1969 in science fiction

The year 1969 was marked, in science fiction, by the following:

Events

• The 27th annual Worldcon, St. Louiscon, was held in St. Louis, USA
• The first Ditmar Awards were awarded at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention

Births and deaths

Births

• John Scalzi

Deaths

• John Wyndham

Literary releases

Novels

Further information: Category:1969 science fiction novels

• The Andromeda Strain , by Michael Crichton
• Dune Messiah , by Frank Herbert
• The Jagged Orbit , by John Brunner
• The Left Hand of Darkness , by Ursula K. Le Guin
• The Man in the Maze , by Robert Silverberg
• Slaughterhouse-Five , by Kurt Vonnegut
• UBIK , by Philip K. Dick

Short stories

• "Dancing Gerontius", by Lee Harding
• "Supertoys Last All Summer Long", by Brian Aldiss

Comics

• Doraemon , by Fujiko F. Fujio, begins serialization
• The 1969 reboot of The Eternaut , by Héctor Germán Oesterheld and Alberto Breccia begins serialization in Argentine magazine Gente y la actualidad
• First issue of From Beyond the Unknown is published by DC Comics

Movies

Further information: Category:1969 science fiction films

• The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes , dir. by Robert Butler
• Invasión , dir. by Hugo Santiago
• Stereo , dir. by David Cronenberg

Television

• Night Gallery

Video games

• Space Travel

Other Media

• The first science fiction wargame, Lensman , is published

Awards

Hugos

• Best novel: Stand on Zanzibar , by John Brunner ^[1]
• Best novella: Nightwongs , by Robert Silverberg ^[1]
• Best novelette: "The Sharing of Flesh", by Poul Anderson ^[1]
• Best short story: " The Beast That Shouted Love at the Heart of the World", by Harlan Ellison ^[1]
• Best dramatic presentation: 2001: A Space Odyssey , dir. by Stanley Kubrick; screenplay by Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick; based on the story " The Sentinel" by Arthur C. Clarke ^[1]
• Best professional magazine: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction , ed. by Edward L. Ferman ^[1]
• Best professional artist: Jack Gaughan ^[1]
• Best fanzine: Science Fiction Review, ed. by Richard E. Geis ^[1]
• Best fan writer: Harry Warner Jr. ^[1]
• Best fan artist: Vaughn Bodé ^[1]

Nebulas

• Best novel: The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin ^[2]
• Best novella: A Boy and His Dog , by Harlan Ellison ^[2]
• Best novelette: "Time Considered as a Helix of Semi-Precious Stones", by Samuel R. Delany ^[2]
• Best short story: "Passengers (short story)", by Robert Silverberg ^[2]

Other awards

• BSFA Award for Best Novel: Stand on Zanzibar, by John Brunner

References

1. "1969 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Award. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
2. "1969 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.