Since 1966, 296 novels have been nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel. Nebula awards are administered, judged and granted by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, making this a peer, rather than a popular, award.
I'm reasonably well read, particularly in this genre, but as I've written before when presenting other pop culture lists, it's very difficult for any one person to read or see everything given our limited lifetimes and the sheer amount of work available. For fun, I tallied up all of the Nebula nominees and winners, and discovered to my shock that I've only read 86 of them, or around 29 percent of the list. Luckily many of the unread winners and nominees already exist in my collection, so I can probably complete about half the list without even leaving the house.
I've marked the winners and nominees I've read in bold. Winners are listed first on this list; note that in 1967, Babel-17 and Flowers for Algernon tied to win the award.
Nebula
Award for Best Novel
1966
Dune, Frank Herbert
All Flesh is Grass, Clifford D. Simak
The
Clone, Theodore L. Thomas and Kate Wilhelm
Dr.
Bloodmoney, or How We Got Along After the Bomb, Philip K. Dick
The
Escape Orbit, James White
The
Genocides, Thomas M. Disch
Nova
Express, William S. Burroughs
A Plague
of Demons, Keith Laumer
Rogue
Dragon, Avram Davidson
The Ship
That Sailed the Time Stream, G.C. Edmondson
The Star
Fox, Poul Anderson
The
Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Philip K. Dick
1967
Babel-17,
Samuel R. Delany
Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
The Moon
is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein
1968
The
Einstein Intersection, Samuel R. Delany
Chthon,
Piers Anthony
The
Eskimo Invasion, Hayden Howard
Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny
Thorns,
Robert Silverberg
1969
Rite of
Passage, Alexi Panshin
Black
Easter, James Blish
Do
Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, Philip K. Dick
The
Masks of Time, Robert Silverberg
Past
Master, R.A. Lafferty
Picnic
on Paradise, Joanna Russ
Stand on Zanzibar, John Brunner
1970
The Left
Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. LeGuin
Bug Jack
Barron, Norman Spinrad
Isle of
the Dead, Roger Zelazny
The
Jagged Orbit, John Brunner
Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut
Up the
Line, Robert Silverberg
1971
Ringworld, Larry Niven
And
Chaos Died, Joanna Russ
Fourth
Mansions, R.A. Lafferty
The
Steel Crocodile, David G. Compton
Tower of
Glass, Robert Silverberg
The Year
of the Quiet Sun, Wilson Tucker
1972
A Time
of Changes, Robert Silverberg
The
Byworlder, Poul Anderson
The
Devil is Dead, R.A. Lafferty
Half
Past Human, T.J. Bass
The
Lathe of Heaven, Ursula K. LeGuin
Margaret
and I, Kate Wilhelm
1973
The Gods
Themselves, Isaac Asimov
The Book
of Skulls, Robert Silverberg
Dying Inside, Robert Silverberg
The Iron Dream, Norman Spinrad
The
Sheep Look Up, John Brunner
What
Entropy Means to Me, George Alec Effinger
When H.A.R.L.I.E. Was One, David Gerrold
1974
Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke
Gravity’s
Rainbow, Thomas Pynchon
The Man Who Folded Himself, David Gerrold
The
People of the Wind, Poul Anderson
Time Enough for Love, Robert A. Heinlein
1975
The
Dispossessed, Ursula K. LeGuin
334, Thomas M. Disch
Flow My
Tears, the Policeman Said, Philip K. Dick
The
Godwhale, T.J. Bass
1976
The Forever War, Joe Haldeman
Autumn
Angels, Arthur Byron Cover
The
Birthgrave, Tanith Lee
The
Computer Connection, Alfred Bester
Dhalgren,
Samuel R. Delany
Doorways
in the Sand, Roger Zelazny
The
Embedding, Ian Watson
The
Exile Waiting, Vonda N. McIntyre
The
Female Man, Joanna Russ
A
Funeral for the Eyes of Fire, Michal Bishop
Guernica
Night, Barry N. Malzberg
The
Heritage of Hastur, Marion Zimmer Bradley
Invisible
Cities, Italo Calvino
A
Midsummer Tempest, Poul Anderson
The
Missing Man, Katherine MacLean
The Mote in God’s Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry
Pournelle
Ragtime,
E.L. Doctorow
The
Stochastic Man, Robert Silverberg
1977
Man Plus,
Frederik Pohl
Inferno, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Islands,
Marta Randall
Shadrach
in the Furnace, Robert Silverberg
Triton,
Samuel R. Delany
Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang, Kate Wilhelm
1978
Gateway, Frederik Pohl
Cirque,
Terry Carr
In the Ocean of Night, Gregory Benford
Moonstar
Odyssey, David Gerrold
Sword of
Demon, Richard A. Lupoff
1979
Dreamsnake,
Vonda McIntyre
Blind
Voices, Tom Reamy
The
Faded Sun: Kesrith, C.J. Cherryh
Kalki,
Gore Vidal
Strangers,
Gardner Dozois
1980
The
Fountains of Paradise, Arthur C. Clarke
Jem,
Frederik Pohl
Juniper
Time, Kate Wilhelm
On Wings
of Song, Thomas M. Disch
The Road
to Corlay, Richard Cowper
Titan,
John Varley
1981
Timescape, Gregory Benford
Beyond the Blue Event Horizon, Frederik Pohl
Mockingbird,
Walter Tevis
The
Orphan, Robert Stallman
The
Shadow of the Torturer, Gene Wolfe
The Snow Queen, Joan D. Vinge
1982
The Claw
of the Conciliator, Gene Wolfe
Little,
Big, John Crowley
The
Many-Colored Land, Julian May
Radix,
A.A. Attanasio
Riddley
Walker, Russell Hoban
The
Vampire Tapestry, Suzy McKee Charnas
1983
No Enemy
But Time, Michael Bishop
Foundation’s Edge, Isaac Asimov
Friday, Robert A. Heinlein
Helliconia
Spring, Brian Aldiss
The
Sword of the Lictor, Gene Wolfe
The
Transmigration of Timothy Archer, Philip K. Dick
1984
Startide Rising, David Brin
Against Infinity, Gregory Benford
The
Citadel of the Autarch, Gene Wolfe
Lyonesse,
Jack Vance
Tea with
the Black Dragon, R.A. MacAvoy
The Void
Captain’s Tale, Norman Spinrad
1985
Neuromancer,
William Gibson
Frontera,
Lewish Shiner
The Integral
Trees, Larry Niven
Job: A Comedy of Justice, Robert A. Heinlein
The Man
Who Melted, Jack Dann
The Wild
Shore, Kim Stanley Robinson
1986
Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
Blood Music, Greg Bear
Dinner at Deviant’s Palace, Tim Powers
Helliconia
Winter, Brian Aldiss
The Postman, David Brin
The Remaking
of Sigmund Freud, Barry N. Malzberg
Schismatrix,
Bruce Sterling
1987
Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card
Count
Zero, William Gibson
Free
Live Free, Gene Wolfe
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood
The
Journal of Nicholas the American, Leigh Kennedy
The is
the Way the World Ends, James K. Morrow
1988
The
Falling Woman, Pat Murphy
The Forge of God, Greg Bear
Soldier
of the Mist, Gene Wolfe
The
Uplift War, David Brin
Vergil
in Averno, Avram Davidson
When
Gravity Fails, George Alec Effinger
1989
Falling Free, Lois McMaster Bujold
Deserted
Cities of the Heart, Lewis Shiner
Drowning
Towers, George Turner
Great Sky River, Gregory Benford
Mona
Lisa Overdrive, William Gibson
Red
Prophet, Orson Scott Card
The Urth
of the New Sun, Gene Wolfe
1990
The
Healer’s War, Elizabeth Anne Scarborough
The Boat
of a Million Years, Poul Anderson
Prentice Alvin, Orson Scott Card
Good
News From Outer Space, John Kessel
Ivory: A
Legend of Past and Future, Mike Resnick
Sister
Light, Sister Dark, Jane Yolen
1991
Tehanu:
The Last Book of Earthsea, Ursula K. LeGuin
Mary
Reilly, Valerie Martin
Only Begotten Daughter, James K. Morrow
The Fall of Hyperion, Dan Simmons
Redshift
Rendezvous, John E. Stith
White
Jenna, Jane Yolen
1992
Stations
of the Tide, Michael Swanwick
Orbital
Resonance, John Barnes
Barrayar, Lois McMaster Bujold
Bone
Dance, Emma Bull
Synners,
Pat Cadigan
The
Difference Engine, Bruce Sterling and William Gibson
1993
Doomsday
Book, Connie Willis
A
Million Open Doors, John Barnes
Sarah
Canary, Karen Joy Fowler
China
Mountain Zhang, Maureen F. McHugh
A Fire Upon the Deep, Vernor Vinge
Briar
Rose, Jane Yolen
1994
Red Mars, Kim Stanley Robinson
Assemblers
of Infinity, Kevin J. Anderson and Doug Beason
Hard
Landing, Algis Budrys
Beggars in Spain, Nancy Kress
Nightside
the Long Sun, Gene Wolfe
1995
Moving Mars, Greg Bear
Parable
of the Sower, Octavia E. Butler
Gun, with Occasional Music, Jonathan Lethem
Towing
Jehovah, James K. Morrow
Temporary
Agency, Rachel Pollack
Green Mars, Kim Stanley Robinson
A Night
in the Lonesome October, Roger Zelazny
1996
The Terminal Experiment, Robert J. Sawyer
Mother
of Storms, John Barnes
Beggars and Choosers, Nancy Kress
Celestis,
Paul Park
Metropolitan,
Walter Jon Williams
Calde of
the Long Sun, Gene Wolfe
1997
Slow
River, Nicola Griffith
The
Silent Strength of Stones, Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Winter
Rose, Patricia A. McKillip
Expiration Date, Tim Powers
Starplex, Robert J. Sawyer
The Diamond Age, Neal Stephenson
1998
The Moon
and the Sun, Vonda N. McIntyre
Memory, Lois McMaster Bujold
King’s
Dragon, Kate Elliot
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
Ancient Shores, Jack McDevitt
City on
Fire, Walter Jon Williams
Bellwether,
Connie Willis
1999
Forever Peace, Joe Haldeman
The Last Hawk, Catherine Asaro
Moonfall, Jack McDevitt
How Few Remain, Harry Turtledove
Death of
the Necromancer, Martha Wells
To Say
Nothing of the Dog, Connie Willis
2000
Parable
of the Talents, Octavia E. Butler
The
Cassini Division, Ken MacLeod
A Clash of Kings, George R.R. Martin
Mission
Child, Maureen F. McHugh
Mockingbird, Sean Stewart
A Deepness in the Sky, Vernor Vinge
2001
Darwin’s Radio, Greg Bear
A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold
Crescent
City Rhapsody, Kathleen Ann Goonan
Midnight
Robber, Nalo Hopkinson
Infinity Beach, Jack McDevitt
Forests
of the Heart, Charles de Lint
2002
The Quantum Rose, Catherine Asaro
Eternity’s
End, Jeffrey Carver
Mars Crossing, Geoffrey A. Landis
A Storm of Swords, George R.R. Martin
The Collapsium, Wil McCarthy
The
Tower at Stony Wood, Patricia A. McKillip
Declare, Tim Powers
Passage,
Connie Willis
2003
American
Gods, Neil Gaiman
Solitaire,
Kelley Eskridge
The Other
Wind, Ursula K. LeGuin
Picoverse, Robert A. Metzger
Perdido
Street Station, China Mieville
Bones of the Earth, Michael Swanwick
2004
The Speed of Dark, Elizabeth Moon
Diplomatic Immunity, Lois McMaster Bujold
The
Mount, Carol Emshwiller
Light
Music, Kathleen Ann Goonan
The Salt
Roads, Nalo Hopkinson
Chindi, Jack McDevitt
2005
Paladin of Souls, Lois McMaster Bujold
Down and
Out in the Magic Kingdom, Cory Doctorow
Omega, Jack McDevitt
Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell
Perfect
Circle, Sean Stewart
The
Knight, Gene Wolfe
2006
Camouflage, Joe Haldeman
Jonathan
Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke
Polaris, Jack McDevitt
Going
Postal, Terry Pratchett
Air,
Geoff Ryman
Orphans
of Chaos, John C. Wright
2007
Seeker, Jack McDevitt
The
Privilege of the Sword, Ellen Kushner
The Girl
in the Glass, Jeffrey Ford
Farthing,
Jo Walton
From the
Files of the Time Rangers, Richard Bowes
To Crush
the Moon, Wil McCarthy
2008
The
Yiddish Policeman’s Union, Michael Chabon
Odyssey, Jack McDevitt
The Accidental Time Machine, Joe Haldeman
The New
Moon’s Arms, Nalo Hopkinson
Ragamuffin,
Tobias S. Buckell
2009
Powers,
Ursula K. LeGuin
Little
Brother, Cory Doctorow
Cauldron, Jack McDevitt
Brasyl,
Ian McDonald
Making
Money, Terry Pratchett
Superpowers,
David J. Schwartz
2010
The
Windup Girl, Paolo Bacigalupi
The Love
We Share Without Knowing, Christopher Barzak
The City
& The City, China Mieville
Boneshaker,
Cherie Priest
Finch,
Jeff VanderMeer
2011
Blackout/All
Clear, Connie Willis
The
Native Star, M.K. Hobson
The
Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, N.K. Jemisin
Shades
of Milk and Honey, Mary Robinette Kowal
Echo, Jack McDevitt
Who
Fears Death, Nnedi Okorafor
2012
Among
Others, Jo Walton
Embassytown,
China Mieville
Firebird, Jack McDevitt
God’s
War, Kameron Hurley
Mechanique:
A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti
The
Kingdom of Gods, N.K. Jemisin
2 comments:
You've read The Left Hand Of Darkness. We read it together. It was required reading for that literature class at the U of A ("Asimov was a hack!"). The class was fun, and that book was excellent.
As for The Sword Of The Lictor, you should read that, if only to clear up the mystery of the title. As far as I am aware, lictors (Roman senatorial bodyguards) were not allowed to have swords. They carried fasces (bundled rods) which could be augmented with axes outside of the proscribed boundary of the Imperial city.
Mind you it's Gene Wolfe, so as far as language and meaning go, all bets are off. I'm sure it's very, very good, though.
You know, I suspected that I had read The Left Hand of Darkness, but my memories were so dim that I played it safe and left it marked as unread. Thanks for reminding me, Jeff! That was a fun class.
Many of the Nebula nominee titles are extremely evocative, The Sword of the Lictor among them. I've heard many great things about Gene Wolfe, but have yet to sample his work.
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