1982 in science fiction

The year 1982 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.

Births and Deaths

Deaths

• Philip K. Dick ^[1]

Literary Releases

Novels

Further information: Category:1982 science fiction novels

• 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke
• Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
• Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov
• The Running Man by Stephen King (published under the name Richard Bachman)

Short stories

• Burning Chrome by William Gibson

Comics

• Akira , by Katsuhiro Otomo, begins serialization in Weekly Young Magazine
• The first Dreadstar story, by Jim Starlin, is published in Epic Illustrated
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind , by Hayao Miyazaki, begins serialization in Animage
• The Rocketeer , by Dave Stevens, first appears as a backup feature to Starslayer, published by Pacific Comics ^[2]

Movies

Further information: Category: 1982 science fiction films

• Blade Runner , dir. by Ridley Scott
• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial , dir. by Steven Spielberg
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , dir. by Nicholas Meyer
• The Thing , dir. by John Carpenter
• Tron , written and dir. by Steven Lisberger

Television

• Interster premiered in South Africa

Video Games

• Moon Patrol by Takashi Nishiyama
• Robotron: 2084 by Eugene Jarvis and Larry DeMar

Awards

Hugo Awards

• Best Novel: Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh ^[3]
• Best Novella: "The Saturn Game" by Poul Anderson ^[3]
• Best Novelette: "Unicorn Variation" by Roger Zelazny ^[3]
• Best Short Story: "The Pusher" by John Varley ^[3]
• Best Related Work: Danse Macabre by Stephen King ^[3]
• Best Dramatic Presentation: Raiders of the Lost Ark, dir. by Steven Spielberg; Screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan; story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman ^[3]
• Best Professional Editor: Edward L. Ferman ^[3]
• Best Professional Artist: Michael Whelan ^[3]
• Best Fanzine: Locus, ed. by Charles N. Brown ^[3]
• Best Fan Writer: Richard E. Geis ^[3]
• Best Fan Artist: Victoria Poyser ^[3]

Nebula Awards

• Best Novel No Enemy But Time by Michael Bishop ^[4]
• Best Novella: "Another Orphan" by John Kessel ^[4]
• Best Novelette: " Fire Watch" by Connie Willis ^[4]
• Best Short Story: "A Letter from the Clearys by Connie Willis ^[4]

Other Awards

• BSFA Award for Best Novel: Helliconia Spring by Brian W. Aldiss
• Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Many Colored Land by Julian May
• Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

References

1. "Philip K. Dick, Won Awards For Science-Fiction Works". The New York Times. March 3, 1982. p. A22. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
2. https://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/dave_stevens_1955_2008/ Dave Stevens, 1955-2008. The Comics Reporter. 2008. Accessed 2025-09-27
3. "1982 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Award. 26 July 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
4. https://nebulas.sfwa.org/award-year/1982/ "1982 Nebula Awards" Nebula Awards. Accessed 2025-09-27