View source for Bram Stoker Award

{{Short description|Horror Writers Association annual award}}
{{Infobox award
| name        = Bram Stoker Award
| image       = NACollinsBramStoker.jpg
| imagesize   = 
| alt         = 
| caption     = [[Nancy A. Collins]] holding the Bram Stoker Award
| awarded_for = [[Dark fantasy]] and [[horror fiction|horror]] writing
| presenter   = [[Horror Writers Association]]
| date        = 
| reward      = 
| year        = 1987
| year2       = 
| website     = {{URL|http://horror.org/bram-stoker-awards/}}
}}

The '''Bram Stoker Award''' is a recognition presented annually by the [[Horror Writers Association]] (HWA) for "superior achievement" in [[dark fantasy]] and [[horror fiction|horror writing]].

==History==
The Awards were established in 1987 and have been presented annually since 1988, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA.  They are named after Irish horror writer [[Bram Stoker]], author of the novel ''[[Dracula]]'', among others.<ref name=AboutStokers>{{cite web |url=http://www.horror.org/awards/stokers.htm |title=The Bram Stoker Awards |publisher=Horror Writers Association |access-date=2014-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413193316/http://www.horror.org/awards/stokers.htm |archive-date=2014-04-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=LynchSuccess>{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=Bill|title=Logan County horror writer's success is scary|newspaper=[[Charleston Gazette-Mail]]|date=18 April 2010|id={{ProQuest|458234768}}}}</ref>

Several members of the HWA&mdash;including [[Dean Koontz]]&mdash;were reluctant to endorse such writing awards, fearing it would incite competitiveness rather than friendly admiration. The HWA therefore went to lengths to avoid mean-spirited competition, they agreed to specifically seek out new and neglected writers and works, and officially issue Awards not based on "best of the year" criteria, but "for superior achievement", which allows for ties.

Nominated works come from two different processes. Works can be recommended by any member of the HWA and a separate list of works is presented by a Jury for each category. Members with Active status then vote on works appearing on preliminary ballots. The field is thereby narrowed to the Final ballot; and Active members vote to choose the winners from that Final Ballot.<ref name="AboutStokers"/> Winners of a Bram Stoker Award receive a statuette made by the New York firm [[Society Awards]].

The terms Bram Stoker Award and Bram Stoker Awards are registered trademarks of the Horror Writers Association.

==Categories== 
===Current categories===
{{As of|2021}} year of eligibility, with the ceremony convened in 2022, the Bram Stoker Award is presented for "Superior Achievement" in the following categories:<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Bram Stoker Awards 2020 – The Bram Stoker Awards|url=http://www.thebramstokerawards.com/uncategorized/the-bram-stoker-awards-2020/|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en}}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel|Novel]] (1987–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel|First Novel]] (1987–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Young Adult Novel|Young Adult Novel]] (2011–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel|Middle Grade Novel]] (2022–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Graphic Novel|Graphic Novel]] (2011–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Long Fiction|Long Fiction]] (1998–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Fiction|Short Fiction]] (1998–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Anthology|Anthology]] (1998–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection|Fiction Collection]] (1998–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Poetry Collection|Poetry Collection]] (2000–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction|Non-Fiction]] (1987–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Non-Fiction|Short Non-Fiction]] (2019–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay|Screenplay]] (1998–2004, 2011–)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement|Lifetime Achievement]] (1987–)
{{Div col end}}

===Discontinued categories ===
Discontinued categories include: <!--prefer a complete list regardless whether we have a page-->

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Novelette|Novelette]] (1987–1997)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Story|Short Story]] (1987–1997)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Collection|Collection]] (1987–1997)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Work for Young Readers|Work for Young Readers]] (1998–2004)
* Alternative Forms:
** [[Bram Stoker Award for Other Media|Other Media]] (1993, 1998–2000)
** [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Alternative Forms|Alternative Forms]] (2001–2004)
* [[Bram Stoker Award for Best Illustrated Narrative|Illustrated Narrative]] (1998–2004)
{{Div col end}}

==Past winners==
{{As of|2019|post=,}} [[Stephen King]] holds the record for both the most nominations (33) and wins (13).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sfadb.com/Bram_Stoker_Awards_Tallies |title=Bram Stoker Awards Tallies |publisher=Science Fiction Awards Database |access-date=2019-10-29 }}</ref> Other past award winners include:<ref name=PastWinners>{{cite web |url=http://www.horror.org/awards/stokerwinnom.htm |title=Past Bram Stoker Award Nominees & Winners |publisher=[[Horror Writers Association]] |date=2011-06-13 |access-date=2014-05-19 |archive-date=2017-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115083150/http://horror.org/awards/stokerwinnom.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Linda Addison (poet)|Linda Addison]]
* [[Maria Alexander]]
* [[Michael Arnzen]]
* [[Clive Barker]]
* [[Laird Barron]]
* [[Charles Beaumont]]
* [[Robert Bloch]]
* [[Bruce Boston]]
* [[Ray Bradbury]]
* [[Christopher Lee]]
* [[Gary A. Braunbeck]]
* [[Ramsey Campbell]]
* [[Douglas Clegg]]
* [[Don Coscarelli]]
* [[Ellen Datlow]]
* [[Harlan Ellison]]
* [[Neil Gaiman]]
* [[David Gerrold]]
* [[Owl Goingback]]
* [[Christopher Golden]]
* [[Rain Graves]]
* [[Eric J. Guignard]]
* [[Thomas Harris]]
* [[Joe Hill (writer)|Joe Hill]]
* [[Nina Kiriki Hoffman]]
* [[Nancy Holder]]
* [[Brian A. Hopkins]]
* [[Del Howison]]
* [[Charlee Jacob]]
* [[Stephen Jones (author)|Stephen Jones]]
* [[Steven A. Katz]]
* [[Brian Keene]]
* [[Jack Ketchum]]
* [[Caitlin R. Kiernan]]
* [[Stephen King]]
* [[EV Knight]]
* [[Michael Knost]]
* [[Kathe Koja]]
* [[Sarah Langan]]
* [[Joe R. Lansdale]]
* [[Richard Laymon]]
* [[Thomas Ligotti]]
* [[Bentley Little]]
* [[Jonathan Maberry]]
* [[George R. R. Martin]]
* [[Elizabeth Massie]]
* [[Rena Mason]]
* [[Richard Matheson]]
* [[Glen Mazzara]]
* [[Robert McCammon]]
* [[Thomas F. Monteleone]]
* [[Michael Moorcock]]
* [[Alan Moore]]
* [[David Morrell]]
* [[Lisa Morton]]
* [[Yvonne Navarro]]
* [[William F. Nolan]]
* [[Joyce Carol Oates]]
* [[Weston Ochse]]
* [[Robert Ottone]]
* [[Norman Partridge]]
* [[Tom Piccirilli]]
* [[Alex Proyas]]
* [[Alan Rodgers]]
* [[Bruce Holland Rogers]]
* [[J. K. Rowling]]
* [[Al Sarrantonio]]
* [[John Shirley]]
* [[Dan Simmons]]
* [[Marge Simon]]
* [[Lucy A. Snyder]]
* [[Peter Straub]]
* [[Steve Rasnic Tem|Steve]] and [[Melanie Tem]]
* [[Robert Weinberg (author)|Robert Weinberg]]
* [[Rocky Wood]]
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://horror.org/bram-stoker-awards/ Official Website]

{{Bram Stoker Award|state=expanded}}
{{Bram Stoker}}
{{Horror fiction}}

[[Category:Bram Stoker Awards| ]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1987]]