1. This must be the author's first commercially available solo (collaborations are not eligible) science fiction, fantasy or horror novel under her/his legal name or any pseudonym. (By "commercially available" we mean available for purchase from one or more internet or brick-and-mortar sellers. This includes direct author-to-reader sales.)

a. Please note that a first solo novel is eligible even if the author has already had collaborative novels published, as long as those publications listed both authors on the cover.

b. Novels considered must be adult or young adult novels intended for readers ages 13 and up.

c. Ebook-only and self-published books count as a first-novel when published, even if the book is later published in print or by a publishing house.

d. Books in a shared world, media tie-in, or other book in which the author did not create the setting or characters (except for books in public domain universes like King Arthur or Robin Hood) are not eligible.

e. Books translated by someone other than the original author do not count as solo novels so are not eligible for the Compton Crook Award.

2. PLEASE NOTE: For purposes of this award, the year of eligibility starts November 1 through October 31st of the following year. So for example Compton Crook 44, books must have been released between November 1, 2025 and October 31st, 2026 to be eligible. (If the release date is a later year than the copyright, we will consider candidacy based on the author's explanation of the date difference.)

3. We accept digital-only novels and self-published novels. However, these must meet the same standards for writing and copy editing as print and traditionally published novels.

a. The digital novel must be provided to us in unprotected epub, mobi, and/or pdf format file via email or over the Internet or on CDs or flash drives. We welcome prerelease novels as long as they will be published within the above time period. (unless we are allowed to download them and make the download available to members).

b. We will only accept download links for submissions if the link is provided through email to the committee or made available on Google Drive. Otherwise, files must be provided on a CD or flash drive. Please note: we cannot accept links that will not remain live until the end of the candidacy period

4. No title is eligible if the author has previously won any award from any Australian, Canadian, UK, British Commonwealth, former British Commonwealth or US organization for any English language novel in any genre.

5. The Compton Crook Committee can, at its discretion, exclude from consideration books that do not meet the award's quality standards. The members of BSFS as a committee of the whole rate the novels to determine the 5-10 finalists and then club members have an additional two months to review the finalists and determine the winner.

6. There is no rule #6.

7. We do not accept novels written or co-written by AI text generators. This does not limit the use of AI for proofing and/or editing in the same way as our no collaborations rule does not limit the use of human editors and workshops.

We strongly recommend that publisher and authors send both physical books for distribution at the BSFS Building to BSFS members for judging and as ebooks for members who do not attend physical meetings. The earlier donated books and ebooks are received the more reader exposure they will obtain.

We accept books as epub, mobi, and PDFs. Ideally, people will submit books in all three versions so our raters can use their existing devices. Ebooks will be stored on a Google Drive only accessible to members of BSFS and will be removed after the contest is over. Please make sure that electronic ebooks are not protected so club members can download them to their devices.

Authors, agents, and publishers are encouraged to send ebook versions of genre debut that you believe meet eligibility criteria. Advance Review Copies are welcome. Please email them to ComptonCrook AT BSFS DOT org or contact us at that email address for information on where to send files on CDs or flashdrives.

We are happy to accept a link to your digital publication if the link will remain live for the entire candidacy period. We will provide the link to BSFS members. We do have a few members who need audio books in order to participate in voting, so would welcome mp3 audio files when such are available.

PLEASE NOTE NEW ADDRESS STARTING JULY 2025

For physical (print) books please send 4 – 6 copies to:

          BSFS - Compton Crook Award
          402 King Farm Blvd #125
          Parcel Plus Box
          Rockville, MD 20850

Authors, if you want clarification on whether your debut novel is eligible to be a candidate for the Compton Crook Award, by all means write to us at ComptonCrook AT BSFS DOT org. The nominating committee will consider your novel and write to you if your novel has been nominated as a candidate. Please make it easy for us to reach you by providing an email address you check regularly and/or a phone number.

All Compton Crook Award book donation packages should include a memo or letter which:

• Indicates that the novel is intended for Compton Crook Award consideration;
  
• provides both email and telephone contact information for the author and/or publicist; and
  
• states that the novel meets requirements as listed in the Candidate Eligibility Requirements.

          Thank you for submitting to the Compton Crook Award.