The Aurealis Awards were established in 1995 by Chimaera Publications, the publishers of Aurealis magazine, to recognise the achievements of Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror writers. The awards originally comprised four categories: science fiction, fantasy, horror, and young adult. A fifth category for children’s fiction was added in 2001. The YA and children’s categories cover works in all three speculative fiction genres. The list of finalists and winners have increased the profile of Australian science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and provide an essential reading list for anyone interested in these genres.

The 2022 Shortlist titles are below, the winners for each category will be announced on Saturday 28 May. Why not borrow and read one or more before the award ceremony and see if you can pick the winner(s)!

Best Children’s Fiction

• The boy who stepped through time – Anna Ciddor
• Stellarphant – James Foley
• The Curiosities – Zana Fraillon & Phil Lesnie (illustrator)
• Elsewhere Girls – Emily Gale & Nova Weetman
• Barebum Billy – Nicholas Snelling.

Best Graphic Novel/Illustrated Work

• The Curiosities – Zana Fraillon & Phil Lesnie (illustrator)
• Treasure in the lake – Jason Pamment
• Mechanix – Ben Slabak & Edoardo Natalini 
• Killeroo: semper fidelis – Matthew Soall & Ignacio Di Meglio (illustrator).

Best Anthology

• Who sleuthed it? – Lindy Cameron (Ed.)
• Relics, wrecks & ruins – Aiki Flinthart (Ed.), Lauren Elise Daniels & Geneve Flynn (assistant Eds.)
• Hometown haunts: #LoveOzYA horror tales – Poppy Nwosu (Ed.)
• Spawn: Weird Horror Tales About Pregnancy, Birth and Babies – Deborah Sheldon (Ed.).

Best Young Adult Novel

• Waking Romeo – Kathryn Barker 
• Aurora’s end – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff 
• Terciel and Elinor – Garth Nix
• Echo in the memory – Cameron Nunn
• Dirt circus league – Maree Kimberley
• It’s not you, it’s me – Gabrielle Williams.

Best Horror Novel

• The bridge – J S Breukelaar
• Midnight in the chapel of love – Matthew R Davis
• Papa Lucy & the boneman – Jason Fischer
• The airways – Jennifer Mills
• Holly & the nobodies – Ben Pienaar.

Best Fantasy Novel

• Supermums – and so it begins – Meg Grace
• The rose daughter – Maria Lewis
• A marvellous light – Freya Marske 
• Dark rise – C S Pacat 
• She who became the sun – Shelley Parker-Chan
• All the murmuring bones – Angela Slatter.

Best Science Fiction Novel

• Waking Romeo – Kathryn Barker 
• The 22 Murders of Madison May–  Max Barry
• Stealing time – Rebecca Bowyer
• Papa Lucy & the boneman – Jason Fischer
• Aurora’s end – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff 
• Deepwater king – Claire McKenna.

Sara Douglass Book Series Award 2021– special periodic award for a book series ending between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020.

• Lifespan of starlight – Thalia Kalkipsakis
  • Lifespan of Starlight (2015); Split Infinity (2016); Edge of Time (2018)
• Elementals – Amie Kaufman
  • Ice Wolves (2018); Scorch Dragons (2019); Battle Born (2020)
• Unearthed – Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner
  • Unearthed (2017); Undying (2018)
• Lifelike – Jay Kristoff
  • LIFEL1K3 (2018); DEV1AT3 (2019); TRUEL1F3 (2020)
• Winter – Mark Smith
  • The Road to Winter (2016); Wilder Country (2017); Land of Fences (2019)
• Blood & Gold – Kim Wilkins
  • Crown of Rowan (enovella, 2014); Daughters of the Storm (2014); Sisters of the Fire (2016); Queens of the Sea (2019).

NOTE – There are a few titles that are independently published and may not be able to be purchased via our approved Library suppliers. These titles may either be delayed or not able to be supplied. Library catalogue links to these titles will be added when availability is confirmed and items have been ordered.