Awards

Novel of the Year

Winner: I Wish I Was Like You by S.P. Miskowski
Runner-up: In the Valley of the Sun by Andy Davidson

“I’m honored, and surprised. Thanks to everyone who voted. Thanks to my publisher, JournalStone. This Is Horror sets a high standard for inquiry and discussion without a hint of elitism or pretentiousness. The site’s reviews, articles, and interviews are offered in the best spirit of horror, which is (after all) a leveler, an admission of vulnerability. Horror embodies the knowledge that we may be smart and pretty and popular and well-off but at four a.m., alone with our worst fears and suspicions, we are all scared animals waiting for daybreak. I’ll try to live up to the honor of the award by staying true to that spirit. Thank you!”

—S.P. Miskowski, author of I Wish I Was Like You
THIS IS HORROR NOVEL OF THE YEAR

Novella of the Year

Winner: Mapping The Interior by Stephen Graham Jones
Runner-up: Agents of Dreamland by Caitlin R. Kiernan

“This is amazing, I’m floored, thank you thank you, voters, thank you, This is Horror, and thank you, Ellen Datlow, for getting me to write this one, and to the Tor.com team for, first, making it such a beautiful little book, and second, for getting it out into everybody’s hands and heads and hearts. This is a serious honor. Long live the form of the novella.”

—Stephen Graham Jones, author of Mapping The Interior
THIS IS HORROR NOVELLA OF THE YEAR

Short Story Collection of the Year

Winner: Behold the Void by Philip Fracassi
Runner-up: Everything That’s Underneath by Kristi DeMeester

“Wow. This is crazy. Thank you so very much to everyone who voted for Behold the Void. I was honored to be included as a nominee and am stunned to have my book voted ‘Best Story Collection of the Year.’ I have been deeply moved by the reception my debut story collection has received from readers and reviewers, and to now get this award leaves me speechless with gratitude. Thanks also to Michael Wilson and Bob Pastorella at This Is Horror, amazing advocates of this fantastic, weird and horrifying industry.”

—Philip Fracassi, author of Behold The Void
THIS IS HORROR SHORT STORY COLLECTION OF THE YEAR

Anthology of the Year

Winner: Looming Low Volume I, edited by Justin Steele and Sam Cowan
Runner-up: Black Feathers: Dark Avian Tales: An Anthology, edited by Ellen Datlow

“Wow! Thanks to everyone who voted for Looming Low Volume I. I’m absolutely thrilled that it has won a This Is Horror award, especially against such stiff competition. Justin and I received a number of great submissions and it was tough to choose the final table of contents but we were both very satisfied with how it turned out. Justin did the lion’s share of the editing, including the story order, and deserves a lot of credit for the final book. And another big thank you to everyone who shared social media posts, left reviews on Goodreads or Amazon, and helped promote the book in general. Cheers!”

—Sam Cowan, editor of Looming Low Volume I
THIS IS HORROR ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR

“Whoa, this sure is flattering! Looming Low was quite a large project with many people involved. I’m really proud with how it turned out, the authors did an excellent job, and the cover artists gave us some gorgeous art. I’d like to thank them all, and thank all the people who took the time to read the book. Cheers!”

—Justin Steele, editor of Looming Low Volume I
THIS IS HORROR ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR

Fiction Magazine of the Year

Winner: Black Static
Runner-up: Apex Magazine

“This is a wonderful surprise. On behalf of all Black Static staff and contributors many thanks to everybody who voted for us.”

—Andy Cox, editor of Black Static
THIS IS HORROR FICTION MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

Publisher of the Year

Winner: Crystal Lake Publishing 
Runner-up: Journalstone

“First I’d like to thank This Is Horror and the fans who voted for us. It’s such an honour. Then I’d also like to thank everyone who supports small presses and authors. I’ve been in this business now for about six years, and it’s a tough one. I’ve seen publishers come and go for various reasons, and I’ve learned from each one. So if you find a small press with quality products you enjoy, that supports authors and fellow creators and treats them with respect and loyalty, please continue supporting them by buying their books and telling others about them. Most publishers I know do this out of love and passion, but without your continued support, no matter how little, that passion will eventually die. ”

—Joe Mynhardt, CEO of Crystal Lake Publishing
THIS IS HORROR PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR

Fiction Podcast of the Year

Winner: Pseudopod
Runner-up: Nightmare Magazine Podcast 

“The Editors would like to thank the This Is Horror Podcast and their audience for bestowing on us this honor for a second time. It is both humbling and heartening to know that our work means so much to so many, and that the quality we strive for is appreciated. Please spread the word—we have so many more things to show you in the dark.”

—Shawn Garrett and Alex Hofelich, co-editors of Pseudopod
THIS IS HORROR FICTION PODCAST OF THE YEAR

“We’re amazed and grateful to This is Horror readers and listeners for voting us the Best Fiction podcast for a second year! Massive thanks to all our writers, narrators and staff. And massive thanks too to the other finalists. This is an amazing time to be working in horror podcasting and it’s an honor to stand with them. And as ever, we’ll have more true stories for you this week.”

—Alasdair Stuart, host of Pseudopod
THIS IS HORROR FICTION PODCAST OF THE YEAR

Nonfiction Podcast of the Year

Winner: The Horror Show with Brian Keene
Runner-up: Lovecraft eZine Podcast

“I’m honored and humbled. Our goal has always been to teach about horror’s past, its present, and its future, and it is wonderful to see the support for that endeavor. On behalf of myself, Dave Thomas, Mary SanGiovanni, Mike Lombardo, Coop, Phoebe, and Dungeonmaster 77.1, thank you!”

—Brian Keene, host of The Horror Show with Brian Keene
THIS IS HORROR NONFICTION PODCAST OF THE YEAR

This Is Horror Awards 2018

Publishers are invited to send in titles eligible for the following categories year-round: novel, novella, short story collection, anthology, and fiction magazine. Titles must have been published on or after 5 December 2017. Please send titles in mobi format to [email protected]