News

August 2006

There may not be much breaking news in the world of JTS, but I'll bring you what I know.

Thanks to Michael Moorcock for the news that the sporadically awarded Jack Trevor Story Memorial Prize has been given this year.

As Jack's literary executor, Mr Moorcock has the honour of organising the Prize, and he recently described the process:

"The rules vary. They are fairly arbitrary. Sometimes it's a fair selection made from a number of writers. Sometimes it's to a writer who could do with the dosh (but is funny). Sometimes it depends on the size of the bribe offered to the committee. Which, sometimes, is just me. This year it will be a bit of all of the above... "

"When the prize was first awarded it was scrupulously fair. But, as in the course of all such prizes, it is now totally corrupt."

"It is generally awarded for a work of fiction or body of work which, in the
opinion of the committee, best celebrates the spirit of Jack Trevor Story. The conditions of the prize are that the money shall be spent in a week to a fortnight and the author have nothing to show for it at the end of that time. This is to recall Mr Story's famous reply to the bankruptcy judge who enquired where a substantial sum of money paid to him for film rights had gone -- "You know how it is, judge. Two hundred or two thousand, it always lasts a week to a fortnight.'"

Below is Mr Aylett's press release about his win.

Steve Aylett has won the Prix Jack Trevor Story (or Jack Trevor Story
Memorial Award).

The Jack Trevor Story Memorial Award is given occasionally for a work
of fiction or body of work which best celebrates the humorous spirit
of Jack Trevor Story (Live Now Pay Later, Morag's Flying Fortress, The
Wind in the Snotty Gobble Tree, The Trouble With Harry).

As well as the traditional cup, a cash prize is awarded. The
conditions of the prize are that the money shall be spent in a week to
a fortnight and the author have nothing to show for it at the end of
that time. Aylett, author of LINT, SLAUGHTERMATIC and the newly
released FAIN THE SORCERER, says "Other than humour and imagination, I think the Prize is index-linked to authors who, no matter how many books they have published and in print, manage to have no money or exist in massive debt. Amazon's 'Buy Used' facility means more authors
than ever meet this criteria. I just put money on a table and watch as
it becomes gauzy and then disappears. I'll enjoy watching the Prize
evaporate."

The jury consisted of Mr John Coulthart(UK), M. Jean-Luc Fromental
(France), Mr Michael Moorcock (UK), Mr Martin Stone (France) and Mr
Jeff VanderMeer (USA).

----------------

http://steveaylett.com/Pages/index2.html

LINT -
http://www.steveaylett.com/Pages/LINTpage.html

Fain the Sorcerer:
http://www.pspublishing.co.uk/cat/fts.asp