On the 2006 Psi Phi Awards Results

The Psi Phi Awards honor excellence in Star Trek publishing. Named after PsiPhi.Org the Psi Phis are voted on by Star Trek readers in a number of categories–Best Novel, Best Short Story, Best Series, Best Cover, etc. The awards for 2006 were just announced over the past two days. The winners are (with links opening the Psi Phi Awards presentation speech for the category):

Yes, my story, “Make-Believe,” was awarded the Psi Phi Award for Best Star Trek Short Story of 2006.

Wow.

I wrote an acceptance speech, because that’s the kind of person I am. 😉

Fuck, I won a Psi Phi! 😆

Terri, thank you. 🙂

Wow.

First and foremost, I have to thank my editor, Marco Palmieri for allowing me to crash the Constellations party and taking a chance on a story that, like the Spanish Inquisition, no one expected. From his comments on the outlines to his gentle handling of a near-nervous breakdown, “Make-Believe” wouldn’t have been the same without Marco’s guidance. Thanks, Marco.

Second, I have to thank my staff from EB Games, Christmas 2005. If you know anything about video games, that was the Christmas of the XBox 360 launch. I worked sixty to seventy hours a week, I was tired, I was cranky, I was emotionally drained. My staff took some of the pressure of work off and gave me the breathing room to write “Make-Believe” on those three days off I had that month. So… Bill, Candace, Jake, Jonathan, Natalie, Nick, and Rachel–you guys all made this story possible. Thanks. 🙂

Third, I want to extend my thanks to everyone who read “Make-Believe.” Thank you for letting Gabby and Breandán into your lives. It was an interesting journey to find them, and they’ve never quite let me go.

Fourth, I want to send a shout-out to the other short stories published by Pocket in 2006. There was quality short fiction this year–Jeff Bond’s “Fracture,” Bob Greenberger’s “The Landing Party,” and Kevin Lauderdale’s “The Rules of War” and “Devices and Desires,” to name just a few off the top of my head. Well played, everyone. To let you all in on a little secret, I didn’t vote for “Make-Believe.” 😉

Lastly, and on a more personal note, I wish we didn’t live in a world where a story like “Make-Believe” were necessary. I wish it didn’t have to be written. But if “Make-Believe” personalizes the tragedy of the Iraq War for just one reader and moves them, hopefully, to action, then the journey of “Make-Believe” was worth it. Based on the reader mail I’ve received, I think it has.

Thank you, all. 🙂

One final thought before I go. Gabby says “Thank you,” too.

Peace.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Published by Allyn

A writer, editor, journalist, sometimes coder, occasional historian, and all-around scholar, Allyn Gibson is the writer for Diamond Comic Distributors' monthly PREVIEWS catalog, used by comic book shops and throughout the comics industry, and the editor for its monthly order forms. In his over ten years in the industry, Allyn has interviewed comics creators and pop culture celebrities, covered conventions, analyzed industry revenue trends, and written copy for comics, toys, and other pop culture merchandise. Allyn is also known for his short fiction (including the Star Trek story "Make-Believe,"the Doctor Who short story "The Spindle of Necessity," and the ReDeus story "The Ginger Kid"). Allyn has been blogging regularly with WordPress since 2004.

3 thoughts on “On the 2006 Psi Phi Awards Results

  1. I want to say that was for American Gods. His speech began, “Fuck, I won a Hugo!” That’s so… perfect how could I not ape that? 😉

    And no, I’m not comparing a Psi Phi to a Hugo. A Psi Phi is really just for bragging rights. I don’t even get a certificate.

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