An academic from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) has secured a double award nomination for a new book celebrating the intersection of folklore, environmentalism and speculative fiction.
Dr Kevan Manwaring, Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Creative Writing and Programme Leader for MA Creative Writing (Online) at AUB, has been named as a finalist for the British Fantasy Society’s Best Non-Fiction prize.
His acclaimed book, The Ecological Imaginary in Literature and Other Media: The Nature of Fantasy, has also been nominated for the prestigious Katharine Briggs Folklore Award.
The double recognition places the text at the forefront of contemporary cultural scholarship. Reaching the final six for the British Fantasy Awards, the UK's longest-running fantasy accolades established in 1972, is a significant achievement, particularly during a bumper year that saw a 25 per cent surge in voting.
At the same time, the nomination for the Katharine Briggs Folklore Award highlights the book's exceptional contribution to the academic study of folklore and traditional narratives.
Kevan’s work offers a vital and timely exploration of environmental themes within speculative fiction. From ancient epics like Gilgamesh and Gawain and the Green Knight to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and contemporary Grimdark fiction, the book highlights how the natural world has always provided the essential foundation for fantasy storytelling.
Crucially, the text examines how the genre is changing to reflect the modern climate emergency, questioning whether the boundless imagination of the fantastic can offer humanity a unique tool to address what the United Nations has termed ‘the defining crisis of our time’.
“I am absolutely thrilled and honoured that The Ecological Imaginary has been shortlisted by the British Fantasy Society and nominated for the Katharine Briggs Award," says Kevan.
"Fantasy has always been deeply rooted in the landscapes that inspire us, and in this current climate emergency, the genre has a powerful role to play in helping us re-imagine our relationship with the planet. To have this work recognised by both the fantasy and folklore communities amongst such incredible peer nominees is exceptionally rewarding.”
The winners of the British Fantasy Awards will be officially announced at Fantasycon, which is being held in Glasgow from 9–11 October 2026.
