Hugo Award for Best Short Story
| Hugo Award for Best Short Story | |
|---|---|
| Awarded for | The best science fiction or fantasy story of less than 7,500 words published in the prior calendar year |
| Presented by | World Science Fiction Society |
| First award | 1955 |
| Most recent winner | Nghi Vo ("Stitched to Skin Like Family Is") |
| Website | thehugoawards.org |
The Hugo Award for Best Short Story is one of the Hugo Awards given each year for science fiction or fantasy stories published or translated into English during the previous calendar year. The short story award is available for works of fiction of fewer than 7,500 words; awards are also given out for pieces of longer lengths in the novelette, novella, and novel categories. The Hugo Awards have been described as "a fine showcase for speculative fiction" and "the best known literary award for science fiction writing".[1][2]
The Hugo Award for Best Short Story has been awarded annually since 1955, except in 1957. The award was titled "Best Short Fiction" rather than "Best Short Story" in 1960–1966. During this time no Novelette category was awarded and the Novella category had not yet been established; the award was defined only as a work "of less than novel length" that was not published as a stand-alone book.[3] In addition to the regular Hugo awards, between 1996 and 2025 Retrospective Hugo Awards or "Retro-Hugos" were available for works published 50, 75, or 100 years prior. Retro-Hugos could only be awarded for years after 1939 in which no awards were originally given.[4] Retro-Hugos were given for short stories for 1939, 1941, 1943–1946, 1951, and 1954.[5]
During the 79 nomination years, 224 authors have had works as finalists; 60 of these have won, including co-authors and Retro Hugos. One translator has been noted along with the author of a story written in a language other than English: Alex Woodend, in 2024, for a translation of a work from Chinese. Harlan Ellison has received the most Hugos for Best Short Story at four, Arthur C. Clarke, Larry Niven, Mike Resnick, Michael Swanwick, and Connie Willis have each won three times, and Poul Anderson, Joe Haldeman, Naomi Kritzer, and Ken Liu have won twice, the only other authors to win more than once. Resnick has received the most final ballot nominations at 18, while Swanwick has received 14; no other author has gotten more than 7. Michael A. Burstein, with 7, has the highest number of nominations without winning.
Selection
[edit]Hugo Award nominees and winners are chosen by supporting or attending members of the annual World Science Fiction Convention, or Worldcon, and the presentation evening constitutes its central event. The selection process is defined in the World Science Fiction Society Constitution as instant-runoff voting with six finalists, except in the case of a tie. The short stories on the ballot are the six most-nominated by members that year, with no limit on the number of stories that can be nominated. The 1955 and 1958 awards did not include any recognition of runner-up stories, but since 1959 all six candidates have been recorded.[4] Initial nominations are made by members in January through March, while voting on the ballot of six finalists is performed roughly in April through July, subject to change depending on when that year's Worldcon is held.[6] Prior to 2017, the final ballot was five works; it was changed that year to six, with each initial nominator limited to five nominations.[7] Worldcons are generally held near Labor Day, and are held in a different city around the world each year.[8][9] Members are permitted to vote "no award", if they feel that none of the finalists is deserving of the award that year, and in the case that "no award" takes the majority the Hugo is not given in that category. This happened in the Best Short Story category in 2015.[10]
Winners and finalists
[edit]In the following table, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony, rather than when the short story was first published. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature" article. Entries with a yellow background have won the award; those with a grey background are the finalists on the short-list. If the short story was originally published in a book with other stories rather than by itself or in a magazine, the book title is included after the publisher's name.
* Winners and joint winners + No winner selected
Retro Hugos
[edit]Between the 1996 Worldcon and 2025 Worldcon, the World Science Fiction Society had the concept of "Retro-Hugos", in which the Hugo award could be retroactively awarded for 50, 75, or 100 years prior.[4][83] Retro-Hugos could only be awarded for years after 1939 (the year of the first Worldcon) in which no Hugos were originally awarded.[4] Retro-Hugos were awarded eight times, for 1939, 1941, 1943–1946, 1951, and 1954.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 In 1960–66, awarded for the "Best Short Fiction", defined only as a work "of less than novel length" that was not published as a stand-alone book. During these years, both nominees and winners ranged from short story to novella in length.
- ↑ Several categories, including Best Short Story, were awarded to "No award" in 2015 in response to the Sad Puppies and Rabid Puppies ballot manipulation campaigns. Additionally, "Goodnight Stars" by Annie Bellet was initially nominated for Best Short Story in 2015; however, Bellet subsequently withdrew it from consideration, calling the situation a "game of political dodge ball" and emphasizing that "[a]ll joy that might have come from [the] nomination has been co-opted, ruined, or sapped away."[70] This was the first time a nominee was withdrawn after the ballot was announced. Bellet's story was replaced on the ballot by "A Single Samurai" by Steven Diamond.[71]
References
[edit]- ↑ Jordison, Sam (August 7, 2008). "An International Contest We Can Win". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 29, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ↑ Cleaver, Emily (April 20, 2010). "Hugo Awards Announced". Litro Magazine. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ↑ "The World Science Fiction Society Constitution and Bylaws 1963". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved May 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "The Hugo Awards: FAQ". World Science Fiction Society. July 19, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ "The Locus index to SF Awards: About the Retro Hugo Awards". Locus. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ↑ "The Hugo Awards: Introduction". World Science Fiction Society. July 18, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- ↑ "Worldcon 75: 2017 Hugo report #2" (PDF). Worldcon 75. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ↑ "The Locus index to SF Awards: About the Hugo Awards". Locus. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ↑ "World Science Fiction Society / Worldcon". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "2015 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. March 31, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ↑ "1955 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1956 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 18, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- ↑ "1958 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1959 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1960 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "1961 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1962 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1963 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "1964 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "1965 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1966 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "1967 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "1968 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1969 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1970 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1971 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1972 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1973 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "1974 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1975 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1976 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "1977 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1978 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1979 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1980 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1981 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 "1982 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1983 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1984 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1985 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1986 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1987 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1988 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1989 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1990 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1991 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "1992 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1993 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1994 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 28, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1995 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1996 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1997 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1998 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1999 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2000 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2001 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2002 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2003 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2004 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2005 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 24, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2006 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2007 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. August 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2008 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. August 13, 2008. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2009 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. August 18, 2009. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2010 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. November 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "2011 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2012 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2012. Archived from the original on April 8, 2012. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
- 1 2 3 "2013 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 22, 2012. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 "2014 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 18, 2014. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- ↑ Bellet, Annie (April 15, 2015). "Hugo Story Withdrawn". AnnieBellet.com. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ↑ Standlee, Kevin (April 16, 2015). "Two Finalists Withdraw from 2015 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Archived from the original on July 5, 2018. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "2016 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 29, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2017 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 31, 2016. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2018 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. March 15, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2019 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. September 18, 2019. Archived from the original on July 29, 2019. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2020 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2021 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2022 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2023 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 6, 2023. Archived from the original on July 6, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2024 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. March 29, 2024. Archived from the original on August 12, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2025 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. August 17, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "2026 Hugo, Lodestar & Astounding Awards Finalists". Locus. April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Glyer, Mike (July 19, 2025). "Seattle Worldcon 2025 July 19 Business Meeting Session". File 770. Retrieved July 19, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1939 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 18, 2014. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1941 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 29, 2015. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1943 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. March 30, 2018. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1944 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 28, 2019. Archived from the original on October 4, 2019. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1945 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2020. Archived from the original on August 1, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1946 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1951 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "1954 Retro Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. July 26, 2007. Archived from the original on May 7, 2011. Retrieved April 19, 2010.
External links
[edit]- Hugo Award official site Archived 2021-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
- List of Hugo Award nominees in Locus magazine
