The Balrog Awards were a set of awards given annually from 1979 to 1985 for the best works and achievements of speculative fiction in the previous year. The awards were named after the balrog, a fictional creature from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium.Locus Index to SF Awards: About the Balrog Awards. Accessed 26 March 2021. The awards were originally announced by editor Jonathan Bacon in Issue #15 of Fantasy Crossroads and presented at the Fool-Con II convention on April Fool's Day, 1979 at Johnson County Community College, Kansas.Nemedian Chroniclers , Issue #4, p. 12. The awards were never taken seriously and are often referred to, tongue-in-cheek, as the "coveted Balrog Awards".
Awards (by year)
1979 Best Novel: Blind Voices, Tom Reamy Best Short Fiction: "Death from Exposure", Pat Cadigan Best Collection/Anthology: Born to Exile, Phyllis Eisenstein Best Poet: Ray Bradbury Best Artist: Tim Kirk Best Amateur Publication: Shayol Best Professional Publication: Age of Dreams, Alicia Austin Best Amateur Achievement: Paul C. Allen (for Fantasy Newsletter and "Of Swords & Sorcery") Best Professional Achievement: J. R. R. Tolkien and Donald M. Grant (tie) Judges' Choice: Jonathan Bacon (for Fantasy Crossroads) Judges' Choice: Andre Norton (for lifetime achievement)
1980 Best Novel: Dragondrums, Anne McCaffrey Best Short Fiction: "The Last Defender of Camelot", Roger Zelazny Best Collection/Anthology: Night Shift, Stephen King Best Poet: H. Warner Munn Best Artist: Michael Whelan Best Amateur Publication: Fantasy Newsletter Best Professional Publication: Omni Best Amateur Achievement: Paul Allen (for Fantasy Newsletter and "Of Swords and Sorcery") Best Professional Achievement: Anne McCaffrey SF Film Hall of Fame: 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars (tie) Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: Fantasia Special Award: Ian Ballantine & Betty Ballantine
1981 Best Novel: The Wounded Land, Stephen R. Donaldson Best Short Fiction: "The Web of the Magi", Richard Cowper Best Collection/Anthology: Unfinished Tales, J. R. R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien Best Poet: H. Warner Munn Best Artist: Frank Frazetta Best Amateur Publication: Fantasy Newsletter Best Professional Publication: F&SF Best Amateur Achievement: Paul C. Allen & Susan Allen (for Fantasy Newsletter) Best Professional Achievement: George Lucas (for contributions, including the Star Wars saga) SF Film Hall of Fame: The Empire Strikes Back Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: The Wizard of Oz Special Award: Jorge Luis Borges Special Award: Fritz Leiber
1982 Best Novel: Camber the Heretic, Katherine Kurtz Best Short Fiction: "A Thief in Korianth", C. J. Cherryh Best Collection/Anthology: Shadows of Sanctuary, Robert Lynn Asprin, ed. Best Poet: Frederick Mayer Best Artist: Real Musgrave Best Amateur Publication: Eldritch Tales Best Professional Publication: Omni Best Amateur Achievement: Robert A. Collins (for saving Fantasy Newsletter) Best Professional Achievement: George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (tie) SF Film Hall of Fame: Forbidden Planet Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: King Kong Judges' Choice: Leo & Diane Dillon
1983 Best Novel: The One Tree, Stephen R. Donaldson Best Short Fiction: "All of Us Are Dying", George Clayton Johnson Best Collection/Anthology: Storm Season, Robert Lynn Asprin, ed. Best Poet: Frederick J. Mayer Best Artist: Tim Hildebrandt Best Amateur Publication: Shayol Best Professional Publication: F&SF Best Amateur Achievement: Allan Bechtold (for SF workshops) Best Professional Achievement: Ben Bova (for writing and editing Omni and Analog) SF Film Hall of Fame: The Day the Earth Stood Still Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: The Dark Crystal Special Award: Kirby McCauley
1984 Best Novel: The Armageddon Rag, George R. R. Martin Best Short Story: "Wizard Goes A-Courtin'", John Morressy Best Collection/Anthology: Unicorn Variations, Roger Zelazny Best Poet: Frederick J. Mayer Best Artist: Real Musgrave Best Amateur Publication: Fantasy Newsletter Best Professional Publication: F&SF Best Amateur Achievement: Stan Gardner (for saving the Balrogs) Best Professional Achievement: Pendragon Gallery (for promoting fantasy artwork) SF Film Hall of Fame: Blade Runner Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: Bambi Judges' Choice: Mercer Mayer (for educating children in fantasy art)
1985 Best Novel: The Practice Effect, David Brin Best Short Story: "A Troll and Two Roses", Patricia A. McKillip Best Collection/Anthology: Daughter of Regals and Other Tales, Stephen R. Donaldson Best Poet: Ardath Mayhar Best Artist: Richard Pini & Wendy Pini Best Amateur Publication: Eldritch Tales Best Professional Publication: Masques, J. N. Williamson, ed. Best Amateur Achievement: David B. Silva (for The Horror Show) Best Professional Achievement: Hap Henriksen (for the National SF/Fantasy Hall of Fame) SF Film Hall of Fame: Starman SF Film Hall of Fame: E.T. The Extraterrestrial Fantasy Film Hall of Fame: Raiders of the Lost Ark Special Award: Lester del Rey
See also Bram Stoker Award Hugo Award Nebula Award World Fantasy Award List of science fiction awards
References