World Literary Awards

Literary Awards

Browse award recipients, categories, and yearly award lists

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580 literary awards

Ditmar Award (Australian SF 'Ditmar' Award; formerly the Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award)

Established
1969
Frequency
Annually (held every year at the National Science Fiction Convention = Natcon)
Organizer
Australian National Science Fiction Convention (Natcon)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Science fictionFantasyHorrorFandom awardsBest NovelBest Novella or NoveletteBest Short StoryBest Collected WorkBest ArtworkBest Fan WriterBest Fan ArtistBest Fan Publication in any MediumBest New TalentWilliam Atheling Jr. Award for Criticism or Review

Domestic award presented annually since 1969 at Australia's Natcon to recognize achievements in SF, fantasy, horror, and fandom.

Prize: Winner receives a trophy; finalists receive certificates; no standard cash prize.

BSFA Award

Established
1970
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
British Science Fiction Association (BSFA)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Open
Best NovelBest Short FictionBest Shorter FictionBest CollectionBest Fiction for Younger ReadersBest Translated Short FictionBest ArtworkBest Original Audio FictionBest Non-FictionBest Short Non-FictionLong Non-Fiction

An award presented annually by the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) in the UK since 1970, honoring science fiction works published in the previous year through member voting.

Prize: Honor of winning (trophy/certificate, etc.)

Locus Award

Established
1971
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Locus Science Fiction Foundation (LSFF)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around April
Announcement Period
around May
Science FictionFantasyHorrorSpeculative Fiction

Annual literary award for science fiction, fantasy, and horror works selected by Locus magazine reader voting.

Prize: Trophy (using the trophy design since 2018)

Mythopoeic Awards

Established
1971
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
The Mythopoeic Society
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Professional
Fantasy (Adult)Children's literatureScholarship (Inklings Studies, Myth and Fantasy Studies)Young Adult (from 2024)Student Paper Award (Alexei Kondratiev Award)

Awards honoring outstanding works in fantasy literature and Inklings scholarship, with categories for Adult, Young Adult, and Children's fantasy, plus scholarship awards.

Prize: Statuette modeled after a seated lion (with a plaque on the base) and the honor of the award

Prix Tour-Apollo

Established
1972
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Jacques Sadoul (founder), Jacques Goimard (collaborator)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Science fictionNovelTranslated literature

Annual French jury award (1972–1990) given to SF novels published in France the previous year.

Prize: Details unknown (not mentioned on Wikipedia)

John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel

Established
1973
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Center for the Study of Science Fiction (University of Kansas), 1979–2021
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around May
Science fictionNovelEnglish-language

An annual award given to the best science fiction novel published in English the previous year (established 1973, final award 2019).

Prize: Permanent trophy (plaque engraved with winner's name) and from 2004 onward, small individual trophy for the winner. Winners invited to the award ceremony.

Astounding Award for Best New Writer (formerly the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer)

Established
1973
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
World Science Fiction Society (WSFS: selection management) / Dell Magazines (sponsor)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Application Deadline
around March
New Writer AwardScience FictionFantasy

Annual award given to new writers whose first professional work was published within the past two calendar years. Formerly known as the John W. Campbell Award.

Prize: Winner receives a plaque; all finalists receive a pin; since 2005 a tiara has been passed between winners.

World Fantasy Award

Established
1975
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
World Fantasy Convention (World Fantasy Convention Board / World Fantasy Awards Administration)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Application Deadline
around June
Announcement Period
around October
NovelNovellaShort FictionCollectionAnthologyArtistSpecial Award—ProfessionalSpecial Award—Non-professionalConvention AwardLife Achievement

An annual international literary award presented by the World Fantasy Convention for fantasy works published in the previous year.

Prize: Trophy (statuette). Until 2015, a bust of H. P. Lovecraft; since then, a new statuette depicting a tree and full moon is awarded.

Harland Prijs

Established
1976
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Stichting Fantastisch Genre, in collaboration with Hebban.nl. Contact organizer: Martijn Lindeboom
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Short storySpeculative fictionFantasyScience fictionHorrorMagical realism

Annual award for the best Dutch short speculative fiction story, including SF, fantasy, horror, and magical realism. Established in 1976, renamed Harland Prijs in 2023.

Prize: Historically, prize money (initially typically around 1,000 Dutch guilders) was awarded, and winning works are sometimes professionally published. A novel prize was briefly added in 2015.

Prometheus Award

Established
1979
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Libertarian Futurist Society
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Science fictionFantasyLibertarian SFNovel (Best Novel)Hall of Fame

Annual literary award recognizing long-form SF/fantasy works dealing with libertarian thought (including Best Novel category and Hall of Fame).

Prize: Best Novel winners receive plaque and 1 oz gold coin, Hall of Fame winners receive plaque and smaller gold coin.

Aurora Awards (Prix Aurora-Boréal)

Established
1980
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Canvention (host organization) / Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) / SFSF Boreal Inc. (SFSFBI)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Children's Literature, Fairy Tales, and Picture Books
Target
Open
Best NovelBest YA NovelBest Novelette/NovellaBest Short StoryBest Poem/SongBest Graphic Novel/ComicBest Cover Art/Interior IllustrationBest Related WorkBest Fan Writing and PublicationBest Fan Related WorkHall of Fame

Annual award recognizing excellence by Canadians in science fiction, fantasy, and horror

Prize: Trophy and recognition upon winning (awarded per category). Hall of Fame Trophy for lifetime achievers

Prix Rosny-Aîné

Established
1980
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Noosfère secretariat (secretary: Bruno Para)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Science fictionLiterary award

A literary award given to French science fiction. Awarded annually since 1980 in the novel and short story categories.

Prize: Award given to the best entry in the novel category and short story category. Detailed prize money information is not publicly available.

Philip K. Dick Award

Established
1983
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Philadelphia Science Fiction Society; Philip K. Dick Trust; Northwest Science Fiction Society
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around April
science fictionpaperback original novel

An annual science fiction award presented to original paperback SF novels published in the United States in the previous year.

Prize: Recognition upon winning (trophy/certificate, etc.). Monetary prizes are often not explicitly stated on the official page.

Compton Crook Award

Established
1983
Frequency
Once a year (annually at Balticon)
Organizer
Baltimore Science Fiction Society (BSFS)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around May
Debut full-length novelSpeculative fictionScience fictionFantasyHorror

Literary award presented annually by BSFS to the best English-language debut novel (SF/fantasy/horror).

Prize: Winners receive $1,000 cash, a plaque (commemorative plaque), and attendance support for Balticon (for 2 years).

Writers and Illustrators of the Future

Established
1983
Frequency
Quarterly (4 times a year)
Organizer
Author Services Inc. (Galaxy Press)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
SF (Science Fiction)FantasyShort story contests for newcomersIllustration contests

A public contest for new SF and fantasy short story writers and illustrators founded by L. Ron Hubbard. Selects winners quarterly and presents annual Gold Awards.

Prize: Writers division: Quarterly 1st $1000 / 2nd $750 / 3rd $500. Additional $5000 for annual Gold Award (selected from 4 quarterly 1st-place entries). Illustration division: Up to 3 per quarter each $500, annual Gold Award $5000. Winners receive trophies, publication in annual anthology with payment, invitations to workshops and awards ceremony (expenses covered by organizers), and other benefits.

Tähtivaeltaja Award

Established
1986
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Helsingin science fiction seura ry
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
Announcement Period
around April–May
Literary awardScience fictionFinnish-language published books (including translations)

Annual literary award given to the best science fiction book published in Finnish.

Arthur C. Clarke Award

Established
1987
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Administered by the Serendip Foundation (a non-profit organisation). Judges are nominated annually by the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation and the Sci-Fi-London film festival.
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Science fictionNovelBritish literary award

British literary award given to the best SF novel published in the previous year in the UK. Established in 1987.

Prize: Engraved bookend and a cash prize in pounds sterling equal to the current year (e.g. £2012 for 2012).

SFRA Pioneer Award

Established
1990
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Academic AwardCriticism/ResearchSF Research

Annual best criticism essay award presented by the Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA). Renamed to SFRA Innovative Research Award in 2019.

Prize: Annual Best Critical Essay Award (essay-length critical research)

Otherwise Award (formerly the James Tiptree, Jr. Award)

Established
1991
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Tiptree Motherboard (Otherwise Award Steering Committee)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Application Deadline
around December
Announcement Period
around May
Science fictionFantasySpeculative fictionGender

An annual American literary award (established 1991) given to SF/fantasy works that expand and explore understanding of gender. Formerly known as the James Tiptree, Jr. Award; renamed Otherwise Award in 2019.

Prize: Honorary award (inclusion in Honor List, publicity, opportunities for anthology publication, etc.)

Chandler Award

Established
1992
Frequency
Nominally annual (presented in conjunction with the Australian National Science Fiction Convention); not necessarily presented every year
Organizer
Australian Science Fiction Foundation
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Science fictionAchievement / Lifetime achievementAustralian literature

Presented by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation for outstanding achievement in Australian science fiction.

Prize: Honorary award for outstanding achievement in Australian science fiction. No cash prize is specified in the source.

Sidewise Award for Alternate History

Established
1995
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Sidewise Award Steering Committee (Founders: Steven H. Silver, Evelyn C. Leeper, Robert B. Schmunk)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Alternate historyScience fictionLiterary award

Literary award recognizing short-form and long-form alternate history works. Established in 1995.

Prize: Long-Form Award and Short-Form Award are presented annually. Special Achievement Awards may be presented irregularly.

Thomas D. Clareson Award for Distinguished Service

Established
0
Frequency
Once a year (usually)
Organizer
Science Fiction Research Association (SFRA)
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Professional
Academic science fiction awardService awardScience fiction and fantasy organizations

Presented by the Science Fiction Research Association for outstanding service to the science fiction and fantasy scholarly community.

Prize: Honorary recognition for distinguished service (no cash prize listed)

Endeavour Award

Established
1999
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Oregon Science Fiction Conventions, Inc. (OSFCI)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around April
science fictionfantasyregional (Pacific Northwest)

An annual literary award given to science fiction or fantasy books published in the previous year by authors from the Pacific Northwest.

Prize: null

WSFA Small Press Award

Established
2007
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Washington Science Fiction Association (WSFA)
Selection Method
Vote
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around October
short fictionscience fictionfantasyhorrorspeculative fiction

The WSFA Small Press Award, established in 2007 by the Washington Science Fiction Association, honors short fiction (under 20,000 words) of imaginative literature first published in English by a small press in the previous calendar year.

Prize: Recognition/award (winner announced at Capclave). Specific cash prize not listed in source.

Tähtifantasia Award

Established
2007
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
Helsingin science fiction seura ry (Helsinki Science Fiction Society / Tähtivaeltaja)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Research, Translation, and Scholarship
Target
Professional
FantasyForeign literature (published in Finland)Translated fictionFinnish literary award

An annual award given to foreign fantasy books published in Finland (Tähtifantasia Award).

Kitschies

Established
2009
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
The Kitschies (Founded: Pornokitsch, Operated: Kitschies non-profit organization)
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Genre Fiction
Target
Newcomer
Speculative FictionFantasySFCover ArtNative Digital FictionDebut WorkSpecial Award (Discretionary Award)

A literary award presented in the UK from 2009 to 2024, recognizing progressive, intelligent, and entertaining works containing speculative/fantastic elements.

Prize: Red Tentacle (Best Novel) — Main prize. Winners receive prize money and a textile octopus tentacle trophy.

William Hill Sports Book of the Year

Established
1989
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
William Hill (bookmaker)
Selection Method
Open call / Recommendation
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Open
Announcement Period
around May
Sports booksSports writingNonfiction

Britain's annual sports book award. Organized and sponsored by William Hill, it honors outstanding books on sports.

Prize: £30,000 prize money for the winner and a leather-bound copy of the winning book. £3,000 awarded to each shortlisted author.

British Sports Book Awards

Established
2003
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
National Sporting Club
Selection Method
Open call
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Newcomer
Announcement Period
around May–June
Sports booksAutobiography/BiographyFootball (Soccer)CricketRugbyHorse racingCyclingGolfMotorsportsIllustrated/Photo booksNew writerPublicity/CampaignRetailer awardOutstanding sports writingLifetime achievement award

A literary award targeting sports books in the UK. Winners are selected across multiple categories, with the overall winner determined by public vote from category winners.

Prize: Awards in each category (trophy and recognition), plus overall award selected by public vote from category winners. Publishing and promotion opportunities may be provided for winners.

PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing

Established
2010
Frequency
Once a year
Organizer
PEN America (formerly PEN American Center)
Selection Method
Selection
Category
Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Target
Professional
SportsNonfictionBiographyInvestigative reportingHistory

A literary award established by PEN America in 2010 targeting nonfiction books related to sports.

Prize: The PEN/ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award grants recipients honor and an honorarium (details below). The amount for the main literary sports writing award is not clearly stated in the materials.

Casey Award

Established
1983
Frequency
Annually
Organizer
Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine
Selection Method
Recommendation
Category
Literature and General Literary Arts
Target
Professional
Baseball LiteratureSports BooksLiterary Awards

Established in 1983. An American literary award (CASEY) given annually to the best baseball book of the year.

Prize: Winners receive a memento (Louisville Slugger bat since 2009). Previously, a bronze plaque was awarded.