For close to six decades, the N3F has operated a yearly short story contest. The first contest was judged by August Derleth (and others), with a collection of winners published by the N3F with art by Astrid Anderson.
Short Story Contest Winners
Year
Place — Writer — Work
2023
First Clint Stevenson Island of Avarice
Second Charles Walter Denebolan Marathon
Third J.L. Cook Forged in Fire
Honorable Mention Jeff Cassell Welcome to Vulpye
2022
First Sean Jones From Invention Springs Necessity
Second Clint Stevenson After the Siege
Third A.C. Cargill Book of Memories
Honorable Mention Guy Lillian The Candlestick Maker
2021
First Sean Jones The Prudence of Silver
Second Adrian Rayner Breaking Good
Third Markus Nyström Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair
Honorable Mention Patrick McKay The Landing at the Somme
2020
First Chris Owens The Azazel Tree
Second John Yarrow The Eternal Secret
Third Jack Mulcahy If Music Be the Fruit of Love
Honorable Mention Charles Douglas The Haunting of the Jabberwocky
2019
First Karen L. Kobylarz As Day Follows Night
Second Gustavo Bondoni The Safety of Thick Walls
Third Adam R. Goss Where you G-O-H When You Die
Honorable Mention Michael Simon The Captain
2018 First Gustavo Bondoni Iced
Second Graham J. Darling The Tim Machine
Third Michael Simon The Answer
Honorable Mention Karen L. Kobylarz Talisman and Bone
2017
First Philip A. Kramer Quantum Quietus
Second Gustavo Bondoni Qualnoth’s Favor
Third Robert W. Jennings Trash Smashers
Honorable Mention Graham J. Darling Immaterial Witness
2016
First Robert N. Stephenson Moonhenge
Second Michael Simon Natural Selection
Third Frank Sawielijew Beyond the Spires
Honorable Mention Gustavo Bondoni Free Fall
2015
First Sean Gillhoolley The Bazaar of Forbidden Dreams
Second Jeff Spitzer The Last Ordeal of James Willoughby
Third Kristin Janz Fabiana’s Fairy Godmother
Honorable Mention Deborah Rocheleau Track Invasion
2014 No Award
2013
First Michael Simon Desperate Times
Second R. Jean Mathieu The Short, Strange Life of Comrade Lin
Third Geoffrey Francis Map of the End of the World
Honorable Mention Danny Knestaut Blue
2012
First Michael Simon The Human Condition
Second Darren Moore Crimson Typhoon
Third George Casey There are other Miners