Chambers, Leichter, Lloyd and Comma Press recognised at Kitschies

Becky Chambers, Hilary Leichter, Julia Lloyd and Comma Press were among the winners at this year’s Kitschie Awards. 

The awards, sponsored by Blackwell’s, celebrate the “most progressive and entertaining fiction that contain speculative or fantastic elements”. This year’s shortlisted books were narrowed down from 198 submissions, coming from 57 different publishers. 

Chambers won The Red Tentacle for best novel with the book The Galaxy, and the Ground Within (Hodder & Stoughton) while Leichter won The Golden Tentacle for best début with Temporary (Faber & Faber) and Lloyd won The Inky Tentacle for best cover design, for work on The Seep by Chana Porter (Titan Books).  

Comma Press was awarded The Glentacle Award named in honour of The Kitschies’ former director, Glen Mehn, intended to recognise extraordinary service to the SFF industry. The award acknowledged the impact and global reach of both Comma’s “book of...” and +100 series of anthologies. 

Ra Page, c.e.o. and founder of Comma Press, said: “Much of what Comma does – short story anthologies and specially commissioned collaborations – doesn’t fit into normal award categories and never gets a chance of that kind of traditional recognition. Which makes this award so special and appreciated.” 

The prize money will be put entirely into the funding of one of Comma’s forthcoming short story anthologies, with an acknowledgement of the award.