2014 Parsec Awards Winners & Finalists

Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Short Form)

Short stories containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror where the storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses fewer than three people for the story presentation.

Growth Spurt by Paul Lorello
(from Pseudopod)

Finalists:
A Christmas Feast by Michael Whitehouse (from The NoSleep Podcast)
How the Moon Got Its Cousin by Lee Hallison (from Toasted Cake)
Just Another Night by Andrew MacDougall (from The NoSleep Podcast)
Why the Sea is Boiling Hot by Michael Spence (from Tales from the Archives Vol. III)

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Best Speculative Fiction Story: Small Cast (Novella Form)

Novel-length containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror where the storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses fewer than three people for the story presentation.

Blood and Smoke by Mike Bennett
(from Underwood and Flinch)

Finalists:
The Merchant Adventurer by Patrick E. McLean
Paris Pas De Deux by Andrew Wheeler (from Valentin and the Widow)

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Best Speculative Fiction Story: Large Cast (Short Form)

Stories less than four hours in length containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses more than two people for the story presentation.
[Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality by Eliezer Yudkowsky was disqualified for this year, as the story is not complete.]

Dirty Hands by Niall Kitson
(from Seminar: An Original Anthology Show)

Finalists:
Fear of Thought by Veronica Giguere (from Outer Colonies)
Four Views of the Big Cigar in Winter by Charlie Bookout (from Pseudopod)
Night Waking by Benjamin Rosenbaum (from Journey Into…)
Under Oak Island by K.T. Bryski (from Tales from the Archives Vol. III)

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Best Speculative Fiction Story: Long Form

Stories longer than four hours containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling uses narration as its primary means to convey scene and action and uses more than two people for the story presentation. (note: Due to a small number of submissions, the large and small cast long form stories are combined into one category this year.)

Fire on the Mound by William J. Meyer

Finalists:
Broken by Cedric Johnson and Veronica Giguere
Camp Myth: Phoenix Watching by Chris Lewis Carter (from Cast of Wonders)
The Guild of the Cowry Catchers, Book 5: Shores beyond the World by Abigail Hilton
Secret World Chronicle by Mercedes Lackey, Dennis Lee, Cody Martin, Larry Dixon, and Veronica Giguere
Tales of the Left Hand, Book 3 by John Meagher

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Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Short Form)

Short audio presentations containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling is effected through the dialogue of its characters and sound effects/scenery presenting action and scene as it’s primary mechanism.

Tallington by Jon Thrower
(from We Are Not Alone)

Finalists:
Dreaming of a Dead Christmas by John Ballentine (from Campfire Radio Theater)
The Incomparable Radio Theater of the Air: Christmas Spectacular by David J. Loehr
The Pen is Mightier by Mike Murphy (from Misfits Audio)
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells (from Campfire Radio Theater)

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Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama (Long Form)

Long audio presentations containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror in which storytelling is effected through the dialogue of its characters and sound effects/scenery presenting action and scene as it’s primary mechanism.

We’re Alive: A Story of Survival by Kc Wayland

Finalists:
Edict Zero – FIS (Season Three) by Jack Kincaid
Our Fair City created by Clayton Faits and produced by Jeffrey Gardner
Star Trek: Outpost by Daniel McIntosh and Tony Raymond
Tales of the Extraordinary by Michael T. Coleman

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Best Speculative Fiction Video Story

Video podcasts that tell a speculative fiction story.

Once Upon a Time in the 1970’s by Chris & Anne Lukeman

Finalists:
Grant’s Advent Calendar Video Podcast by Grant Baciocco
Pilgrim of the Sky Live by Natania Barron

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Best Speculative Fiction Magazine or Anthology Podcast

Podcasts that regularly present short stories from different authors containing elements of science fiction, fantasy or horror.

The NoSleep Podcast edited by David Cummings

Finalists:
Cast of Wonders edited by Marguerite Kenner
Pseudopod edited by Shawn M. Garrett
Seminar: An Original Anthology Show edited by Pendant Productions
Toasted Cake edited by Tina Connolly

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Best New Speculative Fiction Podcaster/Team

This person or team is new to podcasting in the past Parsec eligibility year, becoming a significant voice that has contributed to the community as a whole.

Richard Wentworth, Michael McQuilkin, Lisa McQuilkin, and Michael Atkinson of Hadron Gospel Hour

Finalists:
Drew Stewart and Mike Schindler of Standard Orbit
Peter Bryant, Mike Kafes, Brian Olvera, Allegra, Adrian Perez, and Jay Libby of MythWits
Ralff, Kim, and Johnny of Catching Up
William Chappell, Mike Mudd, Samantha Gee, and Madame Galiana of Society of Arozea

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Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (Specific)

News and commentary podcasts created by and for the fans of a given type of literary or entertainment work or series of works that have elements of speculative fiction (e.g. podcasts focused on H. P. Lovecraft, Buffy The Vampire Slayer or the World of Time).

Cyborgs: A Bionic Podcast hosted by John S. Drew and Paul K. Bisson

Finalists:
Greetings from Storybrooke: A Once Upon a Time Podcast hosted by Bill Meeks and Anne Marie DeSimone
Mission Log: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast hosted by Ken Ray and John Champion
PodCulture: TARDIS Interruptus hosted by Brad, Glenn, Christina, and Adam
SpecFicMedia.com Presents: Beyond the Wall – A Game of Thrones Podcast hosted by P.G. Holyfield, Nuchtchas, Chooch, and Vivid Muse

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Best Speculative Fiction Fan or News Podcast (General)

News and commentary podcasts created by and for the fans of speculative fiction. (e.g. Anime, Gaming, General Spec Fic)

Sword & Laser hosted by Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt

Finalists:
Geek Radio Daily hosted by Billy Flynn, The Flynstress, and The Bruce
Generations Geek hosted by Scott Pearson and Daughter
PodCulture: Equal Opportunity Geekness hosted by Brad, Glenn, Christina, and Adam
SpecFicMedia.com Presents: Consumption hosted by P.G. Holyfield, Christiana Ellis, Chooch, and Vivid Muse

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Best Podcast about Speculative Fiction Content Creation

Podcasts about the creative process and/or the technical aspects of speculative fiction podcast creation.

StoryWonk Sunday hosted by Lani Diane Rich and Alastair Stephens

Finalists:
The Baen Free Radio Hour hosted by Tony Daniel
Commentary: Trek Stars hosted by Mike Schindler and Max Hegel
Get Published hosted by Michell Plested
The Shared Desk hosted by Tee Morris and Pip Ballentine

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Best Fact Behind the Fiction Podcast

Podcasts that explore the facts that influence the fictions – the science, history, culture, and mythology that inspire these stories.

Universe Today’s Guide to Space hosted by Fraser Cain

Finalists:
Blurry Photos hosted by David Flora and Dave Stecco
Daily Tech News Show hosted by Tom Merritt
Skeptoid hosted by Brian Dunning
The Titanium Physics Podcast hosted by Ben Tippett, David Tsang, Jocelyn Read, et al.

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Best Speculative Fiction Comedy/Parody Podcast

Whether they make fun of bad movies or or poke fun at our own geekdom, these podcasts keep us laughing.

DragonConTV hosted by Brian Richardson. created by Brian Richardson, Stephen Granade, Alex White, Chris Lloyd, Tommy Byrd, Patrick Freeman, Rachel Pendergrass, and many, many more! (We will post more names as we get them!)

Finalists:
Blastropodcast hosted by Mark Soloff
Comedy4cast hosted by Clinton Alvord
FSL Tonight hosted by Justin Robert Young and Tom Merritt
Society of Arozea hosted by William Chappell, Mike Mudd, Samantha Gee, and Madame Galiana