John W. Campbell Award Renamed

The John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer has been renamed.

Moving forward, the award will be known as the Astounding Award for Best New Writer, taking its name from the magazine Campbell edited. Astounding Science Fiction, which later became Analog Science Fiction and Fact, was edited by Campbell from 1937 to 1971, during which time the magazine published such classics as Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series and introduced readers to the work of newcomers Theodore Sturgeon, A. E. van Vogt, Robert A. Heinlein, as well as established writers like L. Ron Hubbard, L. Sprague de Camp, and Jack Williamson. Campbell’s run as editor of the magazine is regarded as the “Golden Age of Science Fiction”.

The name change for the award comes in the wake of the dustup over Jeannette Ng’s acceptance speech at Worldcon last weekend, in which she called Campbell a “fascist” — a less profanity laced version is online here — and that he was responsible for the “Sterile. Male. White.” tone in modern science fiction.

Analog‘s current editor, Trevor Quachri, issued a statement on August 27th, in which he addressed the decision to change the name of the award, which began in 1973, two years after Campbell’s death.

Named for Campbell, whose writing and role as editor of Astounding Science Fiction (later renamed Analog Science Fiction and Fact) made him hugely influential in laying the groundwork for both the Golden Age of Science Fiction and beyond, the award has over the years recognized such nominees as George R.R. Martin, Bruce Sterling, Carl Sagan, and Lois McMaster Bujold, as well as award winners like Ted Chiang, Nalo Hopkinson, and John Scalzi.

However, Campbell’s provocative editorials and opinions on race, slavery, and other matters often reflected positions that went beyond just the mores of his time and are today at odds with modern values, including those held by the award’s many nominees, winners, and supporters.

As we move into Analog’s 90th anniversary year, our goal is to keep the award as vital and distinguished as ever, so after much consideration, we have decided to change the award’s name to The Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

Quachri says that the nomination and selection process will remain the same, and it will continue to be administered by the World Science Fiction Society. The full statement can be found here.