BSFA Award

Last updated
BSFA Awards
Awarded forAwarded each year to the best Novel, Short fiction, Audio fiction, Collection, Artwork and work of Non-Fiction published in the previous calendar year as voted for by the members of the British Science Fiction Association.
CountryUK
Presented by British Science Fiction Association
First awarded1970
Website bsfa.co.uk/awards

The BSFA Awards are literary awards presented annually since 1970 by the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) to honour works in the genre of science fiction. Nominees and winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members. More recently, members of the Eastercon convention have also been eligible to vote.

Contents

BSFA Award categories

The award originally included only a category for novels. A category for artists was added in 1979 and for short works in 1980. A category for younger readers was added in 2021. The artists category became artwork in 1986, and a category for related non-fiction was added in 2002. A number of new awards were created in 2023. A media category was awarded for 1978 to 1991. The ceremonies are named after the year that the eligible works were published, despite the awards being given out in the next year. The current standard award categories are:

Previous categories:

BSFA Award winners

YearCategoryWorkAuthor(s)
1969Novel Stand on Zanzibar John Brunner
1970Novel The Jagged Orbit John Brunner
1971Collection The Moment of Eclipse Brian W. Aldiss
1972No award insufficient votes.
1973Novel Rendezvous with Rama Arthur C. Clarke
Special AwardBillion Year Spree Brian W. Aldiss
1974Novel Inverted World Christopher Priest
1975Novel Orbitsville Bob Shaw
1976NovelBrontomek! Michael G. Coney
Special AwardA Pictorial History of Science Fiction David Kyle
1977Novel The Jonah Kit Ian Watson
1978Novel A Scanner Darkly Philip K. Dick
Collection Deathbird Stories Harlan Ellison
Media The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (original radio series) Douglas Adams
1979Novel The Unlimited Dream Company J. G. Ballard
Short"Palely Loitering" Christopher Priest ( F&SF )
Media The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Artist Jim Burns
1980Novel Timescape Gregory Benford
Short"The Brave Little Toaster" Thomas M. Disch ( F&SF )
Media The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy second radio series Douglas Adams
Artist Peter Jones
1981Novel The Shadow of the Torturer Gene Wolfe
Short"Mythago Wood" Robert Holdstock (F&SF)
Media Time Bandits film
Artist Bruce Pennington
1982Novel Helliconia Spring Brian W. Aldiss
Short"Kitemaster" Keith Roberts ( Interzone 1)
Media Blade Runner film
ArtistTim White
1983 [1] Novel Tik-Tok John Sladek
Short"After-Images" Malcolm Edwards (Interzone 4)
Media Android film
Artist Bruce Pennington
1984 [2] Novel Mythago Wood Robert Holdstock
Short"The Unconquered Country" Geoff Ryman (Interzone 7)
Media The Company of Wolves film
Artist Jim Burns
1985 [3] Novel Helliconia Winter Brian W. Aldiss
Short"Cube Root" David Langford (Interzone 11)
Media Brazil film
Artist Jim Burns
1986 [4] Novel The Ragged Astronauts Bob Shaw
Short"Kaeti and the Hangman" Keith Roberts (in collection Kaeti & Company )
Media Aliens film
ArtistThe Clocktower Girl by Keith Roberts
1987 [5] Novel Grainne Keith Roberts
Short"Love Sickness" Geoff Ryman (Interzone 20/21)
Media Star Cops television series
ArtworkCover of Worldcon Programme Book Jim Burns
1988 [6] Novel Lavondyss Robert Holdstock
Short"Dark Night in Toyland" Bob Shaw (Interzone 26)
Media Who Framed Roger Rabbit film
ArtworkCover of Lavondyss Alan Lee
1989 [7] Novel Pyramids Terry Pratchett
Short"In Translation" Lisa Tuttle (Zenith)
Media Red Dwarf television series
ArtworkCover of Other Edens III Jim Burns
1990 [8] Novel Take Back Plenty Colin Greenland
Short"The Original Doctor Shade" Kim Newman (Interzone 36)
Media Twin Peaks television series
ArtistCovers of The Difference Engine and Interzone 40Ian Miller
1991 [9] Novel The Fall of Hyperion Dan Simmons
Short"Bad Timing" Molly Brown (Interzone 54)
Media Terminator 2: Judgment Day film
ArtworkCover of Interzone 45Mark Harrison
1992 [10] Novel Red Mars Kim Stanley Robinson
Short"Innocents" Ian McDonald ( New Worlds 2)
ArtworkCover of Hearts, Hands and Voices Jim Burns
1993 [11] Novel Aztec Century Christopher Evans
Short"The Ragthorn" Robert Holdstock and Garry Kilworth (Interzone 74)
ArtworkCover for Red Dust by Paul J. McAuley Jim Burns
Special Award The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ed. John Clute and Peter Nicholls
1994 [12] Novel Feersum Endjinn Iain M. Banks
Short"The Double Felix"Paul di Filippo (Interzone 87)
ArtistCover for Interzone 79 Jim Burns
1995 [13] Novel The Time Ships Stephen Baxter
Short"The Hunger and Ecstasy of Vampires" Brian Stableford (shorter version, Interzone 91/92)
Artistcover for Seasons of Plenty Jim Burns
1996 [14] Novel Excession Iain M. Banks
Short"A Crab Must Try" Barrington J. Bayley (Interzone 103)
Artistcover for Ancient Shores Jim Burns
1997 [15] Novel The Sparrow Mary Doria Russell
Short"War Birds" Stephen Baxter (Interzone 126)
Artist'The Black Blood of the Dead' cover Interzone 116SMS
1998 [16] Novel The Extremes Christopher Priest
Short"La Cenerentola" Gwyneth Jones (Interzone 136)
Artwork'Lord Prestimion' (cover, Interzone 138) Jim Burns
1999 [17] NovelThe Sky Road Ken MacLeod
Short"Hunting the Slarque" Eric Brown (Interzone 141)
ArtworkDarwinia (cover of Darwinia, Robert Charles Wilson) Jim Burns
2000 [18] Novel Ash: A Secret History Mary Gentle
Short"The Suspect Genome" Peter F. Hamilton (Interzone 156)
ArtworkHideaway (Cover, Interzone 157)Dominic Harman
2001 [19] Novel Chasm City Alastair Reynolds
Short Story"Children of Winter" Eric Brown (Interzone 163)
Artworkcover of OmegatropicColin Odell
Non-fictionOmegatropic Stephen Baxter
2002 [20] Novel The Separation Christopher Priest
Short Fiction Coraline Neil Gaiman
Artworkcover, Interzone 179Dominic Harman
Related PublicationIntroduction to Maps: The Uncollected John Sladek David Langford
2003 [21] Novel Felaheen Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Short Fiction The Wolves in the Walls Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean
Artworkcover, The True Knowledge of Ken MacLeodColin Odell
Non-fictionReading Science Fiction Farah Mendlesohn
2004Novel River of Gods Ian McDonald
Short FictionMayflower II Stephen Baxter
Artworkcover, Newton's Wake (US Edition) Stephan Martinière
2005 [22] Novel Air Geoff Ryman
Short Fiction Magic for Beginners Kelly Link
Artworkcover, Interzone 200Pawel Lewandowski
Non-fiction AwardSoundings: Reviews 1992-1996 Gary K. Wolfe
2006 [23] NovelEnd of the World Blues Jon Courtenay Grimwood
Short FictionThe Djinn's Wife (Asimov's Science Fiction, July 2006) Ian McDonald
ArtworkAngelbot, cover of Time Pieces Christopher "Fangorn" Baker
2007Novel Brasyl Ian McDonald
Short FictionLighting Out Ken MacLeod (disLocations)
ArtworkCracked World, cover of disLocationsAndy Bigwood
2008Novel The Night Sessions Ken MacLeod
Short FictionExhalation Ted Chiang
Artworkcover of SubterfugeAndy Bigwood
Non-fictionRhetorics of Fantasy Farah Mendlesohn
2009Novel The City & the City China Miéville
Short FictionThe Beloved Time of Their Lives Ian Watson and Roberto Quaglia
Artworkcover of Desolation Road Stephan Martinière
Non-fictionMutant Popcorn Nick Lowe
2010 [24] Novel The Dervish House Ian McDonald
Short FictionThe Ship Maker Aliette de Bodard
Artworkcover of Zoo City Joey Hi-Fi
Non-Fiction Blogging the Hugos: Decline Paul Kincaid
2011 [25] Novel The Islanders Christopher Priest
Short FictionThe Copenhagen Interpretation Paul Cornell
Artworkcover of The Noise RevealedDominic Harman
Non-Fiction The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction 3rd edition John Clute, Peter Nicholls, David Langford and Graham Sleight
2012NovelJack Glass Adam Roberts
Short FictionAdrift on the Sea of Rains Ian Sales
Artworkcover of Jack GlassBlacksheep
Non-FictionThe World SF Blogchief editor Lavie Tidhar
2013 [26] Novels (tie)
Ancillary Justice Ann Leckie
Ack-Ack Macaque Gareth L. Powell
Short FictionSpin Nina Allan
Artworkcover of Dream LondonJoey Hi-Fi
Non-FictionWonderbook Jeff VanderMeer
2014 [27] Novel Ancillary Sword Ann Leckie
Short FictionThe Honey TrapRuth E. J. Booth, La Femme
ArtworkThe Wasp Factory after Iain Banks Tessa Farmer
Non-FictionScience Fiction and Fantasy Writers and the First World War Edward James
2015NovelHouse of Shattered Wings Aliette de Bodard
Short FictionThree Cups of Grief, by Starlight Aliette de Bodard
Artworkcover of Pelquin's Comet Jim Burns
Non-FictionRave and Let Die: the SF and Fantasy of 2014 Adam Roberts
2016 [28] Novel Europe in Winter Dave Hutchinson
Short FictionLiberty Bird Jaine Fenn
Artworkcover of Central Station Sarah Anne Langton
Non-Fiction100 African Writers of SFF Geoff Ryman
2017Novel The Rift Nina Allan
Short FictionThe Enclave Anne Charnock
Artwork (tie)
Cover of The Ion Raider Jim Burns
Waiting on a Bright Moon Victo Ngai
Non-Fiction Iain M. Banks (University of Illinois Press) Paul Kincaid
2018 [29] NovelEmbers of War Gareth L Powell
Short FictionTime Was Ian McDonald
ArtworkIn the Vanishers’ Palace: Dragon I and IILikhain
Non-FictionOn motherhood and erasure: people-shaped holes, hollow characters and the illusion of impossible adventures Aliette de Bodard
2019 [30] Novel Children of Ruin Adrian Tchaikovsky
Short FictionThis Is How You Lose the Time War Amal El-Mohtar & Max Gladstone
ArtworkCover of Wourism and Other Stories (Luna Press) Chris "Fangorn" Baker
Non-FictionThe Pleasant Profession of Robert A. Heinlein Farah Mendlesohn
2020 [31] Novel The City We Became N. K. Jemisin
Short FictionInfinite Tea in the Demara CafeIda Keogh
ArtworkShipbuilding over the ClydeIain Clark
Non-FictionIt's the End of the World: But What Are We Really Afraid Of Adam Roberts
2021 [32] [33] Novel Shards of Earth Adrian Tchaikovsky
Short Fiction Fireheart Tiger Aliette de Bodard
Best Fiction for Younger Readers Iron Widow Xiran Jay Zhao
ArtworkGlasgow Green WomanIain Clark
Non-FictionWorlds Apart: Worldbuilding in Fantasy and Science Fictionedited by Francesca T. Barbini
2022 [34] NovelCity of Last Chances Adrian Tchaikovsky
Short FictionOf Charms, Ghosts and Grievances Aliette de Bodard
Best Fiction for Younger Readers Unraveller Frances Hardinge
ArtworkCover of The Red Scholar's Wake (Gollancz)Alyssa Winans
Non-FictionTerry Pratchett: A Life with FootnotesRob Wilkins
2023 [35] NovelThe Green Man’s Quarry Juliet E. McKenna
Shorter FictionAnd Put Away Childish Things Adrian Tchaikovsky
Short FictionHow to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub P. Djèlí Clark
CollectionThe Best of British Science Fiction 2022 Donna Scott
Best Fiction for Younger ReadersThe Library of Broken Worlds Alaya Dawn Johnson
Long Non-FictionA Traveller in Time: The Critical Practice of Maureen Kincaid Speller Nina Allan
Short Non-FictionProject Management Lessons from Rogue One Fiona Moore
Translated Short FictionVanishing Tracks in the Sand Jana Bianchi
ArtworkCover of The Surviving Sky (Titan) Leo Nickolls
Original Audio FictionThe Dex Legacy Emily Inkpen

Notes

    See also

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    External resources