Locus Magazine announces winners of the 2014 Locus Awards

Locus Magazine, the “Magazine of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Field,” recently announced the winners of the 2014 Locus Awards Saturday in Seattle.

This year’s slate of winners were as follows:

Best Science Fiction Novel – “Abaddon’s Gate” by James S.A. Corey

Best Fantasy Novel – “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman

Best First Novel – “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie

Best Young Adult Book – “The Girl Who Soared Over Fairyland and Cut the Moon in Two” by Catherynne M. Valente

Best Anthology – “Old Mars,” edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, eds.

Best Collection – “The Best of Connie Willis” by Connie Willis

Best Non-fiction – “Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction” by Jeff VanderMeer

Best Art Book – “Spectrum 20: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art,” edited by Cathy Fenner and Arnie Fenner

Best Magazine – Asimov’s

Other winners this year included:

Best Novella – “Six-Gun Snow White” by Catherynne M. Valente

Best Novelette – “The Sleeper and the Spindle” by Neil Gaiman

Best Short Story – “The Road of Needles” by Caitlín R. Kiernan

Best Publisher – Tor

Best Editor – Ellen Datlow

Best Artist – Michael Whelan

Established in 1971, the Locus Awards are presented to the winners of the magazine’s annual readers’ poll. Since 1971, the Locus Awards have become more prestigious and now draws more voters than the prestigious Hugo and Nebula awards combined. In 1980 the Locus Award for Best Novel was split into two awards, one for Best Science Fiction Novel and another for Best Fantasy Novel. The all-time winners are as follows:

Locus Award for Best Novel
1971 – Ringworld by Larry Niven
1972 – The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin
1973 – The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov
1974 – Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
1975 – The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
1976 – The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
1977 – Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm
1978 – Gateway by Frederik Pohl
1979 – Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McINtyre

Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel:
1980 – Titan by John Varley
1981 – The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge
1982 – The Many Colored Land by Julian May
1983 – Foundation’s Edge by Isaac Asimov
1984 – Startide Rising by David Brin
1985 – The Integral Trees by Larry Niven
1986 – The Postman by David Brin
1987 – Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
1988 – The Uplift War by David Brin
1989 – Cyteen by C.J. Cherryh
1990 – Hyperion by Dan Simmons
1991 – The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
1992 – Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold
1993 – Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
1994 – Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
1995 – Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold
1996 – The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
1997 – Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson
1998 – The Rise of Endymion by Dan Simmons
1999 – To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
2000 – Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
2001 – The Telling by Ursula K. Le Guin
2002 – Passage by Connie Willis
2003 – The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
2004 – Ilium by Dan Simmons
2005 – The Baroque Cycle (i.e. Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World) by Neal Stephenson
2006 – Accelerando by Charles Stross
2007 – Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge
2008 – The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
2009 – Anathem by Neal Stephenson
2010 – Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
2011 – Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis

2012 – Embassytown by China Mieville

2013 – Redshirts by John Scalzi

2014 - “Abaddon’s Gate” by James S.A. Corey

Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel:
1978 – The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkein
1979 – No Award
1980 – Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip
1981 – Lord Valentine’s Castle by Robert Silverberg
1982 – The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe
1983 – The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe
1984 – The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
1985 – Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein
1986 – Trumps of Doom by Roger Zelazny
1987 – Soldier of the Mist by Gene Wolfe
1988 – Seventh Son by Orson Scott Card
1989 – Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card
1990 – Prentice Alvin by Orson Scott Card
1991 – Tehanu: The Last Book of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
1992 – Beauty by Sheri S. Tepper
1993 – Last Call by Tim Powers
1994 – The Innkeeper’s Song by Peter S. Beagle
1995 – Brittle Innings by Michael Bishop
1996 – Alvin Journeyman by Orson Scott Card
1997 – A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
1998 – Earthquake Weather by Tim Powers
1999 – A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
2000 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
2001 – A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
2002 – American Gods by Neil Gaiman
2003 – The Scar by China Mieville
2004 – Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold
2005 – Iron Council by China Mieville
2006 – Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2007 – The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner
2008 – Making Money by Terry Pratchett
2009 – Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin
2010 – The City & the City by China Mieville
2011 – Kraken by China Mieville

2012 – A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin

2013 – The Apocalypse Codex by Charles Stross

2014 - “The Ocean at the End of the Lane” by Neil Gaiman

While I’m at it, I might as well post a list of the all-time Best First Novel winners. That award was first given out in 1981. The all-time winners are as follows:

Locus Award for Best First Novel:
1981 – Dragon’s Egg by Robert L. Forward
1982 – Starship & Haiku by Somtow Sucharitkul
1983 – Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury
1984 – Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy
1985 – The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson
1986 – Contact by Carl Sagan
1987 – The Hercules Text by Jack McDevitt
1988 – War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
1989 – Desolation Road by Ian McDonald
1990 – Orbital Decay by Allen Steele
1991 – In the Country of the Blind by Michael F. Flynn
1992 – The Cipher by Kathe Koja
1993 – China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
1994 – Cold Allies by Patricia Anthony
1995 – Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
1996 – The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata
1997 (tie) – Without by Sage Walker and Reclamation by Sarah Zettel
1998 – The Great Wheel by Ian R. MacLeod
1999 – Brown Girl in the Ring by Nalo Hopkinson
2000 – The Silk Code by Paul Levinson
2001 – Mars Crossing by Geoffrey A. Landis
2002 – Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey
2003 – A Scattering of Jades by Alexander C. Irvine
2004 – Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
2005 – Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
2006 – Hammered/Scardown/Worldwired by Elizabeth Bear
2007 – Temeraire: His Majesty’s Dragon/Throne of Jade/Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
2008 – Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill
2009 – Singularity’s Ring by Paul Melko
2010 – The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
2011 – The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

2012 – The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2013 – Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed

2014 - “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie

In the end, how many of the books mentioned above have you had a chance to read? Which did you like or dislike? Which would you recommend and why? Let us know in the comments section below.