2018 SFR Galaxy Awards

The SFR Galaxy Awards are unique. They are awarded by seven judges who select outstanding science fiction romance books published in a given year. Nominations are secret (just like the Nobel Prizes!), and the winners are announced at the end of January. The 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards represent the best of the genre for last year.

According to Laurie Green, one of the co-founders of the awards, “They aren't a voter's choice or a popularity contest. They are seven judges who are reviewers, bloggers, librarians, and/or editors. They select books that they feel are standouts in the genre, either overall or for certain aspects of the work. The purpose of the awards is to highlight outstanding SFR and to help readers find books they want to read.”

My space opera series has won three* SFR Galaxy Awards in years past, so I could be biased, but I think they're truly an honor. I can't think of another case where excellent reviewers and bloggers who love a particular genre have organized to create awards and give them out every year.

Oh, by the way, the limited edition Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 anthology won awards from two of this year's judges. By the time you read this, that book will have left the known universe, but a little bird alien pet told me there will be a Pets in Space 4.

Seventh Year for the SFR Galaxy Awards

In the romance world, SFR often gets lumped into paranormal romance, as if magic and science are the same difference. In the science fiction world, if SFR is acknowledged at all, it usually ends up under space opera. At least space opera fans like people to have relationships while they fight space battles. In my opinion, SFR is the best of both—you wouldn't have a story without both the romance and the science fiction, so it deserves its own genre—and seven years of awards.

This is the comprehensive list of the winners of the 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards. If you love science fiction romance as much as I do, consider this your one-stop reference for finding new authors to follow and new books to read (and one TV series to watch).

Winners of the 2018 SFR Galaxy Awards

Awards and quotes from Jo Jones, Mixed Book Bag

An Alien Exchange by Keri Kruspe
Best Dream to Nightmare Plot
“A lonely woman. An exiled alien prince. Can two different individuals find a way to be together to save the galaxy from a malicious plot threatening to tear it apart?”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Breakaway by Michelle Diener
Best Use of World Building and Back Story to Jumpstart a Plot
“Sofie is part of the resistance… Leo is the crime lord she admires… The time has come for a single, lethal strike–and that will not be without consequences.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Warleader by Susan Grant
Best Improvement After Rewriting
“Galactic Rules of Engagement: #1: Enemies must not become lovers. Welcome to the Borderlands, where rules are meant to be broken…”
Where to buy: Amazon

Awards and quotes from judge Riley Moreland, Whiskey With My Books

Aftermath (Hathe Book 3) by Mary Brock Jones
Potent Post-War Setting Award
“Aftermath has a complex plot, engaging heroes and heroines, and disagreeable villains. The slow burning romance between Jacquel (the understated antihero of the first two books) and Rheia is satisfying. But their roles as revolutionaries in the post war situation are what makes this book a great read.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Raven, Fire and Ice by Nita Round
Best Steampunk Transport
“I do love steampunk and here is a new-to-me author that is serving up what I want. In Raven, Fire and Ice, Nita Round describes an airship that anyone would love to take a ride on.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble
Infinity (Horizon Book 2) by Tabitha Lord
Arcane History Award
“In addition to all the hidden history, Infinity includes Derek and Caeli, the hero and heroine from two different worlds who may be the key to saving everything.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Lost Valyr (Project Enterprise Book 7) by Pauline Baird Jones
Arachnophobia Award for Creepiest Villain
“Lost Valyr also has one of the quirkiest romantic couples I had the pleasure to read about in 2018. Valyr rarely talks. Rachel makes up for it by filling in all the silent spaces. And did I mention they come from different planets?”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Not Fade Away (Interstellar Rescue Book 4) by Donna S. Frelick
Favorite Dog Hero
“With part of the action taking place on Earth and part off planet, Not Fade Way has constant action that overlays the understated, but crucial romance between Charlie and Rafe. A fantastic addition the Interstellar Rescue series.”
Where to buy: Amazon

Awards and quotes from Heather Massey, SFR Galaxy Awards Co-Founder and Author

DC's Legends of Tomorrow TV series. Greg Berlanti – Executive Producer; Showrunners – Sarah Schechter and Chris Fedak.
Hottest Queer Sci-Fi Romance in a Superhero Universe
“What's a sci-fi romance fan to do when her reading in 2018 took a nose dive? Why, watch DC's Legends of Tomorrow, of course! In a nutshell, Legends of Tomorrow is about the adventures of a ragtag team of B-list superheroes as they travel through time to save Earth from power-hungry villains. …For me one of the standout elements is the romance between White Canary, a.k.a. Sara Lance (Cathy Lotz) and Time Bureau Director Ava Sharpe (Jes Macallan)… Their romance, one between an ice princess and an assassin, unfolds across seasons three and four.”
Where to watch or buy: Amazon: Season 1 ~ Season 2 ~ Season 3 ~ Season 4

Awards and quotes from Lee Koven, Cyber Post Punk Love

A Treason of Truths by Ada Harper
Most Intriguing Society
“Sabine, the Quillian Empress, is invited to a Cloud Vault summit, and her spymaster Lyre knows they can’t be up to any good. She used to work for them, after all. As the two of them try to uncover the plot against Sabine, the reader can explore this complex and unique civilization.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Delta V by Elsa Jade
Most Unusual Heroine
“Why? Because Lindy is not your typical romance novel heroine. She’s fifty years old… This is a space cyborg cowboy romance… Elsa Jade pulled it off.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Implanted by Lauren C. Teffeau
Best Mobile Phone Replacement
“The implants from Implanted magnify the risks and rewards of this. Teffeau presents the possible consequences of the evolution of smartphones.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
The Queen's Gambit by Jessie Mihalik
Best Serial
“Mihalik sets up a conflict wherein the ones who pay the price for war are often those who are least responsible for it. The first season has been collected into a novella.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
The Protector Series by Megan Hart
Best Bodyguard's Buddy
“Nina, the cyborg protagonist of the series, is a compelling character. But Nina’s friend Al is perhaps more so. …Al always drives her own ship, tries to look out for those she cares for, and risks her life to fight for what she believes in. She’s a buddy all of us could use.”
Where to buy:
Dangerous Promise: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Wicked Attraction: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Forbidden Stranger: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play

Awards and quotes from Marlene Harris, Reading Reality

Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors) by Anna Hackett
Home Again Award (Dance With the One That Brung Ya')
“…if you like sprawling space operas, evil alien bugs, disgusting bureaucrats, hot warriors, kickass heroines and saving the world, this book is a terrific introduction to a marvelous series.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Entropy by Jess Anastasi
Firefly Redux Award
“The romance between Qae the flirtatious captain and Cami the space pirate’s daughter provides the lighter moments – for select definitions of “light” – in what feels like a turning point in this multiple-award-winning SFR series.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 by S E Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch
Meow It Again Sam Award
“This collection is a combination of stories in familiar SFR universes with stories that are always new-to-me. I always discover someone I just have to read that I haven’t met before, along with several someones who woof, meow, squeak or squawk their way into my heart from worlds that I’m already in love with.”
Where to buy: This limited-edition anthology has left the galaxy. Check author websites for if/when they will be publishing their respective story elsewhere. Look for CATS OF WAR this spring.
Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet
Shoulda Been a Contender Award
“Nightchaser is a thrill-a-minute ride from beginning to end, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. I won’t forget Tess and her crew in the meantime, and I want to make sure that you don’t either!”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play

Awards and quotes from Chris Stock, Roswell Daily Record

A Darkside Interlude: Darkstar Mercenaries 0.5 by Anna Carven
Short Sweet and Feisty Award
“It was hard to pick just one of last year’s releases of Anna Carven, but I think this one stands out because it is so tricky to write a short story with all characters fleshed out and not losing anything.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Rage (Alien Breed 1) by Melody Adams (Translation by Sylvia Corbisiero)
Best Similar But Different Out of Africa Award
“I am a fan of human women rescuing not-so-willing aliens, alien hybrids, alien pets–you name it, I read it. Many authors have included this theme, but some are just too fun not to read. This one comes to us from an author out of Bijilo, Gambia (West Africa). … The really fun part are the side-kicks — good ones and evil ones — dangers Rage and the girl have to go through until a HEA. I loved the lingo and the bantering.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books
Beauty's Alien Beast by Linda Mooney
Best Out-of-Space Cop Award-Despite-the-Title
“A rough, yet honorable, female intergalactic cop with some fierce mental power sees a beast-alien from a mining planet getting ambushed… Instead of being able to help him, the cop gets caught as well and knocked out. …I loved everything about this book, though I think a different title would have been a better choice.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors Book 1) by Anna Hackett
Best Start of a New Series and Kidnapping Scene
“Anna Hackett stands for amazing books and series. Her worlds are so full and diverse that you can almost believe that they are real. …Edge of Eon is a new series with aliens, yes, but with a twist that is too good… I can’t wait for the next in the series because Eve has two equally strong sisters. “
Where to buy: Amazon
Embrace the Passion: Pets in Space 3 by S E Smith, Anna Hackett, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, E D Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch
Best Continuation of an Anthology that Makes You Feel Good
“For the third time authors came together to write about what they love most: Alien love stories and alien animals or pets. Best of it, they were able to raise with the sale of the anthology funds for Hero Dogs. …[the] non-profit that improves quality of life for our nation’s heroes by raising, training, and placing service dogs and other highly skilled canines, free of charge with lifetime support of the partnerships. …These anthologies are well-done, well-written and a perfect way to find a new favorite author, not to mention alien pets.”
Where to buy: This limited-edition anthology has left the galaxy. Check author websites for if/when they will be publishing their respective story elsewhere. Look for CATS OF WAR this spring.

Awards and quotes from KJ Van Houten, WWMB Reviews

Edge of Eon (Eon Warriors Book 1) by Anna Hackett
Alpha Award: Best New Series
“This new series by amazing writer Anna Hackett has a very resourceful heroine that manages to kick the feet from under the toughest warrior in the Eon fleet and keeps him unsteady for the entire story. …Best of all, the series sets up for more stories to come in an overarching plot of humans and Eon learning to trust each other in order to fight a common enemy.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Hunted by the Cyborg by Cara Bristol
Omega Ward: Best End-of-Series
“The Cy-Ops series has been one of my favourite cyborg series to read. Throughout the entire series, Carter Aymes has been in the background, leading the cyborg effort to stop the Lamis-Odg… Carter proves he is as much of a hero as anyone that has ever stood up to terrorism.”
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books ~ Google Play
Warleader by Susan Grant
Phoenix Award: Best Resurrected Series
“Susan Grant is reworking her previous Borderlands series now that she got the rights back in her own hands. Warleader is a rework of Moonstruck, which was always one of my favourite SFR novels. I hadn’t realized she could make it better, but she did.”
Where to buy: Amazon
Collision by Lea Kirk
Little Green Men Award
“OK, so Anferthians are not little, being a tall race usually 9-12 feet tall as adults, but Fander is described as “eight-foot-tall” and “still the shortest Anferthian in the bunch.” Anferthians are a powerful, green-skinned race, with a lot of sex appeal and charm, when they are not murderous, xenophobic traitors. Fander is… probably one of the sexiest aliens I read the entire year! “
Where to buy: Amazon ~ Kobo Books ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Apple Books