WESTFIELD — “Alvar’s Spear” by Westfield resident Charles Freedom Long has been named by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group as one of the best indie books of 2018.

“Alvar’s Spear” is the Gold Medal Winner of the Science Fiction category in the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest non-profit book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors.

The Next Generation Indie Award is judged by leaders of the indie book publishing industry, including many with long careers at major publishing houses,. This is the 11th year of the non-profit book awards program.

The awards were presented June 22 in a ceremony at Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, coinciding with the American Library Association Annual Conference.

In awarding the gold medal, the judges had high praise for Long’s book: “A rock-solid chunk of classic science fiction. The book is clearly inspired by the titans of 1960s and 1970s speculative authorship, yet it is completely unique and by no means derivative. Alvar’s Spear is “old school,” but with all of the positive and none of the negative connotations that term provokes, it manages to feel lived in without even being slightly dated. In fact, the book’s overarching message of unity as it conflicts with prejudice feels particularly relevant to today. Alvar’s Spear travels a familiar and well-worn path, but it does so on fresh, young legs.”

Alvar’s Spear is being reviewed by the Allen O’Shea Literary Agency for possible representation in areas such as distribution, foreign rights, film rights, and other rights.

Charles Freedom Long’s books are available for loan in local libraries, on sale at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in Lakewood and on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com in both paperback and e-book.