Every Nebula Award for Best Novel winner, 1966–2026

The Nebula Award for Best Novel has gone to 62 books since 1966; in 1967 the prize was shared. Voted by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association for the best science fiction or fantasy novel of the previous year. The latest winner is The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (2026). Of the 31 winners on ReadingRate, the most readable is The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (difficulty 23/100, about 5.3 hours); the hardest is The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe (76/100). The quickest of them to finish is Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany, at about 3.8 hours.

How book difficulty is measured

2026

• The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones — difficulty 62/100, about 12 hours
• When We Were Real by Daryl Gregory — finalist
• Katabasis by R. F. Kuang — finalist
• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor — finalist
• The Incandescent by Emily Tesh — finalist
• Sour Cherry by Natalia Theodoridou — finalist
• Wearing the Lion by John Wiswell — finalist

2025

• Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell — difficulty 35/100, about 5.8 hours
• Asunder by Kerstin Hall — finalist
• The Book of Love by Kelly Link — finalist
• Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera — finalist
• Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov — finalist
• A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher — finalist

2024

• The Saint of Bright Doors by Vajra Chandrasekera
• The Water Outlaws by S. L. Huang — finalist
• Translation State by Ann Leckie — finalist
• The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz — finalist
• Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by Wole Talabi — finalist
• Witch King by Martha Wells — finalist

2023

• Babel by R. F. Kuang — difficulty 65/100, about 19 hours
• Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree — finalist
• Spear by Nicola Griffith — finalist
• Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher — finalist
• Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir — finalist
• The Mountain in the Sea by Ray Nayler — finalist

2022

• A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
• The Unbroken by C. L. Clark — finalist
• Machinehood by S. B. Divya — finalist
• A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine — finalist
• Plague Birds by Jason Sanford — finalist

2021

• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke — finalist
• The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin — finalist
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia — finalist
• The Midnight Bargain by C. L. Polk — finalist
• Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse — finalist

2020

• A Song for a New Day by Sarah Pinsker
• Marque of Caine by Charles E. Gannon — finalist
• The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow — finalist
• A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine — finalist
• Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia — finalist
• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir — finalist

2019

• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal — difficulty 23/100, about 5.3 hours
• Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller — finalist
• The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang — finalist
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik — finalist
• Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse — finalist
• Witchmark by C. L. Polk — finalist

2018

• The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin — difficulty 53/100
• Amberlough by Lara Elena Donnelly — finalist
• The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter by Theodora Goss — finalist
• Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory — finalist
• Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty — finalist
• Jade City by Fonda Lee — finalist
• Autonomous by Annalee Newitz — finalist

2017

• All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
• Borderline by Mishell Baker — finalist
• The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin — finalist
• Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee — finalist
• Everfair by Nisi Shawl — finalist

2016

• Uprooted by Naomi Novik — difficulty 33/100, about 8.6 hours
• Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie — finalist
• Barsk by Lawrence M. Schoen — finalist
• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin — finalist
• The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu — finalist
• Raising Caine by Charles E. Gannon — finalist
• Updraft by Fran Wilde — finalist

2015

• Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer — difficulty 66/100, about 5.3 hours
• The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison — finalist
• Trial by Fire by Charles E. Gannon — finalist
• Ancillary Sword by Ann Leckie — finalist
• The Three-Body Problem (三体) by Cixin Liu, translated by Ken Liu — finalist
• Coming Home by Jack McDevitt — finalist

2014

• Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie — difficulty 45/100, about 6.4 hours
• We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler — finalist
• The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman — finalist
• Fire with Fire by Charles E. Gannon — finalist
• Hild by Nicola Griffith — finalist
• The Red: First Light by Linda Nagata — finalist
• A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar — finalist
• The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker — finalist

2013

• 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson
• Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed — finalist
• Ironskin by Tina Connolly — finalist
• The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemisin — finalist
• The Drowning Girl by Caitlín R. Kiernan — finalist
• Glamour in Glass by Mary Robinette Kowal — finalist

2012

• Among Others by Jo Walton
• Embassytown by China Miéville — finalist
• Firebird by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• God's War by Kameron Hurley — finalist
• Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine — finalist
• The Kingdom of Gods by N. K. Jemisin — finalist

2011

• Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis
• The Native Star by M. K. Hobson — finalist
• The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin — finalist
• Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal — finalist
• Echo by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor — finalist

2010

• The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi — difficulty 75/100, about 18 hours
• The Love We Share Without Knowing by Christopher Barzak — finalist
• Flesh and Fire by Laura Anne Gilman — finalist
• The City & the City by China Miéville — finalist
• Boneshaker by Cherie Priest — finalist
• Finch by Jeff VanderMeer — finalist

2009

• Powers by Ursula K. Le Guin
• Little Brother by Cory Doctorow — finalist
• Cauldron by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• Brasyl by Ian McDonald — finalist
• Making Money by Terry Pratchett — finalist
• Superpowers by David J. Schwartz — finalist

2008

• The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon — difficulty 46/100, about 7.5 hours
• Odyssey by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman — finalist
• The New Moon's Arms by Nalo Hopkinson — finalist
• Ragamuffin by Tobias S. Buckell — finalist

2007

• Seeker by Jack McDevitt
• The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner — finalist
• The Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford — finalist
• Farthing by Jo Walton — finalist
• From the Files of the Time Rangers by Richard Bowes — finalist
• To Crush the Moon by Wil McCarthy — finalist

2006

• Camouflage by Joe Haldeman
• Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke — finalist
• Polaris by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• Going Postal by Terry Pratchett — finalist
• Air by Geoff Ryman — finalist
• Orphans of Chaos by John C. Wright — finalist

2005

• Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow — finalist
• Omega by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell — finalist
• Perfect Circle by Sean Stewart — finalist
• The Knight by Gene Wolfe — finalist

2004

• The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon — difficulty 35/100, about 6 hours
• Diplomatic Immunity by Lois McMaster Bujold — finalist
• The Mount by Carol Emshwiller — finalist
• Light Music by Kathleen Ann Goonan — finalist
• The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson — finalist
• Chindi by Jack McDevitt — finalist

2003

• American Gods by Neil Gaiman — difficulty 58/100, about 14 hours
• Solitaire by Kelley Eskridge — finalist
• The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin — finalist
• Picoverse by Robert A. Metzger — finalist
• Perdido Street Station by China Miéville — finalist
• Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick — finalist

2002

• The Quantum Rose by Catherine Asaro
• Eternity's End by Jeffrey Carver — finalist
• Mars Crossing by Geoffrey A. Landis — finalist
• A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin — finalist
• The Collapsium by Wil McCarthy — finalist
• The Tower at Stony Wood by Patricia A. McKillip — finalist
• Declare by Tim Powers — finalist
• Passage by Connie Willis — finalist

2001

• Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear
• A Civil Campaign by Lois McMaster Bujold — finalist
• Crescent City Rhapsody by Kathleen Ann Goonan — finalist
• Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson — finalist
• Infinity Beach by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• Forests of the Heart by Charles de Lint — finalist

2000

• Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler — difficulty 66/100, about 13 hours
• The Cassini Division by Ken MacLeod — finalist
• A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin — finalist
• Mission Child by Maureen F. McHugh — finalist
• Mockingbird by Sean Stewart — finalist
• A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge — finalist

1999

• Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman
• The Last Hawk by Catherine Asaro — finalist
• Moonfall by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• How Few Remain by Harry Turtledove — finalist
• The Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells — finalist
• To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis — finalist

1998

• The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre
• Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold — finalist
• King's Dragon by Kate Elliott — finalist
• A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin — finalist
• Ancient Shores by Jack McDevitt — finalist
• City on Fire by Walter Jon Williams — finalist
• Bellwether by Connie Willis — finalist

1997

• Slow River by Nicola Griffith
• The Silent Strength of Stones by Nina Kiriki Hoffman — finalist
• Winter Rose by Patricia A. McKillip — finalist
• Expiration Date by Tim Powers — finalist
• Starplex by Robert J. Sawyer — finalist
• The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson — finalist

1996

• The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer
• Mother of Storms by John Barnes — finalist
• Beggars and Choosers by Nancy Kress — finalist
• Celestis by Paul Park — finalist
• Metropolitan by Walter Jon Williams — finalist
• Calde of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe — finalist

1995

• Moving Mars by Greg Bear
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler — finalist
• Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem — finalist
• Towing Jehovah by James K. Morrow — finalist
• Temporary Agency by Rachel Pollack — finalist
• Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson — finalist
• A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny — finalist

1994

• Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson — difficulty 67/100, about 21 hours
• Assemblers of Infinity by Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason — finalist
• Hard Landing by Algis Budrys — finalist
• Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress — finalist
• Nightside the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe — finalist

1993

• Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
• A Million Open Doors by John Barnes — finalist
• Sarah Canary by Karen Joy Fowler — finalist
• China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh — finalist
• A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge — finalist
• Briar Rose by Jane Yolen — finalist

1992

• Stations of the Tide by Michael Swanwick
• Orbital Resonance by John Barnes — finalist
• Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold — finalist
• Bone Dance by Emma Bull — finalist
• Synners by Pat Cadigan — finalist
• The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson — finalist

1991

• Tehanu by Ursula K. Le Guin — difficulty 47/100, about 5 hours
• Mary Reilly by Valerie Martin — finalist
• Only Begotten Daughter by James K. Morrow — finalist
• The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons — finalist
• Redshift Rendezvous by John E. Stith — finalist
• White Jenna by Jane Yolen — finalist

1990

• The Healer's War by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
• The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson — finalist
• Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card — finalist
• Good News From Outer Space by John Kessel — finalist
• Ivory by Mike Resnick — finalist
• Sister Light, Sister Dark by Jane Yolen — finalist

1989

• Falling Free by Lois McMaster Bujold
• Deserted Cities of the Heart by Lewis Shiner — finalist
• Drowning Towers by George Turner — finalist
• Great Sky River by Gregory Benford — finalist
• Mona Lisa Overdrive by William Gibson — finalist
• Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card — finalist
• The Urth of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe — finalist

1988

• The Falling Woman by Pat Murphy
• The Forge of God by Greg Bear — finalist
• Soldier of the Mist by Gene Wolfe — finalist
• The Uplift War by David Brin — finalist
• Vergil in Averno by Avram Davidson — finalist
• When Gravity Fails by George Alec Effinger — finalist

1987

• Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card — difficulty 48/100, about 9.1 hours
• Count Zero by William Gibson — finalist
• Free Live Free by Gene Wolfe — finalist
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood — finalist
• The Journal of Nicholas the American by Leigh Kennedy — finalist
• This Is the Way the World Ends by James K. Morrow — finalist

1986

• Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card — difficulty 65/100, about 9.9 hours
• Blood Music by Greg Bear — finalist
• Dinner at Deviant's Palace by Tim Powers — finalist
• Helliconia Winter by Brian Aldiss — finalist
• The Postman by David Brin — finalist
• The Remaking of Sigmund Freud by Barry N. Malzberg — finalist
• Schismatrix by Bruce Sterling — finalist

1985

• Neuromancer by William Gibson — difficulty 56/100, about 5.8 hours
• Frontera by Lewis Shiner — finalist
• The Integral Trees by Larry Niven — finalist
• Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein — finalist
• The Man Who Melted by Jack Dann — finalist
• The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson — finalist

1984

• Startide Rising by David Brin — difficulty 58/100, about 11 hours
• Against Infinity by Gregory Benford — finalist
• The Citadel of the Autarch by Gene Wolfe — finalist
• Lyonesse by Jack Vance — finalist
• Tea with the Black Dragon by R. A. MacAvoy — finalist
• The Void Captain's Tale by Norman Spinrad — finalist

1983

• No Enemy But Time by Michael Bishop
• Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov — finalist
• Friday by Robert A. Heinlein — finalist
• Helliconia Spring by Brian Aldiss — finalist
• The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe — finalist
• The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by Philip K. Dick — finalist

1982

• The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe — difficulty 76/100, about 12 hours
• Little, Big by John Crowley — finalist
• The Many-Colored Land by Julian May — finalist
• Radix by A. A. Attanasio — finalist
• Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban — finalist
• The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas — finalist

1981

• Timescape by Gregory Benford
• Beyond the Blue Event Horizon by Frederik Pohl — finalist
• Mockingbird by Walter Tevis — finalist
• The Orphan by Robert Stallman — finalist
• The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe — finalist
• The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge — finalist

1980

• The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke
• Jem by Frederik Pohl — finalist
• Juniper Time by Kate Wilhelm — finalist
• On Wings of Song by Thomas M. Disch — finalist
• The Road to Corlay by Richard Cowper — finalist
• Titan by John Varley — finalist

1979

• Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre
• Blind Voices by Tom Reamy — finalist
• The Faded Sun: Kesrith by C. J. Cherryh — finalist
• Kalki by Gore Vidal — finalist
• Strangers by Gardner Dozois — finalist

1978

• Gateway by Frederik Pohl — difficulty 73/100, about 9.8 hours
• Cirque by Terry Carr — finalist
• In the Ocean of Night by Gregory Benford — finalist
• Moonstar Odyssey by David Gerrold — finalist
• Sword of the Demon by Richard A. Lupoff — finalist

1977

• Man Plus by Frederik Pohl
• Inferno by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle — finalist
• Islands by Marta Randall — finalist
• Shadrach in the Furnace by Robert Silverberg — finalist
• Triton by Samuel R. Delany — finalist
• Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm — finalist

1976

• The Forever War by Joe Haldeman — difficulty 58/100, about 6 hours
• Autumn Angels by Arthur Byron Cover — finalist
• The Birthgrave by Tanith Lee — finalist
• The Computer Connection by Alfred Bester — finalist
• Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany — finalist
• Doorways in the Sand by Roger Zelazny — finalist
• The Embedding by Ian Watson — finalist
• The Exile Waiting by Vonda N. McIntyre — finalist
• The Female Man by Joanna Russ — finalist
• A Funeral for the Eyes of Fire by Michael Bishop — finalist
• Guernica Night by Barry N. Malzberg — finalist
• The Heritage of Hastur by Marion Zimmer Bradley — finalist
• Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino — finalist
• A Midsummer Tempest by Poul Anderson — finalist
• Missing Man by Katherine MacLean — finalist
• The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle — finalist
• Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow — finalist
• The Stochastic Man by Robert Silverberg — finalist

1975

• The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin — difficulty 61/100, about 10 hours
• 334 by Thomas M. Disch — finalist
• Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick — finalist
• The Godwhale by T. J. Bass — finalist

1974

• Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke — difficulty 45/100, about 4.6 hours
• Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon — finalist
• The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold — finalist
• The People of the Wind by Poul Anderson — finalist
• Time Enough for Love by Robert A. Heinlein — finalist

1973

• The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov — difficulty 72/100, about 9.9 hours
• The Book of Skulls by Robert Silverberg — finalist
• Dying Inside by Robert Silverberg — finalist
• The Iron Dream by Norman Spinrad — finalist
• The Sheep Look Up by John Brunner — finalist
• What Entropy Means to Me by George Alec Effinger — finalist
• When HARLIE Was One by David Gerrold — finalist

1972

• A Time of Changes by Robert Silverberg
• The Byworlder by Poul Anderson — finalist
• The Devil is Dead by R. A. Lafferty — finalist
• Half Past Human by T. J. Bass — finalist
• The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin — finalist
• Margaret and I by Kate Wilhelm — finalist

1971

• Ringworld by Larry Niven — difficulty 45/100, about 6.7 hours
• And Chaos Died by Joanna Russ — finalist
• Fourth Mansions by R. A. Lafferty — finalist
• The Steel Crocodile by David G. Compton — finalist
• Tower of Glass by Robert Silverberg — finalist
• The Year of the Quiet Sun by Wilson Tucker — finalist

1970

• The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin — difficulty 57/100, about 7.3 hours
• Bug Jack Barron by Norman Spinrad — finalist
• Isle of the Dead by Roger Zelazny — finalist
• The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner — finalist
• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut — finalist
• Up the Line by Robert Silverberg — finalist

1969

• Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin
• Black Easter by James Blish — finalist
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick — finalist
• The Masks of Time by Robert Silverberg — finalist
• Past Master by R. A. Lafferty — finalist
• Picnic on Paradise by Joanna Russ — finalist
• Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner — finalist

1968

• The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany — difficulty 74/100, about 4.8 hours
• Chthon by Piers Anthony — finalist
• The Eskimo Invasion by Hayden Howard — finalist
• Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny — finalist
• Thorns by Robert Silverberg — finalist

1967

• Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany — difficulty 44/100, about 3.8 hours, joint winner
• Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes — difficulty 75/100, about 10 hours, joint winner
• The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein — finalist

1966

• Dune by Frank Herbert — difficulty 60/100, about 17 hours
• All Flesh is Grass by Clifford D. Simak — finalist
• The Clone by Theodore L. Thomas and Kate Wilhelm — finalist
• Dr. Bloodmoney by Philip K. Dick — finalist
• The Escape Orbit by James White — finalist
• The Genocides by Thomas M. Disch — finalist
• Nova Express by William S. Burroughs — finalist
• A Plague of Demons by Keith Laumer — finalist
• Rogue Dragon by Avram Davidson — finalist
• The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream by G. C. Edmondson — finalist
• The Star Fox by Poul Anderson — finalist
• The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch by Philip K. Dick — finalist

Questions

Who won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2026?

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones.

Which Nebula Award for Best Novel winner should I read first?

For the gentlest start, The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal: the easiest of the 31 winners on ReadingRate to read, with a difficulty of 23/100 and about 5.3 hours of reading. For the quickest, Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany, about 3.8 hours.

Which Nebula Award for Best Novel winner is the hardest to read?

The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe, with a difficulty of 76/100; it takes about 12 hours.

Who has won the Nebula Award for Best Novel more than once?

Samuel R. Delany (1967 and 1968), Ursula K. Le Guin (1970, 1975, 1991 and 2009), Arthur C. Clarke (1974 and 1980), Joe Haldeman (1976, 1999 and 2006), Frederik Pohl (1977 and 1978), Vonda N. McIntyre (1979 and 1998), Orson Scott Card (1986 and 1987), Lois McMaster Bujold (1989 and 2005), Connie Willis (1993 and 2011), Kim Stanley Robinson (1994 and 2013) and Greg Bear (1995 and 2001).

Winners from Wikipedia, checked 2026-10-31.