ShelfEvidentLocus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
2026 Winner
Complete History
2020s
2010s
- 2019Spinning Silver — Naomi Novik
- 2018The Stone Sky — N. K. Jemisin
- 2017All the Birds in the Sky — Charlie Jane Anders
- 2016Uprooted — Naomi Novik
- 2015The Goblin Emperor — Katherine Addison
- 2014The Ocean at the End of the Lane — Neil Gaiman
- 2013The Apocalypse Codex — Charles Stross
- 2012A Dance with Dragons — George R. R. Martin
- 2011Kraken — China Miéville
- 2010The City & the City — China Miéville
2000s
- 2009Lavinia — Ursula K. Le Guin
- 2008Making Money — Terry Pratchett
- 2007The Privilege of the Sword — Ellen Kushner
- 2006Anansi Boys — Neil Gaiman
- 2005Iron Council — China Miéville
- 2004Paladin of Souls — Lois McMaster Bujold
- 2003The Scar — China Miéville
- 2002American Gods — Neil Gaiman
- 2001A Storm of Swords — George R. R. Martin
- 2000Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban — J. K. Rowling
1990s
- 1999A Clash of Kings — George R. R. Martin
- 1998Earthquake Weather — Tim Powers
- 1997A Game of Thrones — George R. R. Martin
- 1996Alvin Journeyman — Orson Scott Card
- 1995Brittle Innings — Michael Bishop
- 1994The Innkeeper's Song — Peter S. Beagle
- 1993Last Call — Tim Powers
- 1992Beauty — Sheri S. Tepper
- 1991Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea — Ursula K. Le Guin
- 1990Prentice Alvin — Orson Scott Card
1980s
- 1989Red Prophet — Orson Scott Card
- 1988Seventh Son — Orson Scott Card
- 1987Soldier of the Mist — Gene Wolfe
- 1986Trumps of Doom — Roger Zelazny
- 1985Job: A Comedy of Justice — Robert A. Heinlein
- 1984The Mists of Avalon — Marion Zimmer Bradley
- 1983The Sword of the Lictor — Gene Wolfe
- 1982The Claw of the Conciliator — Gene Wolfe
- 1981Lord Valentine's Castle — Robert Silverberg
- 1980Harpist in the Wind — Patricia A. McKillip
About the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel
The Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel is one of the most widely participated-in awards in speculative fiction, presented annually by Locus Magazine through a reader poll. The fantasy novel category has been awarded since 1978 (initially running alongside a general Best Novel category before being formalized as a standalone category from 1980). Like all Locus Awards, it is determined by popular vote from Locus subscribers and online participants, drawing more voters than the Hugo and Nebula awards combined in most years. The award recognizes the best fantasy novel published in the prior calendar year and has honored an extraordinary range of approaches to the genre, from epic secondary-world fantasy to urban fantasy, mythpunk, and literary fantasy. Past winners include George R.R. Martin, N.K. Jemisin, Neil Gaiman, Naomi Novik, China Miéville, Martha Wells, Fonda Lee, and R.F. Kuang. The diversity of winners reflects the breadth of contemporary fantasy fiction and the range of Locus's readership.
Frequently Asked Questions
- It is a reader-voted award given annually by Locus Magazine to the best fantasy novel published in the previous calendar year, one of the most broadly participated-in awards in the genre.
- Both are reader-voted Locus Awards, but they honor distinct sub-genres: the Fantasy Novel category focuses on works of fantasy (including epic fantasy, fairy tale retellings, mythic fiction, and contemporary fantasy), while the SF Novel category covers science fiction.
- The Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel dates to 1978, when Locus began distinguishing between science fiction and fantasy in its annual poll. The categories became more formally separated from 1980 onward.
- Winners are determined by the annual Locus Magazine reader poll, open to all readers online and to subscribers who receive additional weighting.
- Yes. Orson Scott Card won three consecutive times (1988–1990), George R.R. Martin won multiple times, and N.K. Jemisin and Martha Wells have each won twice.
- No monetary prize is awarded. Winners receive a plaque, and notably, the publishers of winning works receive certificates of recognition.
- The award has gone to a very broad range of fantasy, including epic fantasy series installments, standalone literary fantasies, secondary world adventures, and mythic fiction—reflecting the pluralism of Locus's readership.