When did the International Fantasy Award begin and end?
The International Fantasy Award began in 1951 and ceased operations after 1957. The panel selected winners annually from 1951 through 1955 before returning once more in 1957.
Short answers, pulled from the story.
The International Fantasy Award began in 1951 and ceased operations after 1957. The panel selected winners annually from 1951 through 1955 before returning once more in 1957.
George R. Stewart won the first fiction prize for the International Fantasy Award in 1951 for his novel Earth Abides. That same year, Willy Ley and Chesley Bonestell took the non-fiction category with The Conquest of Space.
J.R.R. Tolkien won the last International Fantasy Award in 1957 for The Lord of the Rings. This victory occurred after the award had been dormant since 1955 and marked the final chapter of the competition.
The International Fantasy Award operated for seven years from its inception in 1951 until it disappeared entirely after 1957. Winners were selected each year from 1951 through 1955 and again in 1957.
An international panel of fans and professionals selected the winners each year rather than relying on professional critics or academic bodies alone. The panel included both industry insiders and dedicated hobbyists who read widely across genres.