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Hugo Awards for Science Fiction – The Novels

Nasa Hubble Space Image

NGC 2174, the Monkey Head Nebula, in the constellation of Orion (The Hunter)

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
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
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[d] Robert Jordan
294 The Wheel of Time[d] 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 Reading
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
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
189 Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson
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 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 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 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 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)[a]
30 Sylva Rita Barisse (translator)[a]
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

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