Bouchercon XVII

Bouchercon is an annual convention of creators and devotees of mystery and detective fiction. It is named in honour of writer, reviewer, and editor Anthony Boucher; also the inspiration for the Anthony Awards, which have been issued at the convention since 1986. This page details Bouchercon XVII and the inaugural Anthony Awards ceremony.

Bouchercon
The convention was held in Baltimore, Maryland on October 10, 1986; running for two days until the 12th. The event was chaired by Gail M. Larson, owner of the bookshop "The Butler Did It".

Special Guests

 * Guest of Honor — Donald E. Westlake
 * Fan Guest of Honor — Chris Steinbrunner
 * Toastmaster — Mary Higgins Clark

Anthony Awards
The following list details the awards distributed at the first annual Anthony Awards ceremony.

Novel award
Winner:
 * Sue Grafton, "B" Is for Burglar

Shortlist:
 * Sarah Caudwell, The Shortest Way to Hades
 * John D. MacDonald, The Lonely Silver Rain
 * Charlotte MacLeod, The Plain Old Man
 * Sara Paretsky, Killing Orders

First novel award
Winner:
 * Jonathan Kellerman, When the Bough Breaks

Shortlist:
 * Susan Kelly, The Gemini Man
 * Dick Lochte, Sleeping Dog
 * Robert Reeves, Doubting Thomas
 * Andrew Vachss, Flood

Paperback original award
Winner:
 * Nancy Pickard, Say No to Murder

Shortlist:
 * P.M. Carlson, Murder is Academic
 * Earl Emerson, Poverty Bay
 * Kate Green, Shattered Moon
 * Patrick A. Kelley, Sleightly Murder

Short story award
Winner:
 * Linda Barnes, "Lucky Penny", from The New Black Mask, No. 3

Shortlist:
 * Loren Estleman, "Eight Mile and Dequindre", from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine May 1986
 * Peter Lovesey, "Vandals", from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine December 1985
 * John Lutz, "Ride the Lightning", from Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine January 1985
 * Ruth Rendell, "The Convolvulus Clock", from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine August 1985

Movie award
Winner:
 * Witness

Shortlist:
 * Blood Simple
 * Fletch
 * Jagged Edge
 * Young Sherlock Holmes

TV Series award
Winner:
 * Murder, She Wrote

Shortlist:
 * Hill Street Blues
 * Moonlighting
 * Mystery
 * Spenser For Hire

Grand Master

 * Barbara Mertz