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Military and war fiction book awards
Recognition for novels of conflict and service that take both seriously. Every book is read in full and measured against our published Standard of Excellence.
What this category recognizes
Military fiction is assessed on whether it understands what it depicts. Readers of this genre include people who served, and inaccuracy or romanticisation is noticed immediately.
The category covers combat narratives, novels of service life away from the front, espionage and military thriller, historical war fiction from any period, and books about coming home. Nonfiction accounts of service belong in Military and Veteran Experience.
What the standard looks like here
The ten pillars apply to every category. This is how each one is read when the book is military and war fiction.
The Writing
Voice, Tone and Style
Whether the register is right for the material, neither detached nor sensationalised.
Craft and Technical Execution
Whether action is written clearly, and whether technical detail is accurate without becoming a manual.
Structure and Organization
Whether the book handles the shape of conflict, including the long stretches where nothing happens.
The Substance
Originality and Concept Strength
Whether it brings something to a heavily written field.
Depth of Content and Insight
Whether the cost is examined rather than depicted.
The Reader
Audience Impact and Purpose Fulfillment
Whether a reader who served would recognize it.
Emotional and Psychological Impact
Whether the effect on the people in it registers.
Overall Impact and Distinction
What the reader understands afterwards that they did not before.
The Finished Book
Production Quality and Presentation
Trade-standard editing, typesetting, and cover design. Maps and glossaries where the reader needs them.
Category Relevance
Whether conflict or service genuinely drives the book.
Questions about entering a military and war fiction book
Is my book eligible if it is set in a fictional war?
Yes, though a wholly invented world usually fits Fantasy or Science Fiction better.
My novel is about a veteran after service. Which category?
Here, if it is fiction. Military and Veteran Experience if it is a real account.
Do I need to have served?
No. The book is assessed, not the author's history.
Related categories
Submit your military and war fiction book
Entry is $79 for your first category. Your complete manuscript is read in full and measured against the ten pillars.