1984 in science fiction

The year 1984 was marked, in science fiction, by the following:

Events

• The Janusz A. Zajdel Award, for Polish science fiction and fantasy, is established
• The 42nd annual Worldcon, L.A. con II, was held in Anaheim, USA

Births and deaths

Births

• C. M. Kösemen

Deaths

• A. Bertram Chandler

Literary releases

Novels

Further information: Category:1984 science fiction novels

• Clay's Ark , by Octavia E. Butler
• Heretics of Dune , by Frank Herbert
• Native Tongue , by Suzette Haden Elgin
• Neuromancer , by William Gibson
• The Planiverse , by A.K. Dewdney

Comics

• 2001 Nights , by Yukinobu Hoshino, begins serialization in Monthly Super Action
• The first appearance of Bucky O'Hare, created by Larry Hama and Michael Golden in Echo of Futurepast #1

Movies

Further information: Category:1984 science fiction films

• The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension , dir. by W.D. Richter
• Dune , dir. by David Lynch
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind , dir. by Hayao Miyazaki
• The Terminator , dir. by James Cameron

Television

• Voltron

Video games

• Elite
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Other media

• Mekton - Role-playing game

Awards

Hugos

• Best novel: Startide Rising , by David Brin ^[1]
• Best novella: Cascade Point, by Timothy Zahn ^[1]
• Best novelette: "Blood Music", by Greg Bear ^[1]
• Best short story: "Speech Sounds", by Octavia E. Butler ^[1]
• Best related work: The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy through 1968, Vol 3: Miscellaneous by Donald H. Tuck ^[1]
• Best dramatic presentation: Return of the Jedi , dir. by Richard Marquand; written by Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas; story by George Lucas ^[1]
• Best professional editor: Shawna McCarthy ^[1]
• Best professional artist: Michael Whelan ^[1]
• Best Semiprozine: Locus , ed. by Charles N. Brown ^[1]
• Best fanzine: File 770 , ed. by Mike Glyer ^[1]
• Best fan writer: Mike Glyer ^[1]
• Best fan artist: Alexis Gilliland ^[1]

Nebulas

• Best novel: Neuromancer, by William Gibson ^[2]
• Best novella: PRESS ENTER ■ , by John Varley ^[2]
• Best novelette: "Bloodchild", by Octavia E. Butler ^[2]
• Best short story: "Morning Child", by Gardner Dozois ^[2]

Other awards

• BSFA Award for Best Novel: Mythago Wood , by Robert Holdstock
• Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: Startide Rising, by David Brin
• Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: The Terminator

References

1. "1984 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Award. Archived from the original on 18 August 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
2. "1984 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Archived from the original on 30 August 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.