Spiral Awards: 2008

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Sun Feb 15, 2009 2:45 am

Yes, it's that time of year again... the time to recognise the very best of last year's Mind Control Erotica.

The Spiral Awards are an annual event, which allow the MC community to recognise and support their favourite stories. The nomination process will be starting soon (midnight GMT on 20 February, to be precise).

So please, cast your eyes back over this list of stories and give due consideration to the stories you'd like to see rewarded. Remember, only stories that were completed in 2008 are open to nomination and you can nominate up to three stories in each category:

FD (green)
FF (red)
MF (yellow)
Mixed (purple)
MM (cyan)

Any questions or thoughts can be shared here, or via email/IM:

If you want to contact us directly, the Spiral's Panel for this year is:

Darkmind 'darkmind@darkmindweb.com',
Nab 'nabsq001@gmail.com',
Rinky Dink 'gregg777us@yahoo.com',
Sara 'saracastle2001@yahoo.com' and
Topaz 'topaz172@aol.com'

Thanks for listening and please, stay tuned for more announcements...

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:38 pm

Here we go!

It is our very great pleasure to announce the start of the 2008 Spiral Awards.

The nomination process has now begun... and we very much need your input.

There are a number of ways you can contact us:

1) You can use the PM function on any of the Fora we frequent
2) You can mail us directly, using the email addresses above
3) You can visit the Spiral Awards website, which has a very obvious vote here button

Please bear in mind, these are your awards and, as such, they will always be as representative and inclusive as you choose to make them.

Please, take some time to consider all of last year’s eligible stories. Read or re-read them as necessary and, once you’ve satisfied yourself, tell us which ones you think are most deserving of praise.

Nominations will close at midnight (GMT-6) on 6 March... after which, the top five stories in each category will go through to the final vote.

Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:07 am

As we reach the half-way point in the nomination process I'd like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who has already offered their suggestions for the best MC stories of the last year.

There's a week left, so please, if you haven't sent an email or IM yet, you still have more than enough time. If you're struggling to choose three stories in every category, please remember that any recommendation, from a single story to the full 15 nominations will be very welcome.

You make these awards, through your support and contributions. We literally couldn't do it without you and, it's difficult to overstate just how much we appreciate that.

Thank you all, (oh, and please do keep sending those nominations)

keraptis · Post by **keraptis** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 9:12 pm

Hey Sara, just wanted to say thanks for posting this thread here. The MC fans probably aren't in the majority among the ASFR crowd, any more than robot fetishists would be in the majority on a site like the MC Forum. Nonetheless there's plenty of overlap, and I for one appreciate your reaching out.

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:53 pm

Hi, keraptis, it's good to know that, while perhaps not in the majority, there are some MC fans who appreciate the shinier and more metallic-side of the fetish (and not just because some of my closest friends have a thing about being robotised!)

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 5:30 am

With less than a day to go now, we still desperately need your nominations. The clock officially runs down at midnight tonight (GMT-6) that gives you a little under 18 hours to let us know which stories of the last year deserve special recognition.

A single vote at this stage can make all the difference and with the field still wide open it is still possible to change the outcome. So, if the thought of *not* seeing last year's very best story on the final shortlist is what it takes to motivate you then please vote now! And if it isn't, then you could still vote now anyway...

As I may have mentioned, once or twice, already... the more involved everyone becomes, the bigger and better these Awards will be.

But... time's a tickin' and our eager, mind-wiped thralls are waiting obediently for your calls... don't make us punish them for not meeting their quotas!

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:10 am

That's it! We're done!

The nominations are now officially closed!

The panel are furiously totally your votes and we'll be announcing the five finalists in each category just as soon as we can. After that the voting process will be reopened and it'll be up to you to help pick the winning story in each category.

I'd like to, once again, take the opportunity to thank everyone who has taken part.

Please, keep watching for more announcements...

Nab · Post by **Nab** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:33 am

Hi folks,

I just wanted to thank everyone for voting and patiently waiting for news on the final list.

I’m please to announce the final round of voting.

So without further ado, here are the finalists:

Green:

Clockwork Utopia: Faulty Lynchpin (bad penny)
Master Fulstorm is cornered and questioned. If he’s lucky, his interrogator won’t kill him.

Jack’s Interview (The Lycanthrope)
Jack desperately hopes that she can hold things together through her job interview, even though it’s the season of fertility.

Mathematical QuanTITTIES (searcher111)
A large-breasted coed talks to Professor Samuels about her grades.

Tainted Love (Jukebox)
Liam buys a love potion in an attempt to get Charlotte back.

Video Killed The Radio Star (Jukebox)
A reporter does a “Where Are They Now?” piece on a former radio star who didn’t make the jump to television; while she might not have the looks for TV, she’s got an amazing voice. Guess what her old show was about?

Red:

Augmentation (sara castle)
Jill’s symbiote can help her break free of Mistress Hex’s enslavement spell, but it comes with a cost.

Gift Wrapped (sara castle)
An elfen Princess attempts to form an alliance with the Queen of the dragons.

Las Fallas and Other Stories (Nymph)
Stories of seduction and its consequences in three acts: one of life, one of death, and one of afterlife.

Ronin (Tabico)
A motorcycle mechanic meets a strange biker who changes her life.

What’s In A Name? (flibinite)
Rebecca Abrams has the chance to be a hero, to save the museum where she works from financial collapse. But to do so, she must collect a major donation from an important woman she’s never met, to whom money means far less than other things.

Purple:

The Anlorgash Incident (Lady K)
A scientist researches paranormal activity at Lake Anlorgash.

Mirrored (Frustrated)
Shayla and Tristan get mystical powers after they fuck each other.

The Return of the Confectioner (sara castle)
An old foe returns to threaten the heroines. Can they escape, or is this the end of the plucky crimefighters?

Shiny Happy People (Jukebox)
Civilization has collapsed, and gleaming silver people hunt the survivors. Can Leigh stop them, or is she doomed to mindless bliss for the rest of her life?

Throwback (bad penny)
Troy’s not in a position to be picky about his conquests, so when he’s given the chance to fix a girl, he takes the opportunity to nudge her towards something his handler would appreciate (and share). He should know better. He really should.

Yellow:

Fragments of the Violet Hour (bad penny)
Lil’s punishment for being unfaithful is too steep, but she may be in a position to do something about it.

Free Universal Carnal Knowledge (Londonchap)
What would happen if an ordinary man suddenly found he could have any woman - literally, any woman - that he wants? It sounds like a dream but when it comes true, it turns out that the ultimate sex drug can cause as many problems as it solves.

Honeytrap (sara castle)
A confection-themed supervillain kidnaps a series of young ladies.

Indulgence (Bad Penny)
Abigail is so very lucky to have such an indulgent Master. Oh, sure, He’s demanding, but when she’s having a bad day (like today), He’s willing to offer up a pleasant distraction to ease her (petty) frustrations.

May I Get Your Coat? (Wesley King)
Sandy is compelled to wear only sexy lingerie when she leaves her house.

Cyan:

The Djinn Boy (Topaz)
Jaysem’s life is about to change utterly. Meanwhile Blaylock dreams of power and Alex is about to learn that wishes have unintended consequences.

For the Team (Bad Penny)
Jake’s not particularly close to his little brother, but he’ll do what he can to protect him.

In Defiance, Deference and Servitude to Others (Xanderboy)
A cocky frat-boy finally receives his karmic justice.

Ohms (Nexus Pas)
The more that Patrick resists the hypnotist’s commands, the greater the heat.

Something About Charlie (hypnobedient)
A straight guy discovers he has the power to make gay men his slaves, and abuses it.

As last time you can send your votes by:

1) The PM function on any of the Fora we frequent
2) You can mail us directly at:

Darkmind 'darkmind@darkmindweb.com',
Nab 'nabsq001@gmail.com',
Rinky Dink 'gregg777us@yahoo.com',
Sara 'saracastle2001@yahoo.com' and
Topaz 'topaz172@aol.com'

3) You can visit the Spiral Awards website, which has a very obvious vote here button

You can vote between now to up until midnight (0 GMT) 13th April.

Some of the stories ran pretty close last year and we even had a tie, so remember every vote counts.

sara-c · Post by **sara-c** » Tue May 05, 2009 4:58 am

Spiral Awards 2008: Winners

It’s been a long time coming and thank you all for your patience. But I am absolutely delighted to announce the winners of one of the most closely competed Spirals ever.

Red (FF)

Las Fallas and Other Stories by Nymph

Stories of seduction and its consequences in three acts: one of life, one of death, and one of afterlife.

A triumvirate of increasingly dark and yet undeniably seductive tales, each economically crafted to provide the maximum erotic kick in the minimum of words. As always the author uses symbolism to evoke an otherworldly atmosphere, while still keeping the stories firmly grounded in a world recognisably our own.

From the lush, fertile playground of Las Fallas and its fae-touched nymphets, via Last Acts (where the consequences of demonic pacts are laid out so starkly) through to Ferryman where the eroticism drips like bitter, molten chocolate. Each piece serves to stir very different emotions and yet in combination they form one perfect whole.

Green (FD)
Tainted Love by Jukebox

Liam buys a love potion in an attempt to get Charlotte back.

This is a delightfully twisted tale of mental transformation, complete with unintended, (though not, given the title, entirely unexpected), consequences. The author use of language is almost playful, and the verbal ‘games’ within the text are often at least as compelling as the story itself.

It is a difficult trick, to make a character as fundamentally flawed as Liam, feel sympathetic and yet, the writer manages it (with a considerable degree of aplomb). Charlotte, by contrast, could have been a mere cipher. But, when the time comes, we know her well enough for her transformation to mean something.

Yellow (MD)
Free Universal Carnal Knowledge by London Chap

What would happen if an ordinary man suddenly found he could have any woman - literally, any woman - that he wants? It sounds like a dream but when it comes true, it turns out that the ultimate sex drug can cause as many problems as it solves.

This is a fantasy in the ‘what if a regular guy irresistible to women’ genre that is detailed, given a realistic feel and draws three-dimensional characters. You meet James and his wife Wendy and his co-workers and quickly you seem to know them as well as your neighbor, which leaves the reader with confused feelings on his activities. Very thought provoking as well as reading all the effects of F.U.C.K..

There should be no drama in the girl’s fall but each one somehow is different, not easy to pull off considering its length. One of the author’s best tricks in the story is that although it is 46 chapters, almost all of them have a neat cliffhanger at the end.

Purple (Mixed)
The Anlorgash Incident by Lady K

A scientist researches paranormal activity at Lake Anlorgash.

The heat of this story blends seamlessly with the Lovecraftian horror to produce a tale of near-perfect, shiver-inducing squick. There is a visceral quality to the writing that fits the dark and gritty tone, while still giving enough latitude to allow the reader to feel sympathy for its protagonist.

An unremittingly dark story, it spares no punches on its way to an ending that could never be described as ‘happy. And yet, despite (or perhaps even because of) that, you’re left with a feeling of exhilaration and the disturbing sense that you really shouldn’t have enjoyed it quite as much as you obviously did.

Cyan (MM)
For The Team by Bad Penny

Jake's not particularly close to his little brother, but he'll do what he can to protect him.

Political shenanigans combine with hot and nasty sex in this intriguing tale of blackmail and just desserts. The writing shows an ecomnomy of language, while still painting a vivid and often uncomfortable picture of exactly what is happening. And yet, there are more than enough questions left by the end to more than justify its "to be continued" tease.

In an effective ensemble piece, it is perhaps telling that only one character emerges as genuinely likeable. But while Jake is without doubt the central character, it is Donavan who steals the show. He's an intriguing creation, who, though cast in the role of 'rescuer' remains both disquieteningly sinister and yet somehow almost 'honourable' throughout.

Gold (Classic MC Story)
There are very few names in the Mind Control Genre who can be counted as 'must read', Tabico is one of them. This Mistress of the genre spins stories that can be erotic, disturbing, high concept, horrific,
romantic and space-operatic; often in the same story.

But which of her Forty Eight stories is the Best of the best? The neighbourly Body snatchers in 'Pea', the fembot factory in 'Rouge?', The demonic delights of 'Balphagor'? Any of these could have been 'the
one'.

The story we've selected, is, (perhaps oddly), the one with arguably the least sex in it.

Adaptation

Set on a distant colony world, it is a story of a tiny teenage rebellion, a little bit of naughtiness that spins out of control, leading to an alien embrace that is far more intimate and permanent than a simple sex act. (phobia warning - contains insects)

...

The Spiral Awards Panel once again wishes to thank all those who took the time to support this year's awards… to nominate and vote on the erotic mind control stories of 2008.

We'd also like to congratulate all the authors who received nominations, those included in the final vote-off, and especially the winners in each category, for all their fine efforts and stories, and for sharing them with all of us last year.

We wish you all an inspired and productive 2009 and look forward to seeing you again next year.