Locus Awards
The premier reader-voted awards for science fiction and fantasy, presented annually by Locus Magazine based on their reader poll.
About the Locus Awards
The Locus Awards are presented annually by Locus Magazine, the trade journal of the science fiction and fantasy field. Based on the annual Locus Poll, which surveys readers about the best works of the previous year, the awards have been given since 1971.
Locus Magazine was founded in 1968 and has become the premier news source for the SF/F publishing industry. The Locus Poll receives thousands of responses annually, making it one of the largest reader surveys in the genre and a reliable indicator of reader preferences.
Categories
- Best SF Novel - Science fiction novel
- Best Fantasy Novel - Fantasy novel
- Best Horror Novel - Horror novel
- Best First Novel - Debut SF/F/H novel
- Best Young Adult Book - YA science fiction or fantasy
- Best Novella - 17,500-40,000 words
- Best Novelette - 7,500-17,500 words
- Best Short Story - Under 7,500 words
- Best Anthology - Original anthology
- Best Collection - Single-author collection
- Best Nonfiction - SF/F-related nonfiction
- Best Art Book - Illustrated book
Voting Process
The Locus Poll opens early each year and runs through spring. Anyone can participate in the poll, though subscriber votes are weighted more heavily. Results are tabulated and winners announced at an awards ceremony held in Seattle each June.
Recent Locus Award Winners - Best SF Novel
| Year | Title | Author |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Starter Villain | John Scalzi |
| 2023 | The Kaiju Preservation Society | John Scalzi |
| 2022 | A Desolation Called Peace | Arkady Martine |
| 2021 | Network Effect | Martha Wells |
| 2020 | A Memory Called Empire | Arkady Martine |
| 2019 | Spinning Silver | Naomi Novik |
| 2018 | The Stone Sky | N.K. Jemisin |
| 2017 | Too Like the Lightning | Ada Palmer |
| 2016 | Ancillary Mercy | Ann Leckie |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can vote in the Locus Poll?
Anyone can participate in the Locus Poll, though subscriber votes are given additional weight. The poll is conducted online and runs from late winter through spring each year.
How do Locus Awards compare to Hugo and Nebula?
The Hugo Awards are voted by Worldcon members, Nebula Awards by SFWA professional writers, and Locus Awards by readers via Locus Magazine's poll. All three are highly prestigious, representing different perspectives on excellence.
Why are there separate SF and Fantasy novel categories?
Unlike some awards that combine SF and fantasy, Locus separates them to better recognize excellence in each tradition. This allows more books to be honored and reflects the distinct readerships.
When is the Locus Awards ceremony?
The Locus Awards are traditionally presented at a ceremony in Seattle in late June, following the publication of poll results in Locus Magazine.