1986 in science fiction

The year 1986 was marked, in science fiction, by the following:

Events

• Gardner Dozois begins his run as editor of Asimov's Science Fiction. ^[1]
• The 44th annual Worldcon, ConFederation, is held in Atalanta, USA.
• The first Galaxy Awards, for Chinese science fiction, are awarded.

Births and deaths

Deaths

• Judy Lynn Del Rey
• Gardner Fox
• Frank Herbert
• L. Ron Hubbard

Literary releases

Novels

Further information: Category:1986 science fiction novels

• Speaker for the Dead , by Orson Scott Card

Children's books

• Many Waters , by Madeleine L'Engle

Comics

• Watchmen , by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Movies

Further information: Category: 1986 science fiction films

• Aliens dir. by James Cameron
• The Fly , dir. by David Cronenberg
• Little Shop of Horrors , dir. by Frank Oz

Television

• ALF , created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco

Video games

• Metroid

Other Media

• The pinball game Pin-Bot, developed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler; published by Williams

Awards

Hugos

• Best novel: Ender's Game , by Orson Scott Card ^[2]
• Best novella: 24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai , by Roger Zelazny ^[2]
• Best novelette: "Paladin of the Lost Hour" by Harlan Ellison ^[2]
• Best short story: "Fermi and Frost" by Frederick Pohl ^[2]
• Best related work: Science Made Stupid by Tom Weller ^[2]
• Best dramatic presentation: Back to the Future , dir. by Robert Zemeckis, written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale ^[2]
• Best professional editor: Judy Lynn Del Rey (awarded posthumously and declined on her behalf by her husband Lester Del Rey) ^[2]
• Best professional artist: Michael Whelan ^[2]
• Best Semiprozine: Locus , ed. by Charles N. Brown ^[2]
• Best fanzine: Lan's Lantern , ed. by George "Lan" Laskowski ^[2]
• Best fan writer: Mike Glyer ^[2]
• Best fan artist: Joan Hanke-Woods ^[2]

Nebulas

• Best novel: Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card ^[3]
• Best novella: R&R, by Lucius Shepard ^[3]
• Best novelette: "The Girl Who Fell into the Sky" by Kate Wilhelm ^[3]
• Best short story: "Tangents" by Greg Bear ^[3]

Other awards

• BSFA Award for Best Novel: The Ragged Astronauts , by Bob Shaw
• Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Postman , by David Brin
• Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: Aliens

References

1. Williams, Sheila. "History of Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine". Asimov's Science Fiction. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
2. "1986 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Award. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
3. "1986 - The Nebula Awards". Nebula Awards. Retrieved 6 October 2025.