The , the most prestig꧙ious award for science fiction in the UK, found its latest winner last night in Jane Rogers.

Rogers won for her novel (published by ), a bleak dystopia set in the near-future, after an act of biological terrorism has unleashed a deadly v🌠ir🎶us which only affects pregnant women.

as “Possibly a choice too far from SF’s centre-ground even for the Clarke judges,” but a win for an author from outside the genre has proved popular with many.

No doubt someone who will be especially pleased is Christopher Priest, who described Rogers’s novel as the “only one which I think is something we should be proud of” during about the quality of the shortlist. Said Priest, “Ms Rogers is a successful and intelligent writer from what the SF world calls the ‘mainstream’. [Her novel] was quickly recognised by many commentators in the SF community as a work of real🔴 interest… if this alone encourages Ms Rogers to try her hand at more speculative fiction in future then the 🍨whole business has been justified."

SFX , mixing with authors, Award organisers and publishing insiders - as always we were proud to be associated with the event as a media partner. was held at the Apollo West End (Piccadilly Cꦯircus) on the second night of which is now in full swing. For a colourful look at the evening's fun, check out writer Paul Cornell's Twitter feed .

Neil Ramsden