Nebula Award for Best Novel


The Nebula Award for Best Novel is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for science fiction or fantasy novels. A work of fiction is considered a novel by the organization if it is 40,000 words or longer; awards are also given out for pieces of shorter lengths, in the categories of short story, novelette, and novella. To be eligible for Nebula Award consideration, a novel must have been published in English in the US. Works published in English elsewhere in the world are also eligible, provided they are released on either a website or in an electronic edition. The award has been given annually since 1966. Novels which were expanded forms of previously published stories are eligible, and novellas published individually can be considered as novels if the author requests it. The award has been described as one of "the most important of the American science fiction awards" and "the science-fiction and fantasy equivalent" of the Emmy Awards.
Nebula Award nominees and winners are chosen by members of SFWA, though the authors nominated do not need to be members. Works are nominated each year by members in a period around December 15 through January 31, and the six works that receive the most nominations then form the final ballot, with additional nominees possible in the case of ties. Soon after, members are given a month to vote on the ballot, and the final results are presented at the Nebula Awards ceremony in May. Authors are not permitted to nominate their own works, and ties in the final vote are broken, if possible, by the number of nominations the works received.
Beginning with the 2009 awards, the rules were changed to the current format, and nominated works must have been published during that calendar year. Prior to then, the eligibility period for nominations was defined as being one year after the publication date of the work, which allowed the possibility for works to be nominated in the calendar year after their publication, and then be awarded in the calendar year after that. Under the previous process, works were added to a preliminary list for the year if they had ten or more nominations, which were then voted on to create a final ballot, to which the SFWA organizing panel was also allowed to add an additional work if they felt it was overlooked.
During the 60 nomination years, 206 authors have had works nominated, and 47 of these have won. Ursula K. Le Guin has received the most Nebula Awards for Best Novel, with four wins out of six nominations. Joe Haldeman has received the next most: three awards out of four nominations, while nine other authors have each won twice. Jack McDevitt has the most nominations at twelve, while Poul Anderson and Philip K. Dick tie for having the most nominations without winning an award, at five each.

Winners and nominees

SFWA currently identifies the awards by the year of publication, that is, the year prior to the year in which the award is given. Entries with a yellow background and an asterisk next to the writer's name have won the award; the other entries are the other nominees on the shortlist.
* Winners and joint winners
YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publicationRef.
1965*DuneChilton Company
1965All Flesh is GrassDoubleday
1965Berkley Books
1965Berkley Books
1965Dr. Bloodmoney, or How We Got Along After the BombAce Books
1965Ace Books
1965Berkley Books
1965Nova ExpressGrove Press
1965Berkley Books
1965Rogue DragonAce Books
1965Ace Books
1965Doubleday
1965Doubleday
1966*Babel-17Ace Books
1966*Flowers for AlgernonHarcourt
1966Putnam Publishing Group
1967*Ace Books
1967ChthonBallantine Books
1967Ballantine Books
1967Lord of LightDoubleday
1967ThornsBallantine Books
1968*Rite of PassageAce Books
1968Black EasterDoubleday
1968Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?Doubleday
1968Ballantine Books
1968Past MasterAce Books
1968Picnic on ParadiseAce Books
1968Stand on ZanzibarDoubleday
1969*Ace Books
1969Bug Jack BarronAvon
1969Isle of the DeadAce Books
1969Ace Books
1969Slaughterhouse-FiveDelacorte Press
1969Up the LineBallantine Books
1970*RingworldBallantine Books
1970And Chaos DiedAce Books
1970Fourth MansionsAce Books
1970Ace Books
1970Tower of GlassCharles Scribner's Sons
1970Ace Books
1971*Galaxy Science Fiction
1971Fantastic
1971Avon Publications
1971Half Past HumanBallantine Books
1971Amazing Stories
1971Margaret and ILittle, Brown and Company
1972*Galaxy Science Fiction
1972Charles Scribner's Sons
1972Dying InsideGalaxy Science Fiction
1972Avon
1972Harper & Row
1972What Entropy Means to MeDoubleday
1972When HARLIE Was OneBallantine Books
1973*Rendezvous with RamaGalaxy Science Fiction
1973Gravity's RainbowViking Press
1973Random House
1973Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1973Time Enough for LovePutnam Publishing Group
1974*Harper & Row
1974334Avon
1974Flow My Tears, the Policeman SaidDoubleday
1974Ballantine Books
1975*St. Martin's Press
1975Autumn AngelsPyramid Books
1975DAW Books
1975Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1975DhalgrenBantam Books
1975Doorways in the SandAnalog Science Fact & Fiction
1975Charles Scribner's Sons
1975Nelson Doubleday
1975Bantam Books
1975Ballantine Books
1975Guernica NightBobbs-Merrill Company
1975DAW Books
1975Invisible CitiesHarcourt Brace Jovanovich
1975Doubleday
1975Missing ManBerkley Books
1975Simon & Schuster
1975Simon & Schuster
1975RagtimeRandom House
1975'
1976*Man Plus'
1976InfernoPocket Books
1976InfernoPocket Books
1976IslandsPyramid Books
1976Shadrach in the FurnaceBobbs-Merrill Company
1976TritonBantam Books
1976Where Late the Sweet Birds SangHarper & Row
1977*GatewayGalaxy Science Fiction
1977CirqueBobbs-Merrill Company
1977In the Ocean of NightDial Press
1977Moonstar OdysseyNew American Library
1977Sword of the DemonHarper & Row
1978*DreamsnakeHoughton Mifflin
1978Blind VoicesBerkley Books
1978Galaxy Science Fiction
1978KalkiRandom House
1978StrangersBerkley Books
1979*Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
1979JemSt. Martin's Press
1979Juniper TimeHarper & Row
1979On Wings of Song
1979Pocket Books
1979TitanBerkley Books
1980*TimescapeSimon & Schuster
1980Beyond the Blue Event HorizonDel Rey Books
1980MockingbirdDoubleday
1980Pocket Books
1980Simon & Schuster
1980Dial Press
1981*Timescape Books
1981Little, BigBantam Books
1981Houghton Mifflin
1981RadixWilliam Morrow and Company
1981Riddley WalkerSummit Books
1981Simon & Schuster
1982*No Enemy But TimeTimescape Books
1982Foundation's EdgeDoubleday
1982FridayHolt, Rinehart & Winston
1982Helliconia SpringAtheneum Books
1982Timescape Books
1982Timescape Books
1983*Startide RisingBantam Books
1983Against InfinityTimescape Books
1983Timescape Books
1983LyonesseBerkley Books
1983Tea with the Black DragonBantam Books
1983Timescape Books
1984*NeuromancerAce Books
1984FronteraBaen Books
1984Del Rey Books
1984Job: A Comedy of JusticeDel Rey Books
1984Bluejay Books
1984Ace Books
1985*Ender's GameTor Books
1985Blood MusicArbor House
1985Dinner at Deviant's PalaceAce Books
1985Helliconia WinterAtheneum Books
1985Bantam Spectra
1985Del Rey Books
1985SchismatrixArbor House
1986*Speaker for the DeadTor Books
1986Count ZeroAsimov's Science Fiction
1986Free Live FreeTor Books
1986Houghton Mifflin
1986Atlantic Monthly Press
1986This Is the Way the World EndsHenry Holt and Company
1987*Tor Books
1987Tor Books
1987Soldier of the MistTor Books
1987Bantam Spectra
1987Vergil in AvernoDoubleday
1987When Gravity FailsArbor House
1988*Falling FreeAnalog Science Fact & Fiction
1988Deserted Cities of the HeartDoubleday Foundation
1988Drowning TowersArbor House
1988Great Sky RiverBantam Spectra
1988Mona Lisa OverdriveBantam Spectra
1988Red ProphetTor Books
1988Tor Books
1989*Doubleday Foundation
1989Tor Books
1989Prentice AlvinTor Books
1989Good News From Outer SpaceTor Books
1989Ivory: A Legend of Past and FutureTor Books
1989Sister Light, Sister DarkTor Books
1990*Macmillan Publishers
1990Mary ReillyDoubleday Foundation
1990Only Begotten DaughterDoubleday
1990William Morrow and Company
1990Redshift RendezvousAce Books
1990White JennaTor Books
1991*Stations of the TideAsimov's Science Fiction
1991Orbital ResonanceTor Books
1991BarrayarAnalog Science Fact & Fiction
1991Bone DanceAce Books
1991SynnersBantam Spectra
1991Bantam Spectra
1991Bantam Spectra
1992*Doomsday BookBantam Spectra
1992Tor Books
1992Sarah CanaryHenry Holt and Company
1992China Mountain ZhangTor Books
1992Tor Books
1992Briar RoseTor Books
1993*Red MarsBantam Spectra
1993Assemblers of InfinityAnalog Science Fiction and Fact
1993Assemblers of InfinityAnalog Science Fiction and Fact
1993Hard LandingFantasy & Science Fiction
1993Beggars in SpainMorrow AvoNova
1993Nightside of the Long SunTor Books
1994*Moving MarsTor Books
1994Parable of the SowerFour Walls Eight Windows
1994Gun, with Occasional MusicHarcourt Brace
1994Towing JehovahHarcourt Brace
1994Temporary AgencySt. Martin's Press
1994Green MarsBantam Spectra
1994Morrow AvoNova
1995*HarperPrism
1995Mother of StormsTor Books
1995Beggars and ChoosersTor Books
1995CelestisTor Books
1995MetropolitanHarperPrism
1995Calde of the Long SunTor Books
1996*Slow RiverDel Rey Books
1996AvoNova
1996Winter RoseAce Books
1996Expiration DateTor Books
1996StarplexAnalog Science Fiction and Fact
1996Bantam Spectra
1997*Pocket Books
1997MemoryBaen Books
1997King's DragonDAW Books
1997Bantam Spectra
1997Ancient ShoresHarperPrism
1997City on FireHarperPrism
1997BellwetherBantam Spectra
1998*Forever PeaceAce Books
1998Tor Books
1998MoonfallHarperPrism
1998How Few RemainDel Rey Books
1998The Death of the NecromancerAvon
1998To Say Nothing of the DogBantam Spectra
1999*Parable of the TalentsSeven Stories Press
1999Tor Books
1999Bantam Spectra
1999Mission ChildAvon Eos
1999MockingbirdAce Books
1999Tor Books
2000*Darwin's RadioDel Rey Books
2000Baen Books
2000Crescent City RhapsodyAvon Eos
2000Midnight RobberWarner Aspect
2000Infinity BeachHarperPrism
2000Forests of the HeartTor Books
2001*Tor Books
2001Eternity's EndTor Books
2001Mars CrossingTor Books
2001Bantam Spectra
2001Del Rey Books
2001Ace Books
2001DeclareSubterranean Press
2001PassageBantam Books
2002*American GodsWilliam Morrow and Company
2002SolitaireEos
2002Harcourt
2002PicoverseAce Books
2002Perdido Street StationDel Rey Books
2002Bones of the EarthEos
2003*Ballantine Books
2003Diplomatic ImmunityBaen Books
2003Small Beer Press
2003Light MusicEos
2003Warner
2003ChindiAce Books
2004*Paladin of SoulsEos
2004Down and Out in the Magic KingdomTor Books
2004OmegaAce Books
2004Cloud AtlasRandom House
2004Perfect CircleSmall Beer Press
2004Tor Books
2005*CamouflageAnalog Science Fiction and Fact
2005Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellBloomsbury Publishing
2005PolarisAce Books
2005Going PostalHarperCollins
2005AirSt. Martin's Press
2005Orphans of ChaosTor Books
2006*SeekerAce Books
2006Bantam Spectra
2006HarperCollins
2006FarthingTor Books
2006From the Files of the Time RangersGolden Gryphon Press
2006To Crush the MoonBantam Spectra
2007*HarperCollins
2007OdysseyAce Books
2007Ace Books
2007Warner
2007RagamuffinTor Books
2008*PowersHarcourt
2008Little BrotherTor Books
2008CauldronAce Books
2008BrasylPyr Books
2008Making MoneyHarper
2008SuperpowersThree Rivers Press
2009*Night Shade Books
2009Bantam Books
2009Flesh and FirePocket Books
2009Del Rey Books
2009BoneshakerTor Books
2009FinchUnderland Press
2010*Blackout/All ClearBantam Spectra
2010Bantam Spectra
2010Orbit Books
2010Shades of Milk and HoneyTor Books
2010EchoAce Books
2010Who Fears DeathDAW Books
2011*Tor Books
2011Subterranean Press
2011Ace Books
2011Night Shade Books
2011Prime Books
2011Orbit Books
2012*Orbit Books
2012DAW Books
2012Tor Books
2012Orbit Books
2012Roc Books
2012Tor Books
2013*Ancillary JusticeOrbit Books
2013We Are All Completely Beside OurselvesMarian Wood Books
2013William Morrow and Company
2013Fire with FireBaen Books
2013HildFarrar, Straus and Giroux
2013Mythic Island Press
2013Small Beer Press
2013Harper
2014*AnnihilationFarrar, Straus and Giroux
2014Tor Books
2014Trial by FireBaen Books
2014Ancillary SwordOrbit Books
2014The Three-Body ProblemTor Books
2014Coming HomeAce Books
2015*UprootedDel Rey Books
2015Ancillary MercyOrbit Books
2015Barsk: The Elephants' GraveyardTor Books
2015Orbit Books
2015Saga Press
2015Raising CaineBaen Books
2015UpdraftTor Books
2016*All the Birds in the SkyTor Books, Titan Books
2016BorderlineSaga Press
2016Orbit Books
2016Ninefox GambitSolaris Books
2016EverfairTor Books
2017*Orbit Books
2017AmberloughTor Books
2017Saga Press
2017SpoonbendersAlfred A. Knopf, Riverrun Books
2017Six WakesOrbit Books
2017Jade CityOrbit Books
2017AutonomousTor Books, Orbit Books
2018*Tor Books
2018Blackfish CityEcco Press, Orbit UK
2018Harper Voyager
2018Spinning SilverDel Rey Books, Macmillan Publishers
2018Trail of LightningSaga Press
2018WitchmarkTor.com Publishing
2019*Berkley Press
2019Marque of CaineBaen Books
2019Orbit Books
2019Tor Books
2019Gods of Jade and ShadowDel Rey Books, Jo Fletcher Books
2019Gideon the NinthTor.com Publishing
2020*Network EffectTor.com Publishing
2020PiranesiBloomsbury Publishing
2020Orbit Books
2020Mexican GothicDel Rey Books
2020Erewhon Books
2020Black SunSaga Press
2021*Tor.com Publishing
2021Orbit Books
2021MachinehoodSaga Press
2021Tor.com Publishing
2021Plague BirdsApex
2022*Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' RevolutionHarper Voyager
2022Legends & LattesCryptid Press, Tor Books
2022SpearTordotcom
2022Nettle & BoneTor Books, Titan Books
2022Nona the NinthTordotcom
2022MCD, Weidenfeld & Nicolson
2023*Tordotcom
2023Tordotcom, Solaris UK
2023Translation StateOrbit US, Orbit UK
2023Tordotcom, Orbit UK
2023Shigidi and the Brass Head of ObalufonDAW Books, Gollancz
2023Witch KingTordotcom
2024*Someone You Can Build a Nest InDAW Books, Arcadia
2024AsunderTordotcom
2024Random House, Ad Astra Press
2024RakesfallTordotcom
2024Sleeping Worlds Have No MemoryCaezik SF & Fantasy
2024Tor Books, Titan Books