Goon by Diana Wynne Jones
The Ceremonies by T.E.D. Klein
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub
Best Novella
The Unconquered Country by Geoff Ryman
Other Nominees:
The Ballad of the Flexible Bullet by Stephen King
In the Sumerian Marshes by Gerald Pearce
Jacqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament by Clive Barker
The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule by Lucius Shepard
Best Short Fiction
(tie) The Bones Wizard by Alan Ryan
(tie) Still Life with Scorpion by Scott Baker
Other Nominees:
Bad Medicine by Jack Dann
Nightcrawlers by Robert R. McCammon
Best Anthology or Collection
Clive Barker's Books of Blood, Volumes I-III by Clive Barker
Other Nominees:
The Fire When It Comes by Parke Godwin
Masques edited by J.N. Williamson
Night Visions 1 edited by Alan Ryan
The Songbirds of Pain by Garry Kilworth
Viriconium Nights by M. John Harrison
Lifetime Achievement
Theodore Sturgeon
Other Nominees:
None
Best Artist
Edward Gorey
Other Nominees:
Thomas Canty
Alan Lee
J.K. Potter
Michael Whelan
Special Award, Professional
Chris van Allsburg
Other Nominees:
Robert H. Boyer and Kenneth J. Zahorski
T.E.D. Klein
Pat LoBrutto
Shawna McCarthy
Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller
Special Award, Non-Professional
Stuart David Schiff
Other Nominees:
Jeff Conner
W. Paul Ganley
Paul Mikol and Scot Stadalsky
Special Convention Award
Evangeline Walton
Other Nominees:
None
Go to previous year's nominees: 1984
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 1986
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