Awards such as the Ictineu or the Ignotus are undoubtedly the best calling cards a fantasy novel can have. During each literary season, dozens of books make their way onto readers’ shelves thanks to the recognition and endorsement that come with these awards. CatCon, HispaCón, Worldcon, the Celsius Festival... Every fantasy event worth its salt has its own award, and Festival 42 is no exception.

After two editions, the 42 Awards have cemented their place as a sign of high-quality fantasy literature, committed to the reading public and opening up new horizons on the fantasy scene. On Friday 10 November, ten fortunate people will receive the award designed by Tono Cristòfol and awarded by two panels, who will be choosing the best Catalan- and Spanish-language books to have hit the shelves in recent months.

There will be awards for the best original book in Catalan, the best original book in Spanish, the best book translated into Catalan, the best book translated into Spanish, the best classic translated into Catalan, the discovery of the year written in Catalan, the discovery of the year written in Spanish, the 2023 honorary awards and the Alba 42 Award for young-adult fantasy, which has been included in the 42 Awards in the category of best young-adult fantasy book in Catalan, although it was also awarded in 2020 and 2021 outside the festival.

This year, in keeping with this goal of promoting literature for younger readers, the 42 Award for the best young-adult book in Spanish of 2023 has been added to the list of awards.

A panel made up of Inés Macpherson, Miquel Codony, Tatiana Dunyó and Karen Madrid will be deciding who wins the awards for books in Catalan. A second panel, made up of Daniel Pérez Castrillón, Leticia Lara, Cristina Jurado and Borja Bilbao, will decide on the awards for books in Spanish.

Remember, even if you can't make it to Fabra i Coats on Friday 10 November, where the awards ceremony begins at 7:45 pm, you can follow the event live via the festival's social media and be the first to find out who has received the 2023 awards. And if you like, at 11 am on Saturday 11, you can also attend a round-table conversation with the prize winners, followed by a book signing.

 

CATEGORIES

 

42 Award for the Best Original Work in Catalan 2023

42 Award for the Best Original Work in Spanish 2023

42 Award for the Best Work Translated into Catalan 2023

42 Award for the Best Work Translated into Spanish 2023

42 Award for the Best Discovery in Catalan 2023

42 Award for the Best Discovery in Spanish 2023

42 Award for the Best Classic Translated into Catalan 2023

Alba 42 Award for the Best Young-Adult Book in Catalan 2023

42 Award for the Best Young-Adult Work in Spanish 2023

42 Honorary Award 2023