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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Arthur C. Clarke Award

The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. It is named after British author Arthur C. Clarke, who gave a grant to establish the award in 1987. The book is chosen by a panel of judges from the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation, and a third organisation, which as of 2019 is the Sci-Fi-London film festival. The award has been described as "the UK's most prestigious science fiction prize".

Any "full-length" science fiction novel written or translated into English is eligible for the prize, provided that it was first published in the United Kingdom during the prior calendar year. There is no restriction on the nationality of the author, and the publication history of works outside the United Kingdom is not taken into consideration. Books may be submitted for consideration by their publishing company, and, beginning in 2016, self-published titles have been eligible with certain qualifications. An official call for entries is issued to UK publishers every year and members of the judging panel and organisation committee also actively call in titles they would like to see submitted. A title must be actively submitted in order to be considered. The judges form a shortlist of six works that they feel are worthy of consideration, from which they select a winning book. The winner receives an engraved bookend and a prize consisting of a number of pounds sterling equal to the current year, such as £2012 for the year 2012. Prior to 2001, the award was £1000.

During the 36 nomination years, 147 authors have had works nominated, 32 of whom have won. China Miéville has won three times, while Pat Cadigan and Geoff Ryman have won twice each; no other author has won multiple times. Stephen Baxter and Gwyneth Jones have the most nominations, at seven each, and Baxter has the most nominations without winning. Neal Stephenson has won once out of six nominations; Ken MacLeod and Kim Stanley Robinson have also been nominated six times. Paul J. McAuley and Miéville have been nominated five times; McAuley has one win, whereas MacLeod and Robinson have none.

Winners and nominees

In the following table, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony, rather than when the novel was first published. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature". Entries with a blue background and an asterisk (*) next to the writer's name have won the award; those with a white background are the other nominees on the shortlist.

  *   Winners

Winners and nominees
Year Author Novel Publisher Ref.
1987 Margaret Atwood* The Handmaid's Tale McClelland & Stewart
Bob Shaw The Ragged Astronauts Victor Gollancz Ltd
Greg Bear Eon Victor Gollancz Ltd
Samuel R. Delany Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand Grafton
Gwyneth Jones Escape Plans Allen & Unwin
Kim Stanley Robinson The Memory of Whiteness Futura/Macdonald
Josephine Saxton Queen of the States The Women's Press
Lucius Shepard Green Eyes Chatto & Windus
1988 George Turner* The Sea and Summer Faber and Faber
Stanisław Lem Fiasco André Deutsch Publishing
Michael Bishop Ancient of Days Grafton
John Crowley Aegypt Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ken Grimwood Replay Grafton
Keith Roberts Gráinne Kerosina Books
H. F. Saint Memoirs of an Invisible Man Viking UK
1989 Rachel Pollack* Unquenchable Fire Century Publishing
Brian Stableford Empire of Fear Simon & Schuster UK
Michael Bishop Philip K. Dick is Dead, Alas Grafton
Richard Grant Rumours of Spring Bantam UK
Gwyneth Jones Kairos Unwin Hyman
Lucius Shepard Life During Wartime Grafton
Ian Watson Whores of Babylon Grafton
1990 Geoff Ryman* The Child Garden Unwin Hyman
Jonathan Carroll A Child Across the Sky Century Publishing
Lisa Goldstein A Mask for the General Arrow Books
Ian McDonald Desolation Road Bantam UK
Paul Park Soldiers of Paradise Grafton
Mike Resnick Ivory Century Publishing
David Zindell Neverness Grafton
1991 Colin Greenland* Take Back Plenty Unwin Hyman
Mary Gentle Rats and Gargoyles Bantam UK
Iain M. Banks Use of Weapons Macdonald Publishing
Misha Nogha Red Spider, White Web Morrigan Publications
K. W. Jeter Farewell Horizontal Grafton
Pat Murphy The City, Not Long After Pan Books
1992 Pat Cadigan* Synners HarperCollins
Paul J. McAuley Eternal Light Victor Gollancz Ltd
Stephen Baxter Raft Grafton
Gwyneth Jones White Queen Victor Gollancz Ltd
Richard Paul Russo Subterranean Gallery Grafton
Dan Simmons The Hyperion Cantos Headline Publishing Group
1993 Marge Piercy* Body of Glass Michael Joseph
Kim Stanley Robinson Red Mars HarperCollins UK
Ian McDonald Hearts, Hands and Voices Victor Gollancz Ltd
Richard Paul Russo Destroying Angel Headline Publishing Group
Michael Swanwick Stations of the Tide Legend Publishing
Sue Thomas Correspondence The Women's Press
Lisa Tuttle Lost Futures Grafton
Connie Willis Doomsday Book New English Library
1994 Jeff Noon* Vurt Ringpull
John Barnes A Million Open Doors Millennium
Nicola Griffith Ammonite Grafton
Neal Stephenson Snow Crash Roc UK
Michael Swanwick The Iron Dragon's Daughter Millennium
David Zindell The Broken God HarperCollins UK
1995 Pat Cadigan* Fools HarperCollins UK
John Barnes Mother of Storms Millennium
Gwyneth Jones North Wind Victor Gollancz Ltd
Paul J. McAuley Pasquale's Angel Victor Gollancz Ltd
James K. Morrow Towing Jehovah Arrow Books
Kristine Kathryn Rusch Alien Influences Millennium
1996 Paul J. McAuley* Fairyland Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ken MacLeod The Star Fraction Legend Publishing
Patricia Anthony Happy Policeman New English Library
Stephen Baxter The Time Ships HarperCollins UK
Christopher Priest The Prestige Simon & Schuster UK
Neal Stephenson The Diamond Age Viking UK
1997 Amitav Ghosh* The Calcutta Chromosome Picador
Stephen Baxter Voyage HarperCollins Voyager
Jack McDevitt The Engines of God HarperCollins Voyager
Kim Stanley Robinson Blue Mars HarperCollins Voyager
Sheri S. Tepper Gibbon's Decline and Fall HarperCollins Voyager
N. Lee Wood Looking for the Mahdi HarperCollins Voyager
1998 Mary Doria Russell* The Sparrow Black Swan
Stephen Baxter Titan HarperCollins Voyager
Elizabeth Hand Glimmering HarperCollins Voyager
James Lovegrove Days Phoenix Books
Jeff Noon Nymphomation Doubleday
Sheri S. Tepper The Family Tree HarperCollins Voyager
1999 Tricia Sullivan* Dreaming in Smoke Millenium
John Barnes Earth Made of Glass Orion Publishing Group
Peter Delacorte Time on My Hands Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ken MacLeod The Cassini Division Orbit Books
Christopher Priest The Extremes Simon & Schuster UK
Alison Sinclair Cavalcade Millennium
2000 Bruce Sterling* Distraction Millennium
Stephen Baxter Manifold: Time HarperCollins Voyager
Kathleen Ann Goonan The Bones of Time HarperCollins Voyager
Justina Robson Silver Screen Macmillan UK
Neal Stephenson Cryptonomicon Heinemann
Vernor Vinge A Deepness in the Sky Millennium
2001 China Miéville* Perdido Street Station Macmillan Publishers
Octavia E. Butler Parable of the Talents The Women's Press
Mary Gentle Ash: A Secret History Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ken MacLeod Cosmonaut Keep Orbit Books
Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space Victor Gollancz Ltd
Adam Roberts Salt Victor Gollancz Ltd
2002 Gwyneth Jones* Bold As Love Victor Gollancz Ltd
Jon Courtenay Grimwood Pashazade Earthlight
Peter F. Hamilton Fallen Dragon Macmillan Publishers
Paul J. McAuley The Secret of Life HarperCollins Voyager
Justina Robson Mappa Mundi Macmillan Publishers
Connie Willis Passage HarperCollins Voyager
2003 Christopher Priest* The Separation Scribner UK
David Brin Kiln People Orbit Books
M. John Harrison Light Victor Gollancz Ltd
China Miéville The Scar Macmillan Publishers
Elizabeth Moon Speed of Dark Orbit Books
Kim Stanley Robinson The Years of Rice and Salt HarperCollins
2004 Neal Stephenson* Quicksilver Heinemann
Stephen Baxter Coalescent Victor Gollancz Ltd
Greg Bear Darwin's Children HarperCollins UK
William Gibson Pattern Recognition Viking Press
Gwyneth Jones Midnight Lamp Victor Gollancz Ltd
Tricia Sullivan Maul Orbit Books
2005 China Miéville* Iron Council Macmillan Publishers
Ian McDonald River of Gods Simon & Schuster
David Mitchell Cloud Atlas Sceptre
Richard K. Morgan Market Forces Victor Gollancz Ltd
Audrey Niffenegger The Time Traveler's Wife Jonathan Cape
Neal Stephenson The System of the World Heinemann
2006 Geoff Ryman* Air Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ken MacLeod Learning the World Orbit Books
Alastair Reynolds Pushing Ice Victor Gollancz Ltd
Kazuo Ishiguro Never Let Me Go Faber and Faber
Charles Stross Accelerando Orbit Books
Liz Williams Banner of Souls Tor UK
2007 M. John Harrison* Nova Swing Victor Gollancz Ltd
Jon Courtenay Grimwood End of the World Blues Victor Gollancz Ltd
Lydia Millet Oh Pure and Radiant Heart Heinemann
Jan Morris Hav Faber and Faber
Adam Roberts Gradisil Victor Gollancz Ltd
Brian Stableford Streaking PS Publishing
2008 Richard K. Morgan* Black Man Victor Gollancz Ltd
Matthew de Abaitua The Red Men Snowbooks
Sarah Hall The Carhullan Army Faber and Faber
Steven Hall The Raw Shark Texts Canongate Books
Ken MacLeod The Execution Channel Orbit Books
Stephen Baxter The H-Bomb Girl Faber and Faber
2009 Ian R. MacLeod* Song of Time PS Publishing
Paul J. McAuley The Quiet War Victor Gollancz Ltd
Alastair Reynolds House of Suns Victor Gollancz Ltd
Neal Stephenson Anathem Atlantic Books
Sheri S. Tepper The Margarets HarperCollins
Mark Wernham Martin Martin’s on the Other Side Jonathan Cape
2010 China Miéville* The City & the City Macmillan Publishers
Gwyneth Jones Spirit: The Princess of Bois Dormant Victor Gollancz Ltd
Adam Roberts Yellow Blue Tibia Victor Gollancz Ltd
Kim Stanley Robinson Galileo's Dream HarperCollins
Marcel Theroux Far North Faber and Faber
Chris Wooding Retribution Falls Victor Gollancz Ltd
2011 Lauren Beukes* Zoo City Angry Robot
Patrick Ness Monsters of Men Walker Books
Ian McDonald The Dervish House Victor Gollancz Ltd
Richard Powers Generosity: An Enhancement Atlantic Books
Tim Powers Declare Corvus Books
Tricia Sullivan Lightborn Orbit Books
2012 Jane Rogers* The Testament of Jessie Lamb Sandstone Press
Greg Bear Hull Zero Three Victor Gollancz Ltd
Drew Magary The End Specialist HarperCollins Voyager
China Miéville Embassytown Macmillan Publishers
Charles Stross Rule 34 Orbit Books
Sheri S. Tepper The Waters Rising Victor Gollancz Ltd
2013 Chris Beckett* Dark Eden Corvus
Kim Stanley Robinson 2312 Orbit Books
Nick Harkaway Angelmaker Heinemann
Peter Heller The Dog Stars Headline Publishing Group
Ken MacLeod Intrusion Orbit Books
Adrian Barnes Nod Bluemoose Books
2014 Ann Leckie* Ancillary Justice Orbit Books
Kameron Hurley God's War Del Rey Books
Phillip Mann The Disestablishment of Paradise Victor Gollancz Ltd
Ramez Naam Nexus Angry Robot
Christopher Priest The Adjacent Victor Gollancz Ltd
James Smythe The Machine Blue Door
2015 Emily St. John Mandel* Station Eleven Picador
Michel Faber The Book of Strange New Things Canongate Books
Dave Hutchinson Europe in Autumn Solaris Books
Claire North The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August Orbit Books
M. R. Carey The Girl with All the Gifts Orbit Books
Emmi Itäranta Memory of Water HarperVoyager
2016 Adrian Tchaikovsky* Children of Time Tor Books
Becky Chambers The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet Hodder & Stoughton
Dave Hutchinson Europe at Midnight Solaris Books
Nnedi Okorafor The Book of Phoenix Hodder & Stoughton
Iain Pears Arcadia Faber and Faber
James Smythe Way Down Dark Hodder & Stoughton
2017 Colson Whitehead* The Underground Railroad Fleet Publishing
Becky Chambers A Closed and Common Orbit Hodder & Stoughton
Yoon Ha Lee Ninefox Gambit Solaris Books
Emma Newman After Atlas Roc Books
Tricia Sullivan Occupy Me Gollancz Books
Lavie Tidhar Central Station PS Publishing
2018 Anne Charnock* Dreams Before the Start of Time 47North
Omar El Akkad American War Picador
Jeff VanderMeer Borne HarperCollins
Jennie Melamed Gather the Daughters Tinder Press
C. Robert Cargill Sea of Rust Gollancz Books
Jaroslav Kalfar Spaceman of Bohemia Sceptre
2019 Tade Thompson* Rosewater Orbit Books
Sue Burke Semiosis HarperVoyager
Yoon Ha Lee Revenant Gun Solaris Books
Ahmed Saadawi Frankenstein in Baghdad Oneworld Publications
Simon Stålenhag The Electric State Simon and Schuster
Aliya Whiteley The Loosening Skin Unsung Stories
2020 Namwali Serpell* The Old Drift Hogarth Press
Adrian Tchaikovsky Cage of Souls Head of Zeus
Charlie Jane Anders The City in the Middle of the Night Tor Books, Titan Books
David Wellington The Last Astronaut Hachette
Kameron Hurley The Light Brigade Saga Press, Angry Robot
Arkady Martine A Memory Called Empire Tor Books
2021 Laura Jean McKay* The Animals in That Country Scribe
Patience Agbabi The Infinite Canongate Books
Simon Jimenez The Vanished Birds Titan Books
Hao Jingfang Vagabonds Head of Zeus
RB Kelly Edge of Heaven NewCon Press
Valerie Valdes Chilling Effect Orbit Books
2022 Harry Josephine Giles* Deep Wheel Orcadia Picador
Arkady Martine A Desolation Called Peace Tor UK
Kazuo Ishiguro Klara and the Sun Faber and Faber
Courttia Newland A River Called Time Canongate Books
Aliya Whiteley Skyward Inn Solaris Books
Mercurio D. Rivera Wergen: The Alien Love War NewCon Press
2023 Ned Beauman* Venomous Lumpsucker Hodder & Stoughton
E. J. Swift The Coral Bones Unsung Stories
Tom Watson Metronome Bloomsbury
Hervé Le Tellier The Anomaly Michael Joseph
Aliette de Bodard The Red Scholar’s Wake Gollancz Books
Lucy Kissick Plutoshine Gollancz Books
2024 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Chain-Gang All-Stars Harvill Secker
Isabel Waidner Corey Fah Does Social Mobility Hamish Hamilton
Martin MacInnes In Ascension Atlantic Books
Ray Nayler The Mountain in the Sea Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Emily Tesh Some Desperate Glory Orbit Books
Lavanya Lakshminarayan The Ten Percent Thief Solaris Books