The Geffen Award

The Geffen Awards are presented by the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy, and are named after the late Amos Geffen, one of the first editors and translators of sci-fi in Israel. In many ways, Amos Geffen's work shaped the field of SF&F in Israel, and his influence is still indelible. The award is presented each year at the Israeli SF&F convention, known as ICon, and is voted on by the participants of the convention. The Geffen is currently awarded in five categories:

1. Best translated Science Fiction book
2. Best translated Fantasy book
3. Best original short story
4. Best original novel or short fiction collection
5. Best Translated Young Adult or Children SF&F Book (This category was added in 2013)

The award's rules and constitution are available (in Hebrew) here

Geffen Award Winners, 2023

For Best Original Book: Rotem Baruchin For her book "The City Guardians", Kinneret Zmora-Bitan Dvir
For the Best Short Story: Rotem Baruchin For her story "Blue Bubblegum Slushy", Published in "Once Upon a Future 2022"
For the Best Fantasy Book: Helen Harper For her book "The Lazy Girl's Guide to Magic Series: Slouch Witch, Star Witch, Spirit Witch", Translated By: Inbal Saggiv Nakdimon, Alma Books
For the Best Science Fiction Book: Andy Weir, For his book "Project Hail Mary", Translated By: Tomer Ben Aharon,The Armchair Publishing House
For the Best Young Adult Book: Garth Nix For his book "The Left-Handed Booksellers of London", Translated By: Debbie Eylon, Utz Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2022

Best Translated Science Fiction Book was not awarded.

Best translated fantasy book
The Once and Future Witches / Alix E. Harrow, Translated by Lee Evron, Tamir Publishing

Best Translated YA Book:
A Skinful Of Shadows/ Frances Hardinge, Translated by Yael Inbar,  Utz Books

Best Original Hebrew Book:
What Others Think In Me / Yoav Blum, Keter Books

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Dust/ Keren Landsman Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2021

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes/ Suzanne Collins, Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best translated fantasy book
The Ten Thousand Doors of January/ Alix E. Harrow, Translated by Lee Evron, Tamir Publishing

Best Translated YA Book:
Children of Blood and Bone/ Tomi Adeyemi, Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew Book:
The World Under the Carpet / Lee Evron, Tal May and Yediot books Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Open (Or: The Light Through The Keyhole)/ Hila Benyovits-Hoffman Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2020

Best Translated Science Fiction Book was not awarded.

Best translated fantasy book
Spinning Silver/ Naomi Novik, Translated by Yael Achmon, Tamir Publishing

Best Translated YA Book:
Cuckoo Song/ Frances Hardinge, Translated by Vered Tochterman,  Utz Books

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Satisfying the Dragon / Masha Zur-Glozman, Yediot books Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Blue Iceberg Beer/ Rotem Baruchin Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2019

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Artemis /Andy Weir, Translated by Didi Chanoch, The Armchair Publishing House

Best translated fantasy book
Mistborn: The Alloy of Law/ Brandon Sanderson, Translated by Zafrir Grosman, Opus Press

Best Translated YA Book:
The Ship of the Dead/ Rick Riordan, Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew Book:
The Heart of the Circle / Keren Landsman, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
My Last Dragon/ Rotem Baruchin Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2018

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Journey to the Center of the Earth/Jules Verne,Translated by Emmanuel Pinto, Modan Publishing House

Best translated fantasy book
Fool's Quest/ Robin Hobb, Translated by Zafrir Grosman, Opus Press

Best Translated YA Book:
The Dark Prophecy / Rick Riordan, Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Into The Abyss / Hagar Yanai, Modan and Ocean Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Witch/ Adi Loya Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2017

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Earth Awakens & Earth Afire/Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston,Translated by Boaz Weiss, Opus Press

Best translated fantasy book
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child/ J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, Translated by Gili Bar-Hillel Semo, Books in the Attic Publishing

Best Translated YA Book:
The Hidden Oracle / Rick Riordan, Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew Book:
The Unswitchable / Yoav Blum, Keter Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Lost and Found/ Rotem Baruchin Published in "Once upon a future"

Geffen Award Winners, 2016

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Redshirts / John Scalzi,Translated by Zafrir Grosman, Opus Press

Best translated fantasy book
Fool’s Assassin / Robin Hobb, Translated by Zafrir Grosman, Opus Press

Best Translated YA Book:
The Blood of Olympus / Rick Riordan, Translated by Yael Achmon, Graff publishing

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Lake of Shadows / Roni Gelbfish, Gold Fish

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Requiem to Mathew / Avial Tochterman

Geffen Award Winners, 2015

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
The Martian / Andy Weir,Translated by Didi Chanoch, The Armchair Publishing House

Best translated fantasy book
The Ocean at the End of the Lane  / Neil Gaiman, Translated by Didi Chanoch, The Armchair Publishing House

Best Translated YA Book:
Ozma of Oz and Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz / L Frank Baum, Translated by Gili Bar-Hillel Semo, Utz Books

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Broken Skies / Keren Landsman, Sial Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Five Four Three Two One / Hila Benyovich-Hoffman

Geffen Award Winners, 2014

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
The Devil's Alphabet / Daryl Gregory Translated by Didi Chanoch, Graff publising

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
Going Postal / Terry Pratchett Translated by Vered Tochterman, Opus press

Best Translated YA Book:
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents / Terry Pratchett Translated by Yonatan Bar, Sial Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Whiskey in a Jar / Rotem Baruchin Published in "Once upon a future"

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Every Story is a Sudden Cat / Gabriella Avigur, Rotem Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2013

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Tower of Glass / Robert Silverberg Translated by Omer Kabir, Moby Dick publising

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
A dance with dragons / George R.R. Martin Translated by Tzafrir Grosman, Opus publishing

Best Translated YA Book:
Mockingjay/ Suzanne Collins Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Cappuccino, To Go / Rotem Baruchin Published in "Once upon a future" vol. 4

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Demons in Agripas Street /Hagai Dagan Kinneret Zmora Bitan Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2012

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Catching fire / Suzanne Collins Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
The Son of Neptune / Rick Riorden Translated by Yael Achmon, Graff publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story (joint win):
And then there was winter/ Hadas Misgav Published in Don’t Panic! Online magazine
Alone, in the dark / Keren Landsman Published as part of the online anthology “The World of Susan”, Meorot convention website.

Best Original Hebrew Book:
What if (Herzl said) / Yoav Avni Zmora-Bitan  Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2011

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:

The hunger games / Suzanne Collins Translated by Yael Achmon, Kinneret Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
I shall wear midnight / Terry Pratchett Translated by Yonatan Bar, Kidmat Eden Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
The Heisenberg Gorgon / Keren Landsman Published in Don’t Panic! Online magazine

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Mesopotamia – Silence of the stars / Yehuda Israely & Dor Raveh Am-Oved  Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2010

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Isaac Asimov’s Collected Short Stories– Vol. I / Isaac Asimov Translated by Rami Shalhevet, Moby Dick Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
Nation / Terry Pratchett Translated by Yonatan Bar, Kidmat Eden Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Dr. Watson & Mr. Holmes – or – The Curse of the of Penningtons / Vered Tochterman Published in “Once upon a future” anthology, Vol 1

Best Original Hebrew Book:
To Be (Chong Levi's Fifth) / Yoav Avni Kinneret Zmora-Bitan  Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2009

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
This Immortal / Roger Zilazeny Translated by Raz Greeberg , Moby Dick Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
A hatful of sky / Terry Pratchett Translated by Yonatan Bar, Kidmat Eden Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
The phoenix planet / Yael Michaeli Published in Don't Panic! Online Magazine

Best Original Hebrew Book:
Hydromania / Asaf Gavron Keter Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2008

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
I Am Legend / Richard Matheson Yanshuf Publishing, translated by Yael Inbar

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
The Wee Free Men / Terry Pratchett Kidmat Eden Publishing, translated by Yonatan Bar

Best Translated Young Adult or Children SF&F Book (This category was unique to 2008):
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / J. K. Rowling Yediot books Publishing, translated by Gili Bar-Hillel Semo

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
Where Books are Lost / Lili Daie Published in Don't Panic! Online Magazine

Best Original Hebrew Book:
The Water Between the Worlds / Hagar Yanai Keter Publishing

Best Translation of a SF&F book (This category was unique to 2008):
Gili Bar-Hillel Semo For Translating the book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / J. K. Rowling Yediot books Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2007

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Old Man's War / John Scalzi Translated by Raz Greenberg, Yanshuf Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell / Susanna Clarke Translated by Vered Tochterman, Yanshuf Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
In the Mirror / Rotem Baruchin The Tenth Dimension Magazine, issue 29

Best Original Hebrew Book:
The Whale of Babylon / Hagar Yanai Keter Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2006

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Spin / Robert Charles Wilson Translated by Didi Chanoch, Graff Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
Anansi Boys / Neil Gaiman Translated by Vered Tochterman, Opus Press

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
East of Eden / Hagay Averbuch The Israeli Society for SF&F Online Magazine

Geffen Award Winners, 2005

Best Translated Science Fiction Book:
Childhood's End / Arthur C. Clarke Translated by Didi Chanoch, Yanshuf Publishing

Best Translated Fantasy Book:
Transformation / Carol Berg Translated by Didi Chanoch, Graff Publishing

Best Original Hebrew SF&F Short Story:
The Perfect Girl / Guy Hasson Dreams in Aspamia magazine, Translated by Vered Tochterman

Best Original Hebrew Book:
End's World / Ofir Touche Gafla Keter Publishing

Geffen Award Winners, 2004

Best translated science fiction book:
Warchild / Karin Lowachee Translated by Inval Sagiv; Opus Press

Best translated fantasy book:
Smoke and Mirrors / Neil Gaiman (Opus Press) Translated by Yael Achmon; Opus Press

Best original SF/Fantasy short story:
Dragon Checkpoint / Rami Shalheveth (The Tenth Dimension, issue 18)

Geffen Award Winners, 2003

Best translated science fiction book:
Solaris / Stanislaw Lem Translated by Aharon Hauptman; Keter publishing house

Best translated fantasy book:
American Gods / Neil Gaiman Translated by Rechavia Berman; Opus Press

Best original SF/Fantasy short story:
All-of-Me(TM) / Guy Hasson Published in Dreams in Aspamia SF&F Magazine

Best original SF/Fantasy book:
Sometimes It's Different / Vered Tochterman Opus Press

Reports of the 2003 Geffen Award:
The Locus Report, The SFcrowsnest Report

Geffen Award Winners, 2002

Best translated science fiction book:
Fahrenheit 451 /Ray Bradbury Translated by Noa Manheim; Odyssey publishing house
Best translated fantasy book:
A Storm of Swords / George R. R. Martin Translated by David Chanoch; Opus Press
Best original SF/Fantasy short story:
Me and Grandma Go Shopping / Hamutal Levin Published in Don't Panic! Online Magazine

Geffen Award Winners, 2001

Best translated science fiction book:
Ender's Shadow / Orson Scott Card Translated by Rechavia Berman; Opus Press
Best translated fantasy book:
The Anubis Gates / Tim Powers Translated by Vered Tochterman; Opus Press

Geffen Award Winners, 2000

Best translated science fiction book:
Dune: House Atreides / Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson Translated by Dorit Landes; Am Oved publishing house
Best translated fantasy book:
Stardust / Neil Gaiman Translated by Ornit Shachar; Opus Press

Geffen Award Winners, 1999

Best translated science fiction book:
Pastwatch / Orson Scott Card Translated by Rechavia Berman; Opus Press
Best translated fantasy book:
Swords and Deviltry / Fritz Leiber Translated by Adva Zeltser; Opus Press