Honouring exceptional achievement in Canadian horror or thriller fiction

The Andrew Pyper Prize for Genre Fiction is an independent prize in partnership with Writers' Trust of Canada that honours storytelling of broad imaginative scope that thrills, scares, and entertains, celebrating the thriller and horror literary traditions to which Andrew Pyper was a vital contributor. 

Following Pyper's passing in early 2025, a group of his friends, family, and colleagues came together with a desire to create a meaningful public tribute that would preserve his legacy, introduce his work to future generations of writers and readers, and celebrate the styles of fiction he loved to read and write.  

The generosity of contributors to the Andrew Pyper Prize Fund have made it possible for the founders to present a $20,000 prize to deserving Canadian authors for at least seven years, from 2026 to 2032.  

Globally, there are relatively few genre fiction awards and even fewer that carry significant monetary prizes. The Pyper Prize will be one of a small number of major international prizes devoted to genre fiction—and the only career-based award of its kind in Canada. 

Winners will be selected by a jury comprised of professional authors, editors, screenwriters, and industry professionals all of whom are conversant with the genres the Pyper Prize covers. Members of this jury will bring suggestions of worthy recipients to the group to be discussed and voted on each year.  

In partnership with Writers’ Trust of Canada, the prize will be given annually for seven years as a special presentation by the Pyper Prize founders at the Writers’ Trust Awards in November.  

Anyone interested in donating can visit the donations page at Andrew Pyper Prize.