Wondering why publishers proudly put labels like “Hugo Award Winner” or “World Fantasy Award” on the covers of the books they publish? For avid fantasy fans, these accolades are like beacons indicating books that have met the criteria of the most discerning readers and judges.
It’s perfectly normal to feel confused in the maze of awards, categories, and criteria, and with this article, I’ll try to help.
What are the most prestigious awards in the fantasy world?
How are the winners chosen?
To answer these questions, we’ll take a look at 10 of the most famous awards dedicated to fantasy literature.
Top 10 Fantasy Literature Awards:
Hugo Award
One of the oldest and most prestigious awards in the science fiction and fantasy genre. It is named after Hugo Gernsback, considered one of the “fathers of science fiction.” It is awarded annually for the best work in these genres published in the previous year.
Why is the Hugo Award so special?
With its long tradition, the Hugo Award is a symbol of quality and recognition in the genre. Winners are selected by a vote of the members of the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon). This makes it one of the few literary awards that is determined directly by readers.
The award is given in multiple categories, including best novel, best novella, best short story, best author, and more. Winners often become bestsellers and have a significant impact on the development of science fiction and fantasy.
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is one of the most prestigious honors in the world of science fiction and fantasy. It is awarded annually by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) in the United States and honors the best works in the genre published in the previous two years.
Why is the Nebula Award so special?
Unlike the Hugo Award, where all members of the World Science Fiction Convention vote, the Nebula is voted on by SFWA members only—that is, the writers themselves. This makes it a particularly valuable award in the eyes of the literary community. SFWA members are experts in the genre and have a high level of requirements for works. This ensures that the Nebula Award is awarded to truly outstanding works.
The Nebula Award for a work of fiction is given in five categories: novel, novella, novelette, short story, and screenplay. The categories are distinguished by the number of words in each:
- Novel – a work of 40,000 words or more
- Novelette – a work of 17,500 to 40,000 words
- Novella – a work of 7,500 to 17,500 words
- Short story – a work of fewer than 7,500 words
- Screenplay – a script for a film, television series, radio show, or play
Nebula Award winners include: Frank Herbert’s Dune, Isaac Asimov’s The Gods Themselves, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Naomi Novik, among others.
Locus Award
This award is determined by a vote of the readers of Locus magazine, one of the oldest and most respected publications in the genre. It has been awarded since 1971, making it one of the most established awards in the field.
Each year, Locus magazine readers have the opportunity to nominate their favorite works in a variety of categories. A shortlist of nominees is published in February, voting runs from February to April, and winners are announced in June. Giving readers a chance to vote makes the Locus Award extremely valuable because it reflects the true preferences of people who love the genre.
Goodreads Fantasy Award
The Goodreads Choice Awards is an annual awards program first launched on Goodreads in 2009. These awards are not specifically for fantasy, but they do have fantasy categories and receive a lot of attention due to the importance of Goodreads in the online book world. This is the only award on this list that honors books published in the same year as the awards.
Winners are determined by users who vote for Goodreads-nominated books or books of their choice published in that year. In the final round of voting, the 10 best books are selected. Nominations usually begin in October, voting is in November, and winners are announced in December.
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are given for fantasy texts and artwork published in the previous year anywhere in the world. All subgenres of fantasy are eligible (e.g., high, epic, dark, contemporary, literary), and the author of the work must be living.
Why is the World Fantasy Award so special?
The prize is awarded in multiple categories, allowing different aspects of fantasy creativity to be celebrated. Entries are collected during the first half of the year, and winners are announced at the World Fantasy Convention, which is usually held in October or November. The jury that selects the winners is made up of experts in the field of fantasy, ensuring that the award is given to the best works.
British Science Fiction Association Award
Awards are presented annually by the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) based on a vote of BSFA and Eastercon members. Their aim is to recognize the best work in the genre and to promote science fiction.
Nominations are accepted from September to December, and voting takes place in three stages: longlist, shortlist, and final ballot. Winners are announced at a ceremony during the Eastercon convention.
Aurealis Award
The Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy, and horror literature. Only Australians are eligible for the award. The awards were established by Chimaera Publications, publishers of the fantasy and science fiction magazine Aurealis. Winners are selected by a collective.
Mythopoeic Award
These awards are given to authors and researchers who produce outstanding works in the spirit of Tolkien. The Mythopoeic Awards were created to celebrate and encourage works that continue in the tradition of great storytellers such as J.R.R. Tolkien. They are awarded in four categories: for fantasy novels and collections for adults and children that are inspired by the works of the Inklings (a literary-discussion club of writers and academics associated with Oxford University), and for scholarly works devoted to the study of the works of the Inklings and to mythology and fantasy more broadly.
David Gemmell Award
Dedicated to the memory of writer David Gemmell, this award was founded in 2006 and organized by a team led by Stan Nicholls. Announcement dates varied, but there were usually two rounds of voting between January and June, with winners announced in June or later. Voting was conducted through an open online poll.
Sadly, after ten years, the Gemmell Awards were closed. The chairperson explained that this step was taken due to a lack of suitable volunteers to take on committee roles and insufficient numbers of people to carry out the wide range of tasks.
Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) Award
The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO) is an annual literary contest dedicated to discovering and promoting the most talented self-published fantasy authors in the English-speaking world. The initiative was created in 2015 by author Mark Lawrence to provide indie authors with a platform to showcase their work and help them reach a wider audience.
Unlike traditional literary awards, the SPFBO does not have a formal ceremony or physical trophy. However, the contest has quickly become one of the most important events in the world of self-published fantasy. The publicity that winning the SPFBO brings can be life-changing for an author, opening doors to traditional publishers, literary agents, and new readers.
Nominated books are judged by a team of respected bloggers specializing in the fantasy genre. They select the best works through various rounds of the competition, with a winner ultimately chosen. Judging criteria include originality of plot, depth of characters, quality of prose, and the overall impression the book leaves on the reader.
Why did you think this list would be useful to you?
Reader’s Guide: This list will help you discover new, award-winning books and expand your horizons in the world of fantasy.
Better understanding of the genre: By learning more about the different awards and the judging criteria, you’ll be able to better evaluate the quality of a book.
