From the “Coming Out of Left Field” Department: The 2012 Parsec Awards

Holy Hanna on a hotplate!

This past Thursday, it turns out, was the day the 2012 Parsec Awards were announced. Now if you have never heard of the Parsecs, don’t sweat it — you’re about to get schooled on one of the most prestigious awards in podcasting and Science Fiction.The Parsec Awards, now in their seventh year, is awarded to podcasts featuring Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror. Whether it is fiction, fan news, or even geek-a-licious music, the Parsec Awards celebrates the best in speculative fiction and do so as part of the wild ride that is Dragon*Con.

(Pictured here is the 2011 Parsec brought home by Technorama. Good on ya, guys!)

It’s been a while since I’ve been up for a Parsec. In 2008 Billibub Baddings and The Case of the Singing Sword won that year for Best Audio Drama (Long Form), although you could argue last year I was in the Parsec Run as Tales from the Archives gained a nod for Best Short Story with “The Astonishing Amulet of Amenartas” by Nathan Lowell.

Nah. Pip and I produced that episode. “The Astonishing Amulet of Amenartas” was all Nathan, and more of a nice feather in the cap for the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

Now we’re up to this year’s Parsecs. I was chatting with Veronica Giguere when the announcements went live. I know this because she started chuckling and then said, “I’m laughing about the Parsecs, and about you in the Parsecs.”

I’ll say it again…

 

Holy Hanna on a hotplate!

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Short Form)

• “A Ruby in Rain” by Grant Stone (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)
• “Darkest Before Darkwater” by Tee Morris (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)
• “Night’s Plutonian Shore” by Jack Mangan (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)
• “Precarious Child” by Pip Ballantine (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)
• “Sins of the Father” by Tee Morris (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)

Yes, the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences shut out the Short Story category.

Stunned. That’s what I am. Completely and utterly stunned. I was ready to walk away from this Parsec Awards with my head held high, but the Ministry, Pip, and yours truly, popped up elsewhere.

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Large Cast

• “Beachcombing” by Ray Cluley (from The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine)
• “From Paris, with Regret” by Starla Hutchton (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)
• The Guild of The Cowry Catchers, Book 3: Ashes by Abigail Hilton
• “Dream Engine” by Tim Pratt (from Journey Into)
• “The Seven” by P.C. Haring (from The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences)

Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast

• Beneath Ceaseless Skies Magazine
• Drabblecast
• The Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine
• The Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences: Tales from the Archives, Vol.1
• Toasted Cake

Hold on…one more…

Best Podcast about Speculative Fiction Content Creation

• The Dead Robots Society
• Pendragon Variety Podcast
• The Roundtable Podcast
• The Shared Desk
• Writing Excuses

Oh yeah, and Pip and I were asked to be presenters this year.

So…yeah…it’s a crazy year at the 2012 Parsec Awards.

To everyone in the Final Round, congratulations. Yes, it’s great bringing home the trophy, but seriously — you’ve already won. You’re in the Winners’ Circle as far as I am concerned, and it’s a nice place to be. To those of you in the categories where we’re nominated, it’s a real pleasure to share company with you. And to the talented authors of the Tales from the Archives, Pip and I are so proud that you all have made our podcast an award-winner. Thank you. The best of luck to everyone!

And finally, yes, I have made a promise on Facebook and I’ll make it here — if The Shared Desk pulls off a miracle win, Crazy Uncle Charlie will make an acceptance speech.

Promise.