Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel · 2024 · Winner
Starter Villain
John ScalziBest Science Fiction Novel
Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
2024 Winner
2024 Shortlist & Longlist
Shortlist
Complete History
2020s
About the Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel
The Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel is one of several Dragon Awards presented annually by Dragon Con, the Atlanta-based popular culture convention. First awarded in 2016, the Dragon Awards are determined by popular vote and are open to any fan who registers to vote online, making them one of the most democratically accessible science fiction awards. The Best Science Fiction Novel category recognizes the year's best work of science fiction, as determined by a global fanbase of readers and convention-goers. Winners have included major mainstream SF titles from publishers like Tor Books, Orbit, and Baen Books, and the award reflects the tastes of a broad readership rather than a specific critical constituency. The Dragon Awards celebrate popular excellence in science fiction and fantasy across multiple media.
Frequently Asked Questions
- It is a fan-voted award given annually at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia. Anyone can register online to nominate and vote, making it one of the most open and accessible SF awards. It was first presented in 2016.
- Any fan can participate by registering on the Dragon Awards website. You do not need to be a Dragon Con attendee or pay any fee. Both nominations and final voting are open to the public worldwide.
- The Dragon Awards are announced at Dragon Con, which is held over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta each year, typically in late August or early September.
- In addition to Best Science Fiction Novel, the Dragon Awards cover Best Fantasy Novel, Best Young Adult Novel, Best Horror Novel, Best Alternate History Novel, Best Military SF/Fantasy Novel, Best Graphic Novel, Best Game, Best TV Series, and Best Movie, among others.
- The Dragon Award is recognized as a reflection of popular fan tastes and is taken seriously as a measure of fan enthusiasm. It differs from jury-selected or SFWA/Worldcon awards in that it reflects broader popular readership preferences.
- Yes. The Dragon Award has no restrictions based on publishing model, and self-published works have been nominated and won in its history, making it more inclusive than some other awards.
- Fans submit nominations during a nomination window, and the top nominees in each category appear on the final ballot. Voting then opens for final selection, with the winners announced at Dragon Con.