[2] Named after American writer Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), a pioneer in the genre, the awards honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theater published or produced in the previous year.
The Robert L. Fish Memorial Award was established in 1984 to honor the best first mystery short story by an American author.
The award "acknowledges important contributions to the genre as well as for a body of work that is both significant and of consistent high quality.
The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture Screenplay was established in 1946 and discontinued in 2009.
The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Outstanding Mystery Criticism was established in 1946 and discontinued in 1967.
The Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Television Feature or Miniseries was established in 1972 and discontinued in 2007.