DRAGON CON’S DRAGON AWARDS DELIVERS A HORDE OF AWARD WINNERS

9^TH ANNUAL AWARDS RECOGNIZE FANS’ FAVORITES IN FICTION, ART,

GAMES, AND FILMED ENTERTAINMENT

Best Science Fiction Novel: Starter Villian by John Scalzi

Monty Python co-founder John Cleese, Short Fiction Authors Rachael K. Jones and Sam Brown, and Independent Music Champion Clyde Gilbert Honored with Individual Awards

(Press Release) ATLANTA – September 1, 2024 – Dragon Con, the internationally known pop culture, sci fi, fantasy, and gaming convention, announced the winners of its 9^th annual Dragon Awards, a fan’s choice awards program to recognize the best in books, comics, games, and filmed entertainment.

Leading this year’s Dragon Awards, Starter Villian by John Scalzi was the fans’ choice in the Best Science Fiction Novel category.

Dragon Con also announced four other convention awards, recognizing achievement in short fiction and lifelong contributions to the profession and fandom.

Rachael K. Jones and her work, “The Sound of Children Screaming,” was honored with the Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short Fiction, established in the memory of the Nebula-award winning author and long-time Dragon Con volunteer director. A juried award, the “Eugie” celebrates the best in innovative fiction. Past winners include Rich Larson (2023), Sarah Pinsker (2022), and Elaine Cuyegkeng (2021).

The Julie Award, given to an industry professional for universal achievement spanning multiple genres, was awarded to comedian John Cleese, co-founder of the Monty Python comedy troupe, responsible for Monty Python’s Flying Circus television show, three Monty Python films and an assortment of television and movie specials, video games and live tours. Outside of Monty Python, Cleese has had roles in dozens of television shows, movies, and video games, winning an Emmy for his guest appearance in the sitcom Cheers.

Sam Brown was awarded the Mike Resnick Memorial Short Story Award for his work, “When I Was Your Age.”  The Resnick Award, sponsored by Galaxy’s Edge anthologies (published by Arc Manor) and Dragon Con, celebrates new, unpublished authors and is given in memory of Mike Resnick, a prolific publisher who was widely known for helping new writers start their careers.

And, Clyde Gilbert was recognized with the Hank Reinhardt Fandom Award, given each year to an individual who has made significant contributions to fandom in Georgia. Gilbert, best known as the guitarist of Irish folk band Emerald Rose, is widely loved across the independent music community for his work championing bands and the southeastern music scene. As a Dragon Con volunteer and director for more than 15 years, Gilbert has leant his deep knowledge to helping select bands that appear each year while also directing the Concourse Stage.

The Dragon Awards were created in 2016 as part of Dragon Con’s 30^th anniversary celebration. All fans – not just Dragon Con members or attendees – were invited to nominate their favorite properties for the awards and then select Dragon Award winners by voting on the annual Dragon Awards ballot.

Approximately 7,000 fans cast ballots for this year’s Dragon Award winners, selected from among 67 properties in 11 categories covering the full range of fiction, comics, television, movies, video gaming, and tabletop gaming. Winners were announced on Sept. 1 at Dragon Con 2024 in downtown Atlanta.

Final voting was held via the dedicated Dragon Awards website, and the voting period ran from Aug. 6 to Aug. 31. The ballot was selected in an open nomination process in which fans nominated their favorite properties. The nomination period ran from early November 2023 until July 2024. The best and most popular of the nominated properties were elevated to the ballot.

And the Dragon Award winners are …

Best Science Fiction Novel

Starter Villain by John Scalzi

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel

Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson

Best Alternate History Novel

All the Dead Shall Weep by Charlaine Harris

Best Horror Novel

Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig

Best Illustrative Book Cover

Of Jade and Dragons by Kelly Chong

Best Comic Book / Graphic Novel

Monstress by Marjorie Liu, Sana Takeda

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series, TV or Internet

Fallout, Amazon Prime Video

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Dune: Part Two by Denis Villeneuve

Best Digital Game

Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios

Best Tabletop Game

D&D The Deck of Many Things, Wizards of the Coast