In this lively round‑table episode, Donna Scott sits down with four writers deeply embedded in the UK SFF and horror communities to unpack the messy, brilliant, contentious world of literary award shortlists: who they help, who they overlook, and why they spark so much debate. Featuring: Allen Stroud: university researcher, SF author, former BSFA Chair https://www.allenstroud.com/ E.M. (Beth) Faulds: SFF short story writer, author of These Broken Little Worlds https://emfaulds.com/ Laura Jane Round: horror writer, poet, former freelance competition judge https://linktr.ee/laurajaneroundwriter Rick Danforth: BSFA Award–winning audio fiction writer and editor of Fission Six https://rickdanforth.wordpress.com/ This episode dives into: Writers’ personal relationships with awards, from “the unwanted record of most BSFA losses in one year” to the thrill of early longlist recognition. Why the word “best” makes some writers cringe: “As soon as it's labelled as best, I sit and go, come on then, show me, impress me.” The value of longlists vs. shortlists: discovery, visibility, and the “zeitgeist” effect. How online discourse shapes (and sometimes distorts) public perception of awards. The fallout from the 2023 Hugo Awards controversy, and why transparency matters. The creeping challenge of AI‑assisted submissions in publishing and awards. What ethical, inclusive awards should look like, from diverse juries to fairer systems. If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about books, writing, and the literary world, please like, subscribe, and share the episode. You can also join the BSFA to access publications like Fission Six. https://bsfa.co.uk/ Obsidian - out now from The Slab Press: https://theslab.press/
