The Silmaril Awards 2020 Voting Round Commenceth!
Voting has now closed! The Awards Ceremonies are now poised to begin!
Jenelle swoops in, out of breath, disheveled, and … are those bloodstains?
Goodness, good afternoon, dear Readers! I do apologize for the delay in getting this post up today. I just got back from a quest I had to undertake over the weekend, and while it was a pleasant quest (no orcs or dread prophecies or trekking barefoot over sharp objects involved) (though it DID involve a few rings… that may or may not have been magical… time will tell…) I must admit that I returned from this whirlwind trip absolutely exhausted and had no time to write up my voting post until just now!
However, I’m here now, and a link to the voting form is below.
I think part of the reason my quest this past weekend went so well was the presence of SO MANY faithful friends around these parts lately. We finished the nomination week with ONE HUNDRED FOURTEEN nominees (it’s a good thing the weather was nice, because our basement isn’t finished yet and many of them had to camp outdoors).
So many faithful friends. It’s impressive.
However, even though these were all worthy characters, only five can stay for the Awards Ceremony, and so, we have whittled down our guest list to just five. (A few are still hanging around even today, but as it’s a holiday weekend and they are being just SO very helpful around the place, I’m finding it difficult to actively kick them out).
And the top five nominees in the Most Faithful Friend Category this year are……
Crispin Beasley from the Afterverse Series by Kyle Robert Shultz - In his early twenties, Crispin Beasley is the thorn in his brother, Nick’s side… and his most stalwart companion. Though Crispin fulfills his role as the obnoxious and irresponsible younger brother quite well, he is loyal to a fault and always there for Nick when he needs him. He might have the attention span of a goldfish and a wee bit too much enthusiastic energy that often makes him seem immature, but he’s got a heart of gold and is a constant source of cheery optimism for everyone he encounters.
Julio from the Crockett and Crane Adventures by Kyle Robert Shultz - Although Julio is an ancient dragon, his lack of respect for authority figures, his intense desire to set things on fire (make them go FWOOM!) and his cheerful personality make him seem far younger than his years. However, in spite of his irrepressible nature and fierce independence, Julio is as loyal as them come. If he counts you as a friend, you can take that to the bank, as they say.
Rose Red from The Tales of Goldstone Wood by Anne Elisabeth Stengl - Quite in nature and deeply thoughtful, Rose Red is a mysterious girl who spends her life veiled and kept mostly in solitude, with the exception of her constant companion, Beana, an overprotective nanny goat. (No, she really is a goat!) Although Rose Red has suffered betrayal at the hands of those she called “friend” she does not hold a grudge. She remains faithful and true through every hardship and every hurt.
Horace Altman from The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan - Growing up as an orphan in the ward of Redmont, we initially meet Horace as a young man being accepted into Battleschool as a knight. And while he at first seems pompous and arrogant, I am pleased to say that time and experience temper him considerably and he quickly becomes the sort of person anyone would want to have at their side. Strong and able with a blade, Horace is the very definition of a steadfast, faithful friend.
And finally, Puddleglum from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis - A marshwiggle who sees life through a lens that tells him the glass is constantly, miserably, totally empty… this is not a character you go to for cheering up. Not… traditional cheering up, anyway. But even though he may have a cautious outlook on life, Puddleglum will stick to your side through whatever comes your way, whether it be giants wanting to cook you into a pie or an evil witch-queen trying to convince you that everything you thought you knew was just a dream.
VOTING IS NOW CLOSED!
While you only need to access the form a single time to get the entire ballot, please do make sure to visit each of the blogs to learn a bit about all of the finalists. You can find each of the posts below:
Most Faithful Friend