What SciFi Book Should I Read?Get started ↓
A LIBRARY WITH A LITTLE DIRECTION

Award recognized science fiction novellas

Want a shorter science fiction read? Explore novellas recognized by Hugo, Nebula and Locus, including winners, finalists and labeled historical poll selections.

A novella offers a shorter reading experience than a typical novel. The catalog preserves the source award category when organizations classify a work differently. Some novellas are sold inside a collection or magazine, so check the named purchase edition. A later expanded novel can be a different edition or even a different work.

440 works · Page 1 of 10

24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai by Roger Zelazny, book cover

24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai

by Roger Zelazny

Novella · 1985

Hugo winnerLocus recognitionNebula recognition

24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai is a science fiction novella by American writer Roger Zelazny, originally published in the July 1985 issue of the Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1986 and was also nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 1985.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

A Boy and His Dog by Harlan Ellison, book cover

A Boy and His Dog

by Harlan Ellison

Novella · 1969

Nebula winnerHugo recognition

A Boy and His Dog is a cycle of narratives by author Harlan Ellison. The cycle tells the story of an amoral boy (Vic) and his telepathic dog (Blood), who work together as a team to survive in the post-apocalyptic world after a nuclear war.

Read about this book ↗

A Meeting with Medusa by Arthur C. Clarke, book cover

A Meeting with Medusa

by Arthur C. Clarke

Novella · 1971

Nebula winnerHugo recognition

A Meeting with Medusa is a science fiction novella by British writer Arthur C. Clarke. It was originally published in 1971 and has since been included in the anthology Nebula Award Stories Eight as well as several collections of Clarke's writings.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

A Momentary Taste of Being by James Tiptree Jr., book cover

A Momentary Taste of Being

by James Tiptree Jr.

Novella · 1975

Nebula recognition

"A Momentary Taste of Being" is a science fiction novella written by Alice Bradley Sheldon, published under the pseudonym James Tiptree, Jr. in the 1975 anthology The New Atlantis and Other Novellas of Science Fiction (also featuring stories by Gene Wolfe and Ursula K. Le Guin).

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers, book cover

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy

by Becky Chambers

Novella · 2022

Locus winnerNebula recognition

A Prayer for the Crown-Shy is a 2022 solarpunk novella written by American author Becky Chambers and published by Tor.com on July 12, 2022. It is the second book in the Monk & Robot series, preceded by A Psalm for the Wild-Built (2021).

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

A Song for Lya by George R. R. Martin, book cover

A Song for Lya

by George R. R. Martin

Novella · 1974

Hugo winnerLocus recognitionNebula recognition

"A Song For Lya" is a science fiction novella by American writer George R.R. Martin. It was published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact magazine in 1974 and won the Hugo Award for Best Novella in 1975.

Read about this book ↗

All Seated on the Ground by Connie Willis, book cover

All Seated on the Ground

by Connie Willis

Novella · 2007

Hugo winnerLocus recognition

All Seated on the Ground is a science fiction novella by American writer Connie Willis, originally published in the December 2007 issue of American magazine Asimov's Science Fiction and as a standalone volume from Subterranean Press. It won the 2008 Hugo Award for Best Novella.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

And Then There Were (N-One) by Sarah Pinsker, book cover

And Then There Were (N-One)

by Sarah Pinsker

Novella · 2017

Hugo recognitionLocus recognitionNebula recognition

"And Then There Were (N-One)" is a 2017 science fiction/murder mystery novella by Sarah Pinsker. It was first published in Uncanny Magazine. It was republished in the collection Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom by Ted Chiang, book cover

Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom

by Ted Chiang

Novella · 2019

Hugo recognitionLocus recognitionNebula recognition

"Anxiety Is the Dizziness of Freedom" is a science fiction novella by American writer Ted Chiang, initially published in the 2019 collection Exhalation: Stories. The novella's name quotes a proverb by Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855) in his work The Concept of Anxiety (1844).

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells, book cover

Artificial Condition

by Martha Wells

Novella · 2018

Hugo winnerLocus winnerNebula recognition

It has a dark past - one in which a number of humans were killed. A past that caused it to christen itself Murderbot. But it has only vague memories of the massacre that spawned that title, and it wants to know more.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

Aurora in Four Voices by Catherine Asaro, book cover

Aurora in Four Voices

by Catherine Asaro

Novella · 1998

Hugo recognitionNebula recognition

"Aurora in Four Voices" is a short science fiction novella written by Catherine Asaro and published in December 1998. It is part of the Skolian Empire series and was originally published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact. It was also available free online at Analog magazine's website.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz, book cover

Automatic Noodle

by Annalee Newitz

Novella · 2025

Hugo recognitionLocus recognitionNebula recognition

From sci-fi visionary and acclaimed author Annalee Newitz comes Automatic Noodle, a cozy near-future novella about a crew of abandoned food service bots opening their very own restaurant.

Read about this book ↗ View on Amazon ↗

Aztecs by Vonda N. McIntyre, book cover

Aztecs

by Vonda N. McIntyre

Novella

Hugo recognitionLocus recognitionNebula recognition

A science fiction novella by Vonda N. McIntyre. Hugo and Locus and Nebula recognition.

Read about this book ↗

Use the interactive award filters ↗

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.