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 Balrogs () are a species of powerful demonic monsters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. One first appeared in print in his high-fantasy novel ''The Lord of the Rings'', where the Company of the Ring encounter a Balrog known as Durin's Bane in ...

, 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,

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.''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 Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...

* 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

References

{{Fantasy fiction American literary awards B Science fiction awards Fantasy awards