New Special Awards Rules, Committee Established

For years, many LFS members have urged us to expand the Prometheus Awards to recognize occasional outstanding work in other categories besides Best Novel and Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame). Now, that talk has led to action. Inspired by the first Special Award given to "Free Space," the landmark libertarian sf anthology, the LFS Board of Directors has approved rules and nomination deadlines for future special awards. The new, open-ended Special Awards category includes—but is not limited to-best Dramatic presentation, Best Short Fiction, Best Nonfiction, and Lifetime Achievement.

Unfortunately, award-caliber works in these areas don't appear every year-which is why LFS leaders have not acted on members' suggestions before. However, we are confident that the new awards rules and organizational structure outlined below will allow the LFS to more efficiently and comprehensively consider Special Awards.

• All LFS members shall have the right to nominate any work for a Special Award.
• The annual deadline shall be February 1 for Special Award nominations for works published, broadcast, or released during the previous calendar year.
• To consider members' Special Awards nominations and help identify other worthy recipients, a new Special Awards Committee is being established. We are looking for 5-6 LFS members to serve on this committee, so please let us know if you're interested. Any LFS member is eligible to serve. If you read short stories or subscribe to an SF magazine, so much the better-although that isn't required.

  So far, Lynn Maners has volunteered to serve as acting chair and Thomas Sipos and Taras Wolansky have expressed interest in serving as committee members. For more information or to volunteer, contact Maners (redacted).

• The Special Awards Committee shall compile, research and consider all special nominations. If a majority of committee members endorse any nomination, then it shall be included for a separate vote on the same printed ballot as the Prometheus Award and mailed to all members.
• All LFS members shall have the right to vote for Special Awards. If two-thirds of LFS voters approve the award, then the LFS shall present that award with a certificate or plaque (but no gold prize) at the next Prometheus Awards ceremony.

For maximum flexibility, there shall be no limits on the number of Special Awards presented annually—but also no requirement for annual awards.