Ottawa writer Amal El-Mohtar wins int'l sci-fi prize for best short story
Jane van Koeverden | CBC | Posted: August 14, 2017 5:10 PM | Last Updated: September 8, 2017
Canadian writer Amal El-Mohtar's short story "Seasons of Glass and Iron," published in the edited anthology The Starlit Wood, was declared best short story by the Hugo Awards at the 75th World Science Fiction Convention in Helsinki, Finland.
The Hugo Awards, established in 1953, are considered one of the world's top prizes for science fiction writing.
El-Mohtar previously won the Locus Award for her story "The Truth About Owls." Her poetry collection The Honey Month was published in 2010.
Best novel at the Hugo Awards was given to American writer N.K. Jemisin for The Obelisk Gate, her second win in two years. She won this category in 2016 for The Fifth Season.
Canadian director Denis Villeneuve also got a nod for the film Arrival. Based on a short story by Ted Chiang and adapted by screenwriter Eric Heisserer, the film won the best dramatic presentation, long form category.