The Compton Crook/ Stephen Tall Award

Congratulations to the 2024 Compton Crook Award Winner:
Splinter in the Sky by Kemi Ashing-Giwa (S&S/Saga Press)


The Compton Crook Award:

The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best of each year's English language first novel by an author in the field of science fiction, fantasy, or horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at our annual science fiction convention, Balticon, the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention. Awards have been presented since 1983. The award is also known as the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Award.

The list of eligible books is published in the monthly newsletter so all club members will have a chance to read and vote. The winning author is invited to Balticon (BSFS pays transportation and lodging) for two years, and presented with the cash award of $1,000 and an award plaque.

Compton Crook, who wrote under the name of Stephen Tall, was a long-time Baltimore resident, Towson State University professor, and science fiction author. He died in 1981.

For a history of the Compton Crook Award, including information about the author Compton Crook, please see this Brochure created by Maria Thompson and Sam Lubell for the 40th Anniversary of the Compton Crook/Stephen Tall Memorial Award in 2022.