Nebula Award for Best Novella


The Nebula Award for Best Novella is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for science fiction or fantasy novellas. A work of fiction is defined by the organization as a novella if it is between 17,500 and 40,000 words; awards are also given out for pieces of longer lengths in the novel category, and for shorter lengths in the short story and novelette categories. To be eligible for Nebula Award consideration, a novella must be published in English in the United States. 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 Nebula Award for Best Novella has been awarded annually since 1966. Novellas published by themselves are eligible for the novel award instead, if the author requests them to be considered as such. 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 selected by members of SFWA, although the authors of the nominees are not required to be members themselves. Each year, works are nominated by SFWA members during a period typically spanning from December 15 to January 31. The six works receiving the most nominations proceed to the final ballot, with additional nominees considered in the event of ties. Subsequently, members have about a month to vote on the final ballot, and the winners are announced at the Nebula Awards ceremony held 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. The rules were changed to their current format in 2009. Previously, the eligibility period for nominations was defined as 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. 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.
During the 60 nomination years, 206 authors have had works nominated; 57 of these have won, including co-authors and ties. Nancy Kress has won the most awards: four out of eight nominations. Robert Silverberg, John Varley, and Roger Zelazny have each won twice out of eight, two, and three nominations, respectively. Silverberg's and Kress's eight nominations are the most of any authors, followed by Lucius Shepard and Michael Bishop at seven, and Kate Wilhelm and Avram Davidson with six. Bishop has the most nominations without receiving an award for novellas, though Wilhelm and Davidson have also not won an award.
WWW nebulas.sfwa.org

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
YearAuthorNovellaPublisher or publicationRef.
1965*'
1965*"He Who Shapes"Amazing Stories
1965"Rogue Dragon"'
1965Ace Books
1965Galaxy Science Fiction
1965"Under Two Moons"If
1965"Research Alpha"If
1965"Research Alpha"If
1965"On the Storm Planet"Galaxy Science Fiction
1966*Galaxy Science Fiction
1966Ace Books
1966Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1967*"Behold the Man"New Worlds
1967"Riders of the Purple Wage"Dangerous Visions
1967"Weyr Search"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1967"Hawksbill Station"Galaxy Science Fiction
1967"If All Men Were Brothers, Would You Let One Marry Your Sister?"Dangerous Visions
1968*"Dragonrider"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1968"Lines of Power"'
1968'
1968"Hawk Among the Sparrows"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1968"Nightwings"Galaxy Science Fiction
1969*'
1969"Probable Cause"'
1969"Ship of Shadows"'
1969"Dramatic Mission"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1969"To Jorslem"Galaxy Science Fiction
1970*"Ill Met in Lankhmar"'
1970'
1970Anywhen
1970Galaxy Science Fiction
1970If
1970"April Fool's Day Forever"'
1971*Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1971Harcourt Brace Jovanovich
1971New Worlds Quarterly #1
1971'
1971Abyss
1972*Playboy
1972"Son of the Morning"'
1972Again, Dangerous Visions
1972"With the Bentfin Boomer Boys on Little Old New Alabama"Again, Dangerous Visions
1972Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1972Orbit 10
1973*'
1973"Death and Designation Among the Asadi"If
1973'
1973"Junction"Fantastic
1973"Chains of the Sea"Chains of the Sea
1974*"Born with the Dead"'
1974"On the Street of the Serpents"Science Fiction Emphasis 1
1974Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1975*"Home Is the Hangman"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1975"Sunrise West"Vertex
1975Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1975Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1975The New Atlantis
1976*"Houston, Houston, Do You Read?"Aurora: Beyond Equality
1976'
1976"Piper at the Gates of Dawn"'
1976Future Power
1977*"Stardance"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1977*"Stardance"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1977"Aztecs"2076: The American Tricentennial
1978*'
1978"Seven American Nights"Orbit 20
1979*"Enemy Mine"Asimov's Science Fiction
1979Asimov's SF Adventure Magazine
1979"Mars Masked"Asimov's Science Fiction
1979'
1979"Fireship"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1979Destinies
1980*"Unicorn Tapestry"New Dimensions 11
1980"There Beneath the Silky-Trees and Whelmed in Deeper Gulphs Than Me"Other Worlds 2
1980"Lost Dorsai"Destinies
1980'
1980"Dangerous Games"'
1980'
1981*Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1981"Swarmer, Skimmer"SF Digest
1981"Amnesia"The Berkley Showcase, Vol 3
1981"In the Western Tradition"'
1981"True Names"Binary Star 5
1981Redbook
1982*"Another Orphan"'
1982"Horrible Imaginings"Death
1982"Moon of Ice"Amazing Stories
1982"Unsound Variations"Amazing Stories
1982"Souls"'
1983*"Hardfought"Asimov's Science Fiction
1983Asimov's Science Fiction
1983"Her Habiline Husband"Universe 13
1983"Eszterhazy and the Autogóndola-Invention"Amazing Stories
1983"Transit"Asimov's Science Fiction
1983"Homefaring"Amazing Stories
1984*"Press Enter ■"Asimov's Science Fiction
1984"Young Doctor Eszterhazy"Amazing Stories
1984"Trinity"Asimov's Science Fiction
1984'
1984Asimov's Science Fiction
1984"Marrow Death"Asimov's Science Fiction
1985*"Sailing to Byzantium"Asimov's Science Fiction
1985"Green Mars"Asimov's Science Fiction
1985"Green Days in Brunei"Asimov's Science Fiction
1985'
1985Asimov's Science Fiction
1985"24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai"Asimov's Science Fiction
1986*"R&R"Asimov's Science Fiction
1986"Newton Sleep"'
1986"Escape from Kathmandu"Asimov's Science Fiction
1986"Gilgamesh in the Outback"Asimov's Science Fiction
1986"Dydeetown Girl"Far Frontiers 4
1987*Asimov's Science Fiction
1987"Fugue State"Under the Wheel
1987Fantasy & Science Fiction
1987Bantam Spectra
1987Asimov's Science Fiction
1987"Witness"Wild Cards
1988*Asimov's Science Fiction
1988Fantasy & Science Fiction
1988Asimov's Science Fiction
1988"Journals of the Plague Years"Full Spectrum
1988"Surfacing"Asimov's Science Fiction
1988Viking Kestrel
1989*Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1989"Great Work of Time"Novelty
1989"Marîd Changes His Mind"Asimov's Science Fiction
1989Asimov's Science Fiction
1989"Tiny Tango"Asimov's Science Fiction
1989Mark V. Ziesing
1990*Asimov's Science Fiction
1990"Weatherman"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1990"Fool to Believe"Asimov's Science Fiction
1990"Mr. Boy"Asimov's Science Fiction
1990"Bones"Asimov's Science Fiction
1991*"Beggars in Spain"Asimov's Science Fiction
1991"Man Opening a Door"Analog Science Fact & Fiction
1991Axolotl Press
1991Asimov's Science Fiction
1991Asimov's Science Fiction
1991"Jack"Asimov's Science Fiction
1992*St. Martin's Press
1992"Silver or Gold"After the King: Stories in Honor of J.R.R. Tolkien
1992Fantasy & Science Fiction
1992"Contact"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1992"Contact"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1992"Protection"Asimov's Science Fiction
1992"Barnacle Bill the Spacer"Asimov's Science Fiction
1992Asimov's Science Fiction
1993*Fantasy & Science Fiction
1993Full Spectrum 4
1993"Dancing on Air"Asimov's Science Fiction
1993"Into the Miranda Rift"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1993Fantasy & Science Fiction
1993Fantasy & Science Fiction
1994*"Seven Views of Olduvai Gorge"Fantasy & Science Fiction
1994Omni
1994"Haunted Humans"Fantasy & Science Fiction
1994"Forgiveness Day"Asimov's Science Fiction
1994"Fan"Unconquered Countries
1994"Cold Iron"Asimov's Science Fiction
1995*"Last Summer at Mars Hill"Fantasy & Science Fiction
1995"Soon Comes Night"Asimov's Science Fiction
1995"Yaguara"Asimov's Science Fiction
1995"Bibi"Asimov's Science Fiction
1995"Bibi"Asimov's Science Fiction
1995"Mortimer Gray's History of Death"Asimov's Science Fiction
1996*"Da Vinci Rising"Asimov's Science Fiction
1996Asimov's Science Fiction
1996"Blood of the Dragon"Asimov's Science Fiction
1996"Time Travelers Never Die"Asimov's Science Fiction
1996Starlight 1
1996Asimov's Science Fiction
1997*"Abandon in Place"Fantasy & Science Fiction
1997Fantasy & Science Fiction
1997"Loose Ends"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1997"Chrysalis"Asimov's Science Fiction
1997"Primrose and Thorn"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1997Asimov's Science Fiction
1998*"Reading the Bones"Fantasy & Science Fiction
1998"Aurora in Four Voices"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1998Tachyon Publications
1998Tachyon Publications
1998"Izzy and the Father of Terror"Asimov's Science Fiction
1998"Jumping Off the Planet"Science Fiction Age
1998"Ecopoiesis"Science Fiction Age
1999*"Story of Your Life"Starlight 2
1999"Reality Check"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1999Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1999Analog Science Fiction and Fact
1999"Living Trust"Asimov's Science Fiction
1999Asimov's Science Fiction
1999Asimov's Science Fiction
2000*"Goddesses"Sci Fiction
2000"Fortitude"Realms of Fantasy
2000"Ninety Percent of Everything"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2000"Ninety Percent of Everything"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2000"Ninety Percent of Everything"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2000"Hunting the Snark"Asimov's Science Fiction
2000"Crocodile Rock"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2000"Argonautica"Asimov's Science Fiction
2001*Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2001Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2001"May Be Some Time"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2001Fantasy & Science Fiction
2001"Radiant Green Star"Asimov's Science Fiction
2002*"Bronte's Egg"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2002"Sunday Night Yams at Minnie and Earl's"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2002Asimov's Science Fiction
2002Fantasy & Science Fiction
2002"Magic's Price"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2003*HarperCollins
2003Asimov's Science Fiction
2003Asimov's Science Fiction
2003"Stories for Men"Asimov's Science Fiction
2003"Breathmoss"Asimov's Science Fiction
2004*Asimov's Science Fiction
2004"Walk in Silence"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2004Fantasy & Science Fiction
2004Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2004"Just Like the Ones We Used to Know"Asimov's Science Fiction
2005*"Magic for Beginners"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2005"Clay's Pride"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2005"Identity Theft"Down These Dark Spaceways
2005"Left of the Dial"Sci Fiction
2005Fantasy & Science Fiction
2006*Tachyon Publications
2006"Sanctuary"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2006Asimov's Science Fiction
2006"Inclination"Asimov's Science Fiction
2007*"Fountain of Age"Asimov's Science Fiction
2007"Awakening"Black Gate
2007Fantasy & Science Fiction
2007"Stars Seen Through Stone"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2007"Kiosk"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2007"Memorare"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2008*Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2008"Dark Heaven"Alien Crimes
2008"Dangerous Space"Dangerous Space
2008Fantasy & Science Fiction
2008Norilana Books
2009*Subterranean Press
2009"Arkfall"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2009"Act One"Asimov's Science Fiction
2009Tachyon Publications
2009"Sublimation Angels"Interzone
2009Subterranean Press
2010*Subterranean Magazine
2010Subterranean Press
2010"Iron Shoes"Alembical 2
2010Subterranean Press
2010Asimov's Science Fiction
2010"Ghosts Doing the Orange Dance"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2011*Asimov's Science Fiction
2011"Kiss Me Twice"Asimov's Science Fiction
2011Clarkesworld Magazine
2011Fantasy & Science Fiction
2011Panverse 3
2011"With Unclean Hands"Analog Science Fiction and Fact
2012*Tachyon Publications
2012Immersion Press
2012Asimov's Science Fiction
2012"All the Flavors"GigaNotoSaurus
2012"Katabasis"Fantasy & Science Fiction
2012"Barry's Tale"Buffalito Buffet
2013*Asimov's Science Fiction
2013"Wakulla Springs"Tor.com
2013"Wakulla Springs"Tor.com
2013"Annabel Lee"New Under the Sun
2013"Burning Girls"Tor.com
2013"Trial of the Century"Lawrencemschoen.com
2013Subterranean Press
2014*Tachyon Publications
2014Tachyon Publications
2014Upgraded
2014Tor.com
2014NobleFusion Press
2014"Grand Jeté "Subterranean Magazine
2015*Tor.com
2015Bone Swans: Stories
2015Asimov's Science Fiction
2015Tor.com
2015"Waters of Versailles"Tor.com
2015Harper Voyager Impulse
2016*Tor.com Publishing
2016Tor.com Publishing
2016Tor.com Publishing
2016Tor.com Publishing
2016Fantasy & Science Fiction
2016Tor.com Publishing
2017*Tor.com
2017Tor.com Publishing
2017Tor.com Publishing
2017"And Then There Were (N-One)"Uncanny Magazine
2017NobleFusion Press
2017Tor.com Publishing
2018*Subterranean Press
2018Tor.com Publishing
2018Tor.com Publishing
2018Tor.com Publishing
2018Semper Fi Press
2018Tor.com Publishing
2019*Saga Press
2019*Saga Press
2019"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom"Exhalation: Stories
2019Tor.com Publishing
2019Tor.com Publishing
2019Saga Press
2019Saga Press
2019Saga Press
2019Saga Press
2019Broken Eye Books
2020*Tor.com Publishing
2020Metaphorosis Magazine
2020Tor.com Publishing
2020"Ife-Iyoku, the Tale of Imadeyunuagbon"Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction From Africa and the African Diaspora
2020Tachyon Publications
2020Tor.com Publishing
2021*Neon Hemlock Press
2021Tordotcom
2021Tordotcom
2021Tordotcom
2021Tordotcom
2021Neon Hemlock Press
2021Uncanny Magazine
2022*Tordotcom
2022Tordotcom
2022"Bishop's Opening"Clarkesworld Magazine
2022Vernacular Books
2022Tordotcom
2023*"Linghun"Dark Matter Ink
2023Tordotcom
2023 Tor, Titan UK
2023Tordotcom
2023Tordotcom
2023Tordotcom
2024*Neon Hemlock Press
2024Tordotcom
2024ECW Press
2024Tordotcom
2024Tordotcom
2024Tordotcom