Locus Award

The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine Locus, a monthly magazine based in Oakland, California.^[1] The awards are presented at an annual banquet.^[2]

Locus Award
Trophy used since 2018
Awarded for	The best science fiction, fantasy and horror of the previous year
Presented by	Locus
First awarded	1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Website	www.sfadb.com/Locus_Awards

Originally a poll of Locus subscribers only, voting is now open to anyone, but the votes of subscribers count twice as much as the votes of non-subscribers.^[3] The award was inaugurated in 1971, and was originally intended to provide suggestions and recommendations for the Hugo Awards.^[2] They have come to be considered a prestigious prize in science fiction, fantasy and horror literature.^[4][5] The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction regards the Locus Awards as sharing the stature of the Hugo and Nebula Awards.^[1]

Gardner Dozois holds the record for the most wins (43), while Neil Gaiman has won the most awards for works of fiction (18). Robert Silverberg has received the highest number of nominations (158).^[6]

Frequently nominated

As of the 2021 awards, the following have had the most nominations:^[6]

Person	Nominations	Nominations (fiction)	Wins
Robert Silverberg	158	88	9
Gardner Dozois	133	21	43
Ellen Datlow	104	0	16
Michael Swanwick	84	74	3
Ursula K. Le Guin	80	56	24
Martin H. Greenberg	80	0	0
Gene Wolfe	74	67	6
Stephen Baxter	73	67	1
David G. Hartwell	73	0	1
Robert Reed	71	67	0
Lucius Shepard	70	60	8
Gregory Benford	69	54	0
Terri Windling	66	1	0
Frederik Pohl	65	46	3
Nancy Kress	64	57	2
George R. R. Martin	63	42	16

Categories

• Locus Award for Best Novel (1971–1979)
  • Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (1980–)
  • Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel (1980–)
  • Locus Award for Best Horror Novel (1989–90, 1994, 2017–present)^[1]
    • Locus Award for Best Horror/Dark Fantasy Novel (1991–93, 1996–97)
    • Locus Award for Best Dark Fantasy/Horror Novel (1995, 1999)
  • Locus Award for Best First Novel (1981–)
  • Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book (2003–)
• Locus Award for Best Novella
• Locus Award for Best Novelette
• Locus Award for Best Short Story, originally Locus Award for Best Short Fiction (1971–74, 1978)
• Locus Award for Best Magazine
• Locus Award for Best Publisher
• Locus Award for Best Anthology
• Locus Award for Best Collection
• Locus Award for Best Editor
• Locus Award for Best Artist
• Locus Award for Best Non-fiction/Art Book (discontinued)
• Locus Award for Best Illustrated and Art Book^[7]

Inactive categories

There are several categories that no longer receive Locus Awards:^[8]

• Locus Award for Best Original Anthology (1972–1975)^[9]
  • 1972: Universe 1 edited by Terry Carr
  • 1973: Again, Dangerous Visions edited by Harlan Ellison
  • 1974: Astounding: John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology edited by Harry Harrison
  • 1975: Universe 4 edited by Terry Carr
• Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection (1972–1975)^[10]
  • 1972: World's Best Science Fiction: 1971 edited by Donald A. Wollheim and Terry Carr
  • 1973: The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2 edited by Terry Carr
  • 1974: The Best Science Fiction of the Year #2 edited by Terry Carr
  • 1975: Before the Golden Age edited by Isaac Asimov
• Locus Award for Best Fanzine (1971–1977)^[11]
  • 1971: Locus
  • 1972: Locus
  • 1973: Locus
  • 1974: Locus
  • 1975: Outworlds
  • 1976: Locus
  • 1977: Locus
• Locus Award for Best Single Fanzine Issue (1971)^[12]
  • 1971: Locus
• Locus Award for Best Critic (1974–1977)^[13]
  • 1974: Richard Geis
  • 1975: P. Schuyler Miller
  • 1976: Richard Geis
  • 1977: Spider Robinson
• Locus Award for Best Fan Writer (1971–1973)^[14]
  • 1971: Harry Warner, Jr.
  • 1972: Charlie Brown
  • 1973: Terry Carr
• Locus Award for Best Fan Critic (1971)^[15]
  • 1971: Ted Pauls
• Locus Award for Best Publisher - Hardcover (1975–1976)^[16]
  • 1975: Science Fiction Book Club
  • 1976: Science Fiction Book Club
• Locus Award for Best Publisher - Paperback (1975–1976)^[17]
  • 1975: Ballantine
  • 1976: Ballantine
• Locus Award for Best Paperback Cover Artist (1971–1973)^[18]
  • 1971: Leo & Diane Dillon
  • 1972: Gene Szafran
  • 1973: Frank Kelly Freas
• Locus Award for Best Magazine Artist (1972–1973)^[19]
  • 1972: Frank Kelly Freas
  • 1973: Frank Kelly Freas
• Locus Award for Best Fan Artist (1971–1975)^[20]
  • 1971: Alicia Austin
  • 1972: Bill Rotsler
  • 1973: Bill Rotsler
  • 1974: Tim Kirk
  • 1975: Tim Kirk
• Locus Award for Best Fan Cartoonist (1971)^[21]
  • 1971: Bill Rotsler
• Locus Award for Best Convention (1971)^[22]
  • 1971: Noreascon

References

1. Langford, David. "Locus Award". In Clute, John; et al. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (3rd ed.). Gollancz. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
2. "Locus Awards". Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
3. "2020 Locus Poll and Survey". Locus. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020.
4. Schaub, Michael (June 26, 2018). "Locus Award winners include N.K. Jemisin, Victor LaValle and John Scalzi". The Los Angeles Times.
5. Flood, Allison (June 27, 2016). "Locus awards go to Ann Leckie, Naomi Novik and other stars". The Guardian.
6. "Locus Awards Tallies". Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
7. "2023 Locus Awards Top Ten Finalists". April 28, 2023.
8. Locus Award Winners by Category Archived 2013-10-02 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
9. Locus Awards for Best Original Anthology Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
10. Locus Award for Best Reprint Anthology/Collection Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
11. Locus Award for Best Fanzine Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
12. Locus Award for Best Single Fanzine Issue Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
13. Locus Award for Best Critic Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
14. Locus Award for Best Fan Writer Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
15. Locus Award for Best Fan Critic Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
16. Locus Award for Best Publisher - Hardcover Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
17. Locus Award for Best Publisher - Paperback Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
18. Locus Award for Best Paperback Cover Artist Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
19. Locus Award for Best Magazine Artist Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
20. Locus Award for Best Fan Artist Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
21. Locus Award for Best Fan Cartoonist Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013
22. Locus Award for Best Convention Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine accessed 14 June 2013

External links

• Excerpts and synopses for Locus winning and nominated novels