the
edgar Prize
for mystery Fiction literature
The Edgar® awards are given by the Mystery Writers of America (MWA) for mystery fiction literature in several
categories.
about the Edgar
The Edgar® Award is presented to
recognize special achievement in mystery writing. The MWA is the grantor. The Edgar
takes its name from Edgar Allen Poe, who is universally acclaimed as the
originator of the mystery genre, the short story, and the detective story,
all three of which are "right down the alley" of the MWA. Nominees
for awards are submitted by members and the public; winners are selected by
committees appointed for this purpose. Presentations take place at the
annual MWA Edgar Awards Banquet.
about edgar
Of course, we're talking about Edgar Allen Poe, here shown at the right,
and rightly so. Who could be more a more apt inspiration for a prize of this
nature? He's generally regarded as a master of the macabre and the
inventor of the modern detective story; his Murders in the Rue Morgue
was the first of this genre; his tales of horror are masterpieces of
atmosphere; and his Raven is one of the best-known poems in American
literature. He was a poet, short-story writer, editor, and critic of high
order.
Categories
Edgars are currently awarded in the following categories:
- Best novel.
- Best paperback original (not a first novel).
- Best critical/biographical (bios about writers and other notables).
- Best Fact Crime (nonfiction).
- Best Short Story (magazines, periodicals, book-length anthologies).
- Best Young Adult.
- Best Juvenile (preschool prior to young adult).
- Best Motion Picture Screenplay.
- Best Television Feature or Miniseries Teleplay.
- Best Television Series Episode Teleplay.
- Best Play.
winner list
- See a list of current Edgar Award winners:
click here.
- Explore the MWA database for all award winners and nominees in all categories and
years:
click here.
other MWA awards
The Edgar is the most famous and coveted award of its type granted by the MWA.
However, the MWA also grants several other important, prestigious, and
well-known awards:
- The Grand Master Award
recognizes important contributions to the mystery field over time, as well
as a significant output of consistently high quality. In the words of the
WMA, this award "represents the pinnacle of achievement in the mystery
field."
- See past award winners at the MWA web site:
click here.
- The Ellery Queen Award honors
writing teams and outstanding people in the mystery-publishing industry.
- The Raven Award is given for
outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative
writing.
- The Robert L. Fish Memorial Award
is given for the best first mystery short story by an American author
whose fiction has not been previously published.
- The Mary Higgins Clark Award is
awarded to the book most closely written in the Mary Higgins Clark
tradition.
- Why is this award is named in her honor?
- How is award winner chosen?
- What is the formula that won Clark her amazing success? (If you don't
already know, get set for a surprise.)
- Who are past award winners?
- Answer these questions at the MWA web site:
click here.
about the Mystery writers of america
The MWA states that it is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre.
Its objective is to promote "higher regard for crime writing and recognition and respect for those who write within the genre."
Membership includes professional writers of books, short
stories, plays, and screenplays; publishers, editors, agents, librarians,
booksellers, and other in allied fields; aspiring writers and others devoted
to crime writing. Notice that membership is open to the public everywhere;
non-writers as well as writers in any part of the globe may become members
of this organization.
Among its activities:
- Scholarships for writers.
- Kids Love a Mystery, a children's literacy program.
- Symposia and conferences.
- Support that helps and educates and promotes the
welfare of professional mystery writers.
- Other activities that further a better appreciation and higher regard for crime writing.
nominate a future edgar winner
MWA award committees accept nominations from the public. Submit your
nomination for a published work you think should win—it's
as simple as filling out a form.
- Visit the MWA Edgar Information page for directions:
click here.
ETAF Recommends
Works of virtually all the Edgar winners are listed in the ETAF-Amazon
Collection. Many are available, even those published in prior years.
Works of MWA winners make excellent mystery reading. Find current or
previous award winners (see above). Then search for the names
of winning authors in the MWA database and you'll find their winning titles,
award categories, and publisher or producer.
- Search the MWA database for reading ideas from top authors:
click here.
See HY! Help Yourself to Poe, the first of a new series of
electronic books now being developed by ETAF. It contains the complete short
stories of Edgar Allen Poe:
click here.
