FNORD Awards

The FNORD Awards refer to annual community recognition awards bestowed upon members of the Anglophone Simulationist Community, typically every January. They are generally considered the most prestigious micronational award.

History of the FNORDs

The awards were first organised by Scott Alexander in 2002, and were organised by the staff of MNN each year until 2008 with the collapse of MNN, when FNORDs were awarded by the MCS. Typically, a judging panel of five veteran micronationalists convenes to decide the recipients of each award from a group of nominees named by the general population.

Typical FNORD medallion.

FNORDs are believed to have been inspired by the similarly named Emperor Norton Award of the secessionist micronation of Molossia. These were similarly awarded each year and, like the FNORDs, were named after Emperor Norton I, an eccentric citizen of San Francisco during the late 19th century who declared himself Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, and known by many as the 'First Micronationalist' To distinguish this new micronational award from the awards issued by Molossia and the seccessionist micronationalists, the new awards were named the Fantasy/Simulated Norton Awards, hence FNORDs.

Prior to 2006, the number of awards varied greatly with very little consistency in recognition categories. Some years, the general public were invited to create the recognition categories, adding further inconsistency between years. In preparation for the 2006 awards, Liam Sinclair, the chair of the awards judging committee from 2004 to 2007, implemented a system of fixed awards year-to-year, with the most prestigious awards being retained. The addition of new awards is dependent on whether or not there is a quantifiable uniqueness to the nature of the award which can be objectively considered (i.e. not awarded on bias). For example, 'most efficient government', awarded to Babkha in 2005, did not qualify as every government has its efficiencies or lack thereof. The FNORD Awards, while named after the year in which they are awarded, in fact recognize achievements in the previous year (for example, the 2007 FNORD Awards recognize achievements in 2006).

FNORD awards are now hosted by the MCS and since 2009 have also been awarded in the form of physical medals, whereas before they were simply forum images.

One of the first physical FNORD medals, issued in January 2010 for the FNORDs for 2009.

Categories of FNORD award

As of 2008, there were in excess of thirty-five individual awards handed out, the vast majority of which were "one-off" (that is, awarded during one year only). The following includes only the permanent awards named prior to the 2006 ceremony (many of which have been awarded several years prior to that date). Where the names of permanent awards have changed from pre-2006 names, the pre-2006 awardee of the equivalent award is named as a recipient of the permanent award:

Odlum Award for Overall Achievement - Named for Shane Odlum, the founder and leader of the micronation of Blackrock, this award is the most prestigious of all FNORD Awards. It is typically given to a veteran micronationalist in recognition of years of service to the community at-large.

Abbas Namvari & Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution - honouring two of the greatest diplomats in the community's history (Namvari of Babkha and Beard of Attera), this award is given to a micronationalist, or group/micronation, who exhibits great achievement and leadership in diplomacy. The award was re-introduced for the 2007 ceremony.

Best Revolutionary Concept - awarded in recognition of a micronationalist, or group/micronation, whose innovative concept receives widespread attention and improves the community at-large.

Bill Dusch Award for Micronational Cultural Development - named for the most prominent creator of the Soloralism micronational culture/religion, the award is presented to a micronationalist, or group/micronation, who makes a significant contribution to the development of culture within his/her micronation or intermicronationally.

RIMA Award for Excellence in Micronational History - created by Liam Sinclair, this is awarded by the Royal Institute of Micronational Antiquities to the micronationalist, or group/micronation, who contributes most to the preservation of the community's history. It is not awarded to any micronationalist who is a member of the Institute's management. The award was first introduced in 2006.

Norton Award for Excellence in the Field of Journalism - awarded to the micronationalist, micronation or media service that makes the most significant contribution to journalism and news media in the community each year.

Peter Little Award for Excellence in Micronational Literature - named in honour of Peter Little, a micronationalist with atrocious spelling and grammar who was active in the community from 2001 to 2003, this award recognizes contributions to the development of the community through literature.

Best New Micronationalist - as the name implies, this award is given to an outperforming micronationalist who has entered micronationalism within the past year (though in 2007, it was awarded by the judging panel to Jeremy Hart who was in the community just over a year).

Spin-offs and imitations

Shireroth has hosted, on occasion, Malarbor Awards, designed as a spoof FNORD Awards for Shirerithan citizens. In 2008, members of the MCS hosted the unofficial MASOM (Micronational Awards Society Of Micras) Awards, also tongue-in-cheek. Therefore although many micronations run their own systems of orders of merit, the FNORDs are the only truly intermicronational series of awards in the Micras Sector and hence the most prestigious.

Judging panel

The FNORD judging panel usually comprises an odd number of individuals—most commonly five, though panels of three have also been used—generally formed from long-standing and esteemed members of the wider community. The panel is usually chaired by an individual who is responsible for the receiving of nominations, picking of judges and announcing the awards' winners.

Past Chairs of the FNORD judging panel

Scott Alexander (2002)
Iain de Vembria (2003)
Liam Sinclair (2004 to 2007)
Lachlan Powers (2008)
Scott Alexander (2009)
Guido Zambelis (2010)
Scott Alexander (2011)
Elijah Ayreon (2012 and 2013)
Jack de Montfort (2014)
Elijah Ayreon (2015)
Thorgils Tarjeisson (2016)
Elijah Ayreon (2017 and 2018)

Recipients

FNORDs for 2002:

Best micronational website: Tie between Dafydd Young of Baracão and Mik'el Tzion of Attera
Best micronational forum: Daffydd Young of Baracão
Greatest Contributions To Micropatriology: Stephen Foong of Morovia
Greatest Contributions To Micronational Culture: Tie between Cardinal James Murphy of Hanover and Eoin Dornan of Treesia
Most Insane Micronationalist: Yuri Andropov of Novaya Zemlya
Most Likeable Micronationalist: Ari Rahikkala of Shireroth
Norton Peace Prize: Mik'el Tzion of Attera and Harvey Steffke
Odlum Award For Total Individual Achievement: Erik Metzler

FNORDs for 2003:

For Achievement in Diplomacy: Johanns fonn Klosso for merging Cranda, Slobovia and Northworthy into Arminy, with honourable mention for delegates of the Argaath Perez Peace Conference (resulting in peace between Attera and Babkha.
Achievement in Constitutional Framework: Drafters (Liam Sinclair and Mik'el Tzion) of Attera's Fourth Crimson Constitution with honourable mention for the Hano-Pendronian Committee for the attempted merger of Hanover and Pendronia.
Best Micronational Website: Shireroth, with honourable mention for Babkha
Best New Micronationalist: Emperor Delphi Augustus of Antica
For Micronational Literature: Babkha, for The Burning Sands of Tashbaan
For Micronational Economics: Sander Dielemann for creating the Micronational PhpBank software
Achievement in Micronational News: Jack Santucci
Best Forum Design: Iain de Vembria, for Treesia
Tallini Award for Egotism: Prince Kieran of Breuddwyd and Kuralyov
Best Speaker: Rakesh Ackbar, with honourable mention for Scott Alexander
Best New Micronation: Gotzborg, with honourable mention for Feianova
The Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Alexander I of Hanover, with honourable mention for Presidente Alarico Veto Julia of Baracão

FNORDs for 2004:

(Attended by His Excellency President Kevin Baugh of the Republic of Molossia)

"Tis But A Flesh Wound" Award for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Failure: David Redstone
Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Liam Sinclair, Attera
Best Message Board: Regio Mayo
Best Newsblog: Atteran Chronicle World (Liam Sinclair)
Einstein Award for the Best New Idea: Sander Dieleman, Iain de Vembria and Jack Santucci for the MNN News Feed Development
National Leader of the Year: Delphi Augustus of Antica
Best Website: Kingdom of Gotzborg
Most Efficient Government: Babkha
Most Culturally Developed Micronation: Babkha
Saeed al-Sayyaf Award for Best Propaganda: Shireroth
Most Unusual Micronation: Babkha
Best Avatar: Shyriath
Most Committed Micronationalist: Robert Davis of Gotzborg
Least Arrogant Micronationalist: Tahmaseb Shah of Babkha

FNORDs for 2005:

Odlum Award for Individual Achievement: Ryan Caruso
Best Revolutionary Concept: Kingdom of Lovely
Bill Dusch Award for Micronational Cultural Development: Ric Lyon
RIMA Award for Excellence in Micronational History: The staff of MicroWiki (former MNN wiki)
Norton Award for Excellence in the Field of Journalism: Novaya Zemlya
Peter Little Award for Excellence in Micronational Literature: Greg Russell
Best New Micronationalist: Carson Smith

FNORDs for 2006:

The Odlum Award for Individual Achievement: August Charles of Gotzborg
The Abbas Namvari & Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution: Edgard II of Alexandria
Best Revolutionary Concept: Geographical Standards Organisation (GSO)
The Bill Dusch Award for Micronational Cultural Development: Maximos of Matbaa
The RIMA Award for Excellence in Micronational History: Scott Alexander for Microscope
The Norton Award for Excellence in the Field of Journalism: Liam Sinclair of the Coprieta Standard & Koen Nevens of the Alternative Media Company
The Peter Little Award for Excellence in Micronational Literature: His Majesty King Jeremy of New Britannia & Johanns fonn Klosso
Best New Micronationalist: His Majesty King Jeremy of New Britannia.

FNORDs for 2007:

The Odlum Award for Individual Achievement: Enrique Portela of Alexandria
The Abbas Namvari & Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution: Hesam Jahandar of Babkha and Dr-Spangle of the CIS
Best Revolutionary Concept: Kingdom of Hanover's SecondLife Colony
The Bill Dusch Award for Micronational Cultural Development: Tokidoki Magic System
The RIMA Award for Excellence in Micronational History: Jacobus Kahuneamea
The Norton Award for Excellence in the Field of Journalism: Liam Sinclair for the Coprieta Standard
The Peter Little Award for Excellence in Micronational Literature: Jeremy Hart for King Under the Mountain
Best New Micronationalist: Liam conDoin

FNORDs for 2008:

Tony Au Award for Economics: DStryker (Andreas Mayer) of Lavalon for the Economic Think Tank project
Liam Sinclair Award for Micronational History: Jonas Windsor for Wiki articles on Batavia
Jeremy Bellamy Award for RecWar and Storytelling: Anthony Montague
Liam conToketi Award for Best New Micronationalist: Peter Ulsnes
Best New Idea: Dr-Spangle for his Micronational Meetup link chart
Bill Dusch Award For Cultural Development: Troy Thompson for the creation of the Babkhi language
Best Graphic Artwork: Scott Alexander for the Quetzal series of MCS maps
Iain Jacobson Award for Micronational Journalism: Will Tomsett
Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Hesam Jayatar

FNORDS for 2009:

Most Promising New Micronation: Victoria
Award for Graphic Arts: Bjorn Olsen of Victoria
Award for Leadership: Octavius (Chrimigules) of Antica
Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Ben Kern for Rauðbjörn's Saga
Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Aryeztur Mejorkhor of Aryez, Antica
Josh Coales Award for Best New Idea: Erik Metzler and Ari Rahikkala for the Small Commonwealth
Tony Au Award for Economics: Andreas the Wise for the Small Commonwealth Unified Economy (SCUE)
Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: M.Goltz of Ashkenatza for the Litovsker Tagblatt
Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising Micronationalist: Andrew Allot of Shireroth
Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Nathan Waffel-Paine of Natopia

FNORDS for 2010:

Most Promising New Micronation: Normark
Award for Leadership: Harvey Steffke of Nelaga
Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising New Micronationalist: Philip Fish of A1
Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: Christopher Octavius of Antica for A Speakership in Review: The Speakership of Benjamin Sebastocrator Timothy Quentin Kern
Tony Au Award for Economics: Andreas the Wise of Gralus
Josh Coales Award for Best New Idea: Harvey Steffke and Andreas the Wise for the foundation of the Bastion Union
Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution: Shyriath Bukolos as Shirereithan Kaiser B'Caw I
Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Ryan Caruso for The Retreating Ice
Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Greg Russell of Nelaga for the Nelagan Naval Guide to the Untrained
Award for Graphic Arts: Rebecca 'Artz'
RIMA Award For Micronational History: Harvey Steffke and M.Goltz for work on MicrasWiki
Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Andreas the Wise

FNORDS for 2011:

Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising New Micronationalist: Illuminarch Nicholas
Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: The A1 News Service
Tony Au Award for Economics: Szhmuel Astopov for Port Side Industries and Ardashir for his Sinister Military-Industrial Complex
Josh Coales Award for Best New Idea: Scott Alexander for Archipelago
Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Craitman for his Marriage to Queen Annika
Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Nick Turner for the Silver Yak Horde and Normark
Rebecca Panks Award for the Graphic Artz: Maximos for his work published at the Bastion Expo '11
Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Harvey Steffke

FNORDS for 2012:

Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising New Micronationalist: Arne Govaerts
Most Promising New Micronation: Kingdom of New Victoria
Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: The Coprieta Standard and the Batavian Post
Award for Leadership: Mira Raynora of Shireroth
'Tis But a Flesh Wound Award for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Failure: Giles Melang
Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Gerk ronAnaglea for Analis and Benkern for the Coronation of Yardistanislaus (compilor)
Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Jingdao and South Batavia
Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution: The MTO for their Conference on the Law of the Seas
Rebecca Panks Award for the Graphic Artz: Meekras
RIMA Award For Micronational History: Vilhelm Benkern for his history of Mar Sara
Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Craitman

FNORDS for 2013:

Award for Sport: Barnaby Hands for the MHL
Tony Au Award for Economics: The Ministry of Coin of Hamland
Liam conToketi Award for Most Promising New Micronationalist: Ryker Everstone
Most Promising New Micronation: Free State of Haifa
Iain Jacobson Award for Journalism: The Coprieta Standard
Award for Leadership: Lord Lewis of the Isles (Hamland)
'Tis But a Flesh Wound Award for Refusing to Give Up in the Face of Failure: Carl Jackson
Jeremy Bellamy Award for Literature: Krasniy Yastreb for Kapusta Kaput
Bill Dusch Award for Cultural Development: Nathan Waffle-Paine for Natopian development
Charles Beard Award for Conflict Resolution: Kaiseress Mira Raynora II of Shireroth
Rebecca Panks Award for the Graphic Artz: Shyriath Bukolos for the Gloria Mundi and Bjorn Olsen for his portfolio
RIMA Award For Micronational History: Kaiser Aiomide for Raynor's Keep
Shane Odlum Award for Overall Achievement: Christopher

FNORDs for 2014

Award for Conflict Resolution ("the Beard"): The Governments of Natopia and Stormark
Award for Cultural Development: The Apollonian Confederation
Award for Economics ("the Andreas"): Duke Sinclair
Award for Art ("the Artz"): Bjorn Olsen
Award for History ("the RIMA"): Krasniy Yastreb
Award for Journalism ("the Iain"): Coprieta Standard
Award for Leadership ("the Mortis"): Nathan
Award for Literature ("the Jeremy"): Shyriath
Award for Sport ("the Craitman"): Barnaby Hands
Award for Most Promising New Micronationalist ("the Liam"): James Knight
Award for Overall Achievement ("the Shane"): Harald
Award for "'Tis but a flesh wound": Ryker Everstone

FNORDs for 2015

Award for Cultural Development: Gerald Ruze of Gerenia
Award for Art: Jonas for Epoli
Award for History: Hallbjörn Haraldson (Harald) for ShireWiki work
Award for Journalism: Liam
Award for Leadership: Nathan for ruling Shireroth and Natopia as Kizzy and Naian
Award for Literature: The "Miss Kizzy" series by Kizzy Drakland (Nathan)
Award for Sport: James Robert-Knight for sport development in Vyktory
Award for Overall Achievement: Edgard of Alexandria
Award for "'Tis but a flesh wound": Krasniy

FNORDs for 2016

FNORDs for 2017

FNORDs for 2018