I’m always looking for a good Science Fiction book to read, so it makes sense to start with the Hugo Awards for Science Fiction. I’m gradually working my way through the list of winners and contenders as time allows, but what already strikes me is how little correspondence there is between this list and other summaries of the “best science fiction novels” of a given year or all time. Deeper thoughts to come.

All Novels Winning the Hugo Awards for Science Fiction

All information on this table comes from the Hugo Awards site and related Wikipedia summary page. Winners are listed along with finalists for every year. The “#” column indicates how many authors had novels in contention or which won, and should probably be ignored. Last updated April 26, 2022.

# Year Novel Author(s) Comment
359 2024 Some Desperate Glory Emily Tesh
358 – The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Shannon Chakraborty
357 – The Saint of Bright Doors Vajra Chandrasekera
356 – Starter Villain John Scalzi Reading
355 – Translation State Ann Leckie
354 – Witch King Martha Wells
353 2023 Nettle & Bone T. Kingfisher
(Ursula Vernon)
352 – The Daughter of Doctor Moreau Silvia Moreno-Garcia
351 – The Kaiju Preservation Society John Scalzi Read
350 – Legends & Lattes Travis Baldree
349 – Nona the Ninth Tamsyn Muir
348 – The Spare Man Mary Robinette Kowal
347  2022 A Desolation Called Peace Arkady Martine
346 – The Galaxy, and the Ground Within Becky Chambers
345 – Light From Uncommon Stars Ryka Aoki Reading
344 – A Master of Djinn P. Djèlí Clark
343 – Project Hail Mary Andy Weir Read
342 – She Who Became the Sun Shelley Parker-Chan
341 2021 Network Effect Martha Wells
340 – Black Sun Rebecca Roanhorse
339 – The City We Became N.K. Jemisin
338 – Harrow The Ninth Tamsyn Muir DNF
337 – Piranesi Susanna Clarke Reading
336 – The Relentless Moon Mary Robinette Kowal
335 2020 A Memory Called Empire
 Arkady Martine Read
Amazon
A-Review
334 – The City in the Middle of the Night Charlie Jane Anders –
333 – Gideon the Ninth Tamsyn Muir Read
Notes
332 – The Light Brigade Kameron Hurley –
331 – Middlegame Seanan McGuire –
330 – The Ten Thousand Doors of January Alix E. Harrow –
329 2019 The Calculating Stars Mary R. Kowal Read
328 – Record of a Spaceborn Few Becky Chambers Read
327 – Revenant Gun Yoon Ha Lee –
326 – Spinning Silver Naomi Novik –
325 – Trail of Lightning Rebecca Roanhorse –
324 – Space Opera Catherynne M. Valente –
323 2018 The Stone Sky N. K. Jemisin Read
322 – The Collapsing Empire John Scalzi Read
321 – New York 2140 Kim Stanley Robinson –
320 – Provenance Ann Leckie –
319 – Raven Stratagem Yoon Ha Lee –
318 – Six Wakes Mur Lafferty –
317 2017 The Obelisk Gate N. K. Jemisin Read
316 – All the Birds in the Sky Charlie Jane Anders Read
315 – A Closed and Common Orbit Becky Chambers Read
314 – Death’s End Cixin Liu (Chinese) –
313 – Death’s End Ken Liu (translator) –
312 – Ninefox Gambit Yoon Ha Lee –
311 – Too Like the Lightning Ada Palmer –
310 2016 The Fifth Season N. K. Jemisin Read
309 – Uprooted Naomi Novik –
308 – Ancillary Mercy Ann Leckie –
307 – Seveneves Neal Stephenson –
306 – The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass Jim Butcher –
305 2015 The Three-Body Problem Cixin Liu (Chinese) Read
304 – “ Ken Liu (translator) Read
303 – The Goblin Emperor Katherine Addison –
302 – The Dark Between the Stars Kevin J. Anderson –
301 – Skin Game Jim Butcher –
300 – Ancillary Sword Ann Leckie –
299 2014 Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie Reading
298 – Neptune’s Brood Charles Stross –
297 – Parasite Mira Grant –
296 – Warbound Larry Correia –
295 – The Wheel of Time Robert Jordan –
294 – The Wheel of Time Brandon Sanderson –
293 2013 Redshirts John Scalzi Read
292 – 2312 Kim Stanley Robinson –
291 – Blackout Mira Grant –
290 – Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance Lois McMaster Bujold –
289 – Throne of the Crescent Moon Saladin Ahmed –
288 2012 Among Others Jo Walton –
287 – A Dance with Dragons George R. R. Martin Read
286 – Deadline Mira Grant –
285 – Embassytown China Miéville –
284 – Leviathan Wakes James S. A. Corey Read
283 2011 Blackout/All Clear Connie Willis –
282 – Cryoburn Lois McMaster Bujold –
281 – The Dervish House Ian McDonald –
280 – Feed Mira Grant –
279 – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms N. K. Jemisin –
278 2010 The Windup Girl Paolo Bacigalupi Read
277 – The City & the City China Miéville –
276 – Boneshaker Cherie Priest –
275 – Wake Robert J. Sawyer –
274 – Palimpsest Catherynne M. Valente –
273 – Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America Robert Charles Wilson –
272 2009 The Graveyard Book Neil Gaiman Read
271 – Little Brother Cory Doctorow –
270 – Anathem Neal Stephenson –
269 – Saturn’s Children Charles Stross –
268 – Zoe’s Tale John Scalzi –
267 2008 The Yiddish Policemen’s Union Michael Chabon –
266 – The Last Colony John Scalzi –
265 – Halting State Charles Stross –
264 – Rollback Robert J. Sawyer –
263 – Brasyl Ian McDonald –
262 2007 Rainbows End Vernor Vinge –
261 – Glasshouse Charles Stross –
260 – His Majesty’s Dragon Naomi Novik –
259 – Eifelheim Michael F. Flynn –
258 – Blindsight Peter Watts Read
257 2006 Spin Robert Charles Wilson –
256 – Learning the World Ken MacLeod –
255 – A Feast for Crows George R. R. Martin Read
254 – Old Man’s War John Scalzi Read
253 – Accelerando Charles Stross –
252 2005 Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell Susanna Clarke –
251 – River of Gods Ian McDonald –
250 – The Algebraist Iain M. Banks –
249 – Iron Sunrise Charles Stross –
248 – Iron Council China Miéville –
247 2004 Paladin of Souls Lois McMaster Bujold –
246 – Ilium Dan Simmons –
245 – Singularity Sky Charles Stross –
244 – Blind Lake Robert Charles Wilson –
243 – Humans Robert J. Sawyer –
242 2003 Hominids Robert J. Sawyer –
241 – Kiln People
(UK: Kil’n People)		 David Brin –
240 – Bones of the Earth Michael Swanwick –
239 – The Scar China Miéville –
238 – The Years of Rice and Salt Kim Stanley Robinson –
237 2002 American Gods Neil Gaiman Read
236 – The Curse of Chalion Lois McMaster Bujold –
235 – Passage Connie Willis –
234 – Perdido Street Station China Miéville –
233 – The Chronoliths Robert Charles Wilson –
232 – Cosmonaut Keep Ken MacLeod –
231 2001 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire J. K. Rowling Read
230 – A Storm of Swords George R. R. Martin Read
229 – Calculating God Robert J. Sawyer –
228 – The Sky Road Ken MacLeod –
227 – Midnight Robber Nalo Hopkinson –
226 2000 A Deepness in the Sky Vernor Vinge –
225 – A Civil Campaign Lois McMaster Bujold –
224 – Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson –
223 – Darwin’s Radio Greg Bear Read
222 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban J. K. Rowling Read
221 1999 To Say Nothing of the Dog Connie Willis –
220 – Children of God Mary Doria Russell –
219 – Darwinia Robert Charles Wilson –
218 – Distraction Bruce Sterling –
217 – Factoring Humanity Robert J. Sawyer –
216 1998 Forever Peace Joe Haldeman –
215 – City on Fire Walter Jon Williams –
214 – The Rise of Endymion Dan Simmons –
213 – Frameshift Robert J. Sawyer –
212 – Jack Faust Michael Swanwick –
211 1997 Blue Mars Kim Stanley Robinson –
210 – Memory Lois McMaster Bujold –
209 – Remnant Population Elizabeth Moon –
208 – Starplex Robert J. Sawyer –
207 – Holy Fire Bruce Sterling –
206 1996 The Diamond Age Neal Stephenson Read?
205 – The Time Ships Stephen Baxter –
204 – Brightness Reef David Brin –
203 – The Terminal Experiment
(aka Hobson’s Choice)		 Robert J. Sawyer –
202 – Remake Connie Willis –
201 1995 Mirror Dance Lois McMaster Bujold –
200 – Mother of Storms John Barnes –
199 – Beggars and Choosers Nancy Kress –
198 – Brittle Innings Michael Bishop –
197 – Towing Jehovah James K. Morrow –
196 1994 Green Mars Kim Stanley Robinson –
195 – Moving Mars Greg Bear –
194 – Beggars in Spain Nancy Kress –
193 – Glory Season David Brin –
192 – Virtual Light William Gibson –
191 1993 A Fire Upon the Deep Vernor Vinge Read
190 1993 Doomsday Book Connie Willis Read
189 – Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson Reading
188 – China Mountain Zhang Maureen F. McHugh –
187 – Steel Beach John Varley –
186 1992 Barrayar Lois McMaster Bujold –
185 – Bone Dance Emma Bull –
184 – All the Weyrs of Pern Anne McCaffrey –
183 – The Summer Queen Joan D. Vinge –
182 – Xenocide Orson Scott Card –
181 – Stations of the Tide Michael Swanwick –
180 1991 The Vor Game Lois McMaster Bujold –
179 – Earth David Brin Read
178 – The Fall of Hyperion Dan Simmons –
177 – The Quiet Pools Michael P. Kube-McDowell –
176 – Queen of Angels Greg Bear –
175 1990 Hyperion Dan Simmons Read
174 – A Fire in the Sun George Alec Effinger –
173 – Prentice Alvin Orson Scott Card –
172 – The Boat of a Million Years Poul Anderson –
171 – Grass Sheri S. Tepper Reading?
170 1989 Cyteen C. J. Cherryh –
169 – Red Prophet Orson Scott Card –
168 – Falling Free Lois McMaster Bujold –
167 – Islands in the Net Bruce Sterling –
166 – Mona Lisa Overdrive William Gibson –
165 1988 The Uplift War David Brin Read?
164 – When Gravity Fails George Alec Effinger –
163 – Seventh Son Orson Scott Card –
162 – The Forge of God Greg Bear –
161 – The Urth of the New Sun Gene Wolfe –
160 1987 Speaker for the Dead Orson Scott Card –
159 – The Ragged Astronauts Bob Shaw –
158 – Count Zero William Gibson –
157 – Marooned in Realtime Vernor Vinge –
156 – Black Genesis L. Ron Hubbard –
155 1986 Ender’s Game Orson Scott Card –
154 – Cuckoo’s Egg C. J. Cherryh –
153 – The Postman David Brin Read
152 – Footfall Larry Niven Read
151 – Footfall Jerry Pournelle Read
150 – Blood Music Greg Bear –
149 1985 Neuromancer William Gibson –
148 – Emergence David R. Palmer –
147 – The Peace War Vernor Vinge –
146 – Job: A Comedy of Justice Robert A. Heinlein –
145 – The Integral Trees Larry Niven Read
144 1984 Startide Rising David Brin Read?
143 – Tea with the Black Dragon R. A. MacAvoy –
142 – Millennium John Varley –
141 – Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern Anne McCaffrey –
140 – The Robots of Dawn Isaac Asimov Read
139 1983 Foundation’s Edge Isaac Asimov Read
138 – The Pride of Chanur C. J. Cherryh –
137 – 2010: Odyssey Two Arthur C. Clarke Read
136 – Friday Robert A. Heinlein Read
135 – Courtship Rite Donald Kingsbury –
134 – The Sword of the Lictor Gene Wolfe –
133 1982 Downbelow Station C. J. Cherryh Reading
132 – The Claw of the Conciliator Gene Wolfe –
131 – The Many-Colored Land Julian May –
130 – Project Pope Clifford D. Simak –
129 – Little, Big John Crowley –
128 1981 The Snow Queen Joan D. Vinge –
127 – Lord Valentine’s Castle Robert Silverberg –
126 – The Ringworld Engineers Larry Niven Read
125 – Beyond the Blue Event Horizon Frederik Pohl –
124 – Wizard John Varley –
123 1980 The Fountains of Paradise Arthur C. Clarke Read
122 – Titan John Varley –
121 – Jem Frederik Pohl –
120 – Harpist in the Wind Patricia A. McKillip –
119 – On Wings of Song Thomas Disch –
118 1979 Dreamsnake Vonda N. McIntyre –
117 – The White Dragon Anne McCaffrey –
116 – The Faded Sun: Kesrith C. J. Cherryh –
115 – Blind Voices Tom Reamy –
114 1978 Gateway Frederik Pohl –
113 – The Forbidden Tower Marion Zimmer Bradley –
112 – Lucifer’s Hammer Larry Niven Read
111 – Lucifer’s Hammer Jerry Pournelle Read
110 – Time Storm Gordon R. Dickson –
109 – Dying of the Light George R. R. Martin –
108 1977 Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang Kate Wilhelm –
107 – Mindbridge Joe Haldeman –
106 – Children of Dune Frank Herbert Read
105 – Man Plus Frederik Pohl –
104 – Shadrach in the Furnace Robert Silverberg –
103 1976 The Forever War Joe Haldeman Read
102 – Doorways in the Sand Roger Zelazny –
101 – Inferno Larry Niven Read
100 – Inferno Jerry Pournelle Read
99 – The Computer Connection (aka The Indian Giver) Alfred Bester –
98 – The Stochastic Man Robert Silverberg –
97 1975 The Dispossessed Ursula K. Le Guin Reading
96 – Fire Time Poul Anderson –
95 – Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said Philip K. Dick –
94 – The Mote in God’s Eye Larry Niven Read
93 – The Mote in God’s Eye Jerry Pournelle Read
92 – Inverted World Christopher Priest –
91 1974 Rendezvous with Rama Arthur C. Clarke Read
90 – Time Enough for Love Robert A. Heinlein Read
89 – Protector Larry Niven Read
88 – The People of the Wind Poul Anderson –
87 – The Man Who Folded Himself David Gerrold –
86 1973 The Gods Themselves Isaac Asimov Read
85 – When HARLIE Was One David Gerrold –
84 – There Will Be Time Poul Anderson –
83 – The Book of Skulls Robert Silverberg –
82 – Dying Inside Robert Silverberg –
81 – A Choice of Gods Clifford D. Simak –
80 1972 To Your Scattered Bodies Go Philip José Farmer –
79 – The Lathe of Heaven Ursula K. Le Guin –
78 – Dragonquest Anne McCaffrey –
77 – Jack of Shadows Roger Zelazny –
76 – A Time of Changes Robert Silverberg –
75 1971 Ringworld Larry Niven Read
74 – Tau Zero Poul Anderson –
73 – Tower of Glass Robert Silverberg –
72 – The Year of the Quiet Sun Wilson Tucker –
71 – Star Light Hal Clement –
70 1970 The Left Hand of Darkness Ursula K. Le Guin –
69 – Up the Line Robert Silverberg –
68 – Macroscope Piers Anthony –
67 – Slaughterhouse-Five Kurt Vonnegut Read
66 – Bug Jack Barron Norman Spinrad –
65 1969 Stand on Zanzibar John Brunner –
64 – Rite of Passage Alexei Panshin –
63 – Nova Samuel R. Delany Read?
62 – Past Master R. A. Lafferty –
61 – The Goblin Reservation Clifford D. Simak –
60 1968 Lord of Light Roger Zelazny –
59 – The Einstein Intersection Samuel R. Delany –
58 – Chthon Piers Anthony –
57 – The Butterfly Kid Chester Anderson –
56 – Thorns Robert Silverberg –
55 1967 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress Robert A. Heinlein Read
54 – Babel-17 Samuel R. Delany –
53 – Too Many Magicians Randall Garrett –
52 – Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes Read?
51 – The Witches of Karres James H. Schmitz –
50 – Day of the Minotaur Thomas Burnett Swann –
49 1966 Dune Frank Herbert Read
48 – …And Call Me Conrad

(aka This Immortal)

 Roger Zelazny –
47 – The Squares of the City John Brunner –
46 – The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress Robert A. Heinlein Read
45 – Skylark DuQuesne Edward E. Smith –
44 1965 The Wanderer Fritz Leiber –
43 – The Whole Man John Brunner –
42 – Davy Edgar Pangborn –
41 – The Planet Buyer (also known as The Boy Who Bought Old Earth) Cordwainer Smith –
40 1964 Here Gather the Stars (also known as Way Station) Clifford D. Simak –
39 – Glory Road Robert A. Heinlein Read
38 – Witch World Andre Norton –
37 – Dune World[b] Frank Herbert Read
36 – Cat’s Cradle Kurt Vonnegut Reading
35 1963 The Man in the High Castle Philip K. Dick –
34 – The Sword of Aldones Marion Zimmer Bradley –
33 – A Fall of Moondust Arthur C. Clarke Read
32 – Little Fuzzy H. Beam Piper –
31 – Sylva Jean Bruller (French) –
30 – Sylva Rita Barisse (translator) –
29 1962 Stranger in a Strange Land Robert A. Heinlein Read
28 – Dark Universe Daniel F. Galouye –
27 – Planet of the Damned (also known as Sense of Obligation) Harry Harrison –
26 – The Fisherman (also known as Time is the Simplest Thing) Clifford D. Simak –
25 – Second Ending James White –
24 1961 A Canticle for Leibowitz Walter M. Miller, Jr. Reading
23 – The High Crusade Poul Anderson –
22 – Rogue Moon Algis Budrys –
21 – Deathworld Harry Harrison –
20 – Venus Plus X Theodore Sturgeon –
19 1960 Starship Troopers Robert A. Heinlein Read
18 – Dorsai! (also known as The Genetic General) Gordon R. Dickson –
17 – The Pirates of Ersatz (also known as The Pirates of Zan) Murray Leinster –
16 – That Sweet Little Old Lady
(aka Brain Twister)		 Mark Phillips –
15 – The Sirens of Titan Kurt Vonnegut –
14 1959 A Case of Conscience James Blish –
13 – We Have Fed Our Sea
(aka The Enemy Stars)		 Poul Anderson –
12 – Who? Algis Budrys –
11 – Have Space Suit — Will Travel Robert A. Heinlein Read
10 – Time Killer

(aka  Immortality, Inc.)

 Robert Sheckley –
9 1958 The Big Time Fritz Leiber –
8.5 1957 No Winner NA –
8 1956 Double Star Robert A. Heinlein Read
7 – Call Him Dead
(aka Three to Conquer)		 Eric Frank Russell –
6 – The End of Eternity Isaac Asimov Read
5 – Not This August Cyril M. Kornbluth –
4 – The Long Tomorrow Leigh Brackett –
3 1955 They’d Rather Be Right (aka The Forever Machine) Mark Clifton –
2 1955 They’d Rather Be Right (aka The Forever Machine) Frank Riley –
– 1954 NA NA –
1 1953 The Demolished Man Alfred Bester –

If you see any errors or omissions in this table, let me know.

Questions about the Hugo Awards for Science Fiction

If you want to talk about any of these books, let me know. God knows, it will be a while before I read them all (if I ever do).

Q: What books lost that should have won?

Not sure I have any great ideas here yet.

Q: What books weren’t considered that should have been?

Not sure I have any great ideas here yet.

Q: What books won that are…disappointing?

Not sure I have any great ideas here yet.

Peace