His story collection "Kissing Vampires" won for best anthology, the eponymous short novel from the same collection won for best original novel, and a tale called "Jõgeva's Living Dead" won for best short story, Postimees reported.

That brought his lifetime tally of Stalker awards to 17. The awards were handed out for the 15th time this year.

Although his works are not yet available in English, Hargla may be on the cusp of international success, with a translation of his medieval murder mystery "Apothecary Melchior and the Mystery of St. Olaf's Church" picked up by French publishers. A Norwegian translation appears probable, and an English version is currently being considered by US and Irish publishers. 

Stalker awards for best translation went to an Eva Luts translation of American writer Paolo Bacigalupi's "People of Sand and Slag" (short story) and, driven by interest in the Game of Thrones series, George R. R. Martin's "A Storm of Swords," translated by Mario Kivistik.

Kristopher Rikken