Winners

2009 RESULTS
2009 YOUTH WINNERS

First prize: $50.00, 2009 OddCon membership, and books
"Equilibrium," Annelyse Gelman, Orinda, CA

Second prize: books
"Dream, Real," Kimberly Tsan, Coquitlam, BC, Canada

Third prize: books
"The Melody of Life," Lin Wang, Coquitlam, BC, Canada

JUDGE'S COMMENTS
"Equilibrium": Science fiction is of course difficult, given these constraints and I appreciate seeing some. It actually reads like the prologue to a story about the voyage itself, but under the circumstances that's not a real problem, as the preparation is a mini-story in itself.
"Dream, Real": The first sentence is a good narrative hook; the first paragraph sets up an intriguing situation that the reader wants to pursue. The image of the phone-turned-mouth is truly horrifying, yet funny in a grotesque way. The description of the horror is excellent, using lots of senses other than sight.
"The Melody of Life": A skillful distillation of a life of searching, first in the imagination, then in the “real” world, and back again. A good prose poem.

YOUTH HONORABLE MENTION
"The Kacheechees," Chantal Ingeman, Rhinelander, WI

YOUTH FINALISTS
"Between a Sleep and a Sleep," Megan Arkenberg, Germantown, WI
"Dragon Snot and Chosen Ones," Therese Arkenberg, Germantown, WI
"Planet Gorgli," Lindsey Maloney, Rhinelander, WI
"The Meteor," Xandria Pauke, Rhinelander, WI
"Magic Island," Alex Ronis, Rhinelander, WI
"Return of the Heroes," Nick Wagler, Rhinelander, WI


2009 ADULT WINNERS

First prize: $500.00, 2009 OddCon membership, and books
"100 seconds from the Century of Martian Wars," Leonid Korogodski, Sharon, MA

Second prize: books
"The Powers of Singing," Richard Roe, Madison, WI

Third prize: books
"The Apple and the Tyrannosaur," Robert Borski, Stevens Point, WI

JUDGE'S COMMENTS

"100 seconds from the Century of Martian Wars" has to be first place. An exciting, terrifying rush of words, deftly combining hard science and poetic imagery. I don't know whether "magnetorheological" is a word. If not, it should be!
"The Powers of Singing" gives new meaning to the term "space opera." A beautifully rendered conceit.
"The Apple and the Tyrannosaur" is a delightful goof. Although questionable, perhaps, in both theology and science, it's a hoot to read.

ADULT HONORABLE MENTIONS
"The Night Godzilla Dumped His Chick," Matt Betts, Columbus, OH
"The Mummy," Maddie Greene
"The Man From Between the Seconds,"Ryan Hallett, Ottawa, ON, Canada
"Their Wings Too Crisp to Make Music," Linda Wendling, Maryland Hts., MO


ADULT FINALISTS
"A Life Elsewhere," Bob Birnschein, Sun Prairie, WI
"Mercurian Sunrise," Bob Birnschein, Sun Prairie, WI
"What We Thought About The Future," William Copeland, Redford, MI
"The Man, the Dog, and the Apple," Heidi Lampietti, Bayside, CA
"Ship's Computer Log," Rachel Fisher, Madison, WI
"Bird Flu," Carol Hassler, Madison, WI
"The Anachronists," Kathy Kachelries, Wallingford, PA
"Sometimes She Dreams of Stars," Jes Petersen, Madison, WI
"The Gate of Dreams," Alyse Rall, San Rafael, CA
"The Death of Him," Persephone Vandegrift, Seattle, WA
"Whisker Wish," LaShawn M. Wanak, Madison, WI
"Don’t Lie Down. Don’t Stay Still.," Linda Wendling, Maryland Hts., MO
"The Briefcase," W. Whirlochre, United Kingdom

joe haldeman photo2009 Final Judge: Joe Haldeman
 A noted SF poet, Mr. Haldeman's science fiction and poetry are widely published, and he has won the Hugo (several times), Nebula (several times), Ditmar, Galaxy, Rhysling (several times), Italian "Futuro Remoto," World Fantasy, John W. Campbell, and James Tiptree Awards. His most recent book is The Accidental Time Machine. home.earthlink.net/~haldeman/

We received 26 Youth entries and 41 Adult entries for the 2009 OddContest! Read the 2009 winning stories.

2008 RESULTS
2008 YOUTH WINNERS

First Prize:
"I MADE MY LAST SALE TO A CORP.," Megan Arkenberg, Germantown, WI
Second Prize:
"WHAT'S A DEMON FOR," Therese Arkenberg, Germantown, WI
Third Prize:
"THE POSSIBILITY OF GILLS," Kexin Yin, Winston Salem, NC

2008 ADULT WINNERS

First Prize:
"POD, CAST," PS Cottier, Australia
Second Prize:
"THIS POEM HAS NO MEANING," Terry Weide, Kansas City, MO
Third Prize:
"INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONVERTING YOUR DEATHBOT TO A GARDENBOT," Matt Betts, Columbus, OH


2008 ADULT FINALISTS
"ELM ON NIGHTMARE STREET"—Robert Borski, Stevens Point, WI
"PETE, PEACHES AND ROPE"—Avery Cahill, Gainesville FL
"NEW MANAGEMENT"—Deanie Campbell, Camilla, GA
"Subset 005-773-1033d5 Version #31,557,503,557,011"—Christopher Figa, Milford, MI
"AT THE MALL WITH BIGFOOT"—Lisa C. Freitag, Andover, MN
"NEVERLAND"—Gary Kloster, Braham, MN
"THE PASSENGER"—Heidi Lampietti, Bayside, CA
"THE BARGAIN"—J.E. Petersen, Madison, Wl
"FLY AWAY, HOME"—Terry Weide, Kansas City, MO
"LUCID"—Gregg Williard, Madison, WI

joe haldeman photo2008 Final Judge: Bruce Boston
 Mr. Boston's science fiction and poetry are widely published, and he has won the Pushcart Prize, the Asimov's Readers' Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Rhysling Award, and the first Grand Master Award of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. He is the author of more than forty books and chapbooks; most recently, the novel The Guardener's Tale. hometown.aol.com/bruboston