Aspen Words Literary Prize

The Aspen Words Literary Prize, established in 2018, is an annual literary award presented by Aspen Words, a literary center in Aspen, Colorado. The prize is presented to an author for "an influential work of fiction that illuminates a vital contemporary issue and demonstrates the transformative power of literature on thought and culture.” Winners receive a prize.
The award is open to authors of any nationality whose novels or short story collections are published by a U.S. trade publisher. The judging process specifically focuses on works that address vital social issues, such as violence, racial injustice, immigration, gender, and the environment. The prize money has consistently been US$35,000, making it one of the largest literary prizes in the United States focused exclusively on fiction with a social impact. Past winners include the inaugural recipient Mohsin Hamid for his novel Exit West, Tayari Jones for An American Marriage, and Tommy Orange for Wandering Stars.