The Otherwise Award, originally known as the James Tiptree Jr. Award, is an American annual literary prize for works of

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

that expand or explore one's understanding of

gender Gender is the range of social, psychological, cultural, and behavioral aspects of being a man (or boy), woman (or girl), or third gender. Although gender often corresponds to sex, a transgender person may identify with a gender other tha ...

. It was initiated in February 1991 by science fiction authors Pat Murphy and

Karen Joy Fowler Karen Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the 19th century, nineteenth century, the Woman, lives of women, and social alienation. She is best known as the author of the b ...

, subsequent to a discussion at WisCon. In addition to the award itself, the judges publish an Honor List, which they describe as "a strong part of the award's identity", "used by many readers as a recommended reading list". In 2024, the award administrators announced that they would be switching from a single winner each year to a shortlist of three to six winners. The award was originally named for Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree Jr. Due to controversy over the appropriateness of naming an award after Tiptree, the committee administering the award announced on October 13, 2019, that the award would be renamed the Otherwise Award.

Background

Choice of the Tiptree name

By choosing a masculine ''nom de plume'', having her stories accepted under that name and winning awards with them, Alice Sheldon helped demonstrate that the division between male and female science fiction writing was illusory. Years after "Tiptree" first published science fiction, Sheldon wrote some work under the female pen name "Raccoona Sheldon"; later, the science fiction world discovered that "Tiptree" had been female all along. This discovery led to widespread discussion over which aspects of writing, if any, have an intrinsic gender. To remind audiences of the role gender plays in both reading and writing, the award was named in Sheldon's honor at the suggestion of

Controversy and name change

In 2019, controversy arose over the appropriateness of naming an award after Tiptree. In 1987, Alice Sheldon shot and killed her ailing husband

Huntington Sheldon Huntington Denton "Ting" Sheldon (February 14, 1903 – May 19, 1987) was an American who served as the director of the Office of Current Intelligence of the US Central Intelligence Agency from 1951 to 1961, serving under presidents Truman, ...

before killing herself in the same manner. Although some have called the killing a "

suicide pact A suicide pact is an agreed plan between two or more individuals to die by suicide. The plan may be to die together, or separately and closely timed. In England and Wales, a suicide pact is a partial defense, under section 4 of the Homicide Act ...

" based on Sheldon's personal writings, others characterize the act as "caregiver murder"—i.e., the murder of a disabled person by the person responsible for caring for them. In light of these allegations, the Tiptree Motherboard received requests to change the name of the award. On September 2, 2019, in response to these requests, the Motherboard made a statement that "a change to the name of the Tiptree Award is otwarranted now"; but nine days later, on September 11, they announced that the award "can't go on under its existing name". On October 13, 2019, the Tiptree Motherboard released an announcement stating that the Tiptree Award would become the Otherwise Award. The name refers to "the act of imagining gender otherwise" at the core of what the award has always honored, as well as being "wise to the experience of being the other". The title also draws from the Black queer scholarship of

Ashon Crawley Ashon T. Crawley is an American religious studies scholar, author, and multidisciplinary artist. He is a professor of religious studies and African American and African studies at the University of Virginia and the author of ''Blackpentecostal Bre ...

around what is termed "otherwise politics". According to the statement, "''Otherwise'' means finding different directions to move in—toward newly possible places, by means of emergent and multiple pathways and methods."

Administration

The Tiptree award is administered by the Tiptree "Motherboard". Fundraising efforts for the Tiptree include publications (two cookbooks), "feminist bake sales", and auctions. The Tiptree cookbook ''The Bakery Men Don't See'', edited by WisCon co-founder

Jeanne Gomoll Jeanne Gomoll is an American artist, writer, editor, and science fiction fandom, science fiction fan, who was recognized as one of the Science fiction convention#Guests of Honor, guests of honor at the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention (Loncon 3 ...

, was nominated for a 1992

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...

. Tiptree Award

juries A jury is a sworn body of people (jurors) convened to hear evidence, make findings of fact, and render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Most trial juries are " petit juries", an ...

traditionally consist of four female and one male juror (the "token man"). In 2011, the Tiptree Motherboard received the

Science Fiction Research Association The Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA), founded in 1970, is the oldest, non-profit professional organization committed to encouraging, facilitating, and rewarding the study of science fiction and fantasy literature, film, and other media. ...

's Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service for its "outstanding service activities – promotion of SF teaching and study, editing, reviewing, editorial writing, publishing, organizing meetings, mentoring, and leadership in SF/fantasy organizations"."Tiptree Motherboard Receives Clareson Award"
''Locus Online'' August 29, 2011

Anthologies

Selections of the winners, various short-listed fiction, and essays have appeared in four Tiptree-related collections, ''Flying Cups and Saucers'' (1999) and a series of annual anthologies published by Tachyon Publications of San Francisco. These include: * ''Flying Cups and Saucers: Gender Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy'' edited by The Secret Feminist Cabal and Debbie Notkin (1999) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 1'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2005) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 2'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2006) * ''The James Tiptree Award Anthology 3'' edited by Karen Joy Fowler, Pat Murphy, Debbie Notkin, and Jeffrey D. Smith (2007)

Winners

References

External links

* {{Feminist science fiction Awards established in 1991 Fantasy awards LGBTQ literary awards Lists of speculative fiction-related award winners and nominees Science fiction awards Gender in speculative fiction LGBTQ speculative fiction