Astounding Award for Best New Writer

Not to be confused with John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.
For other awards, see Campbell Award.

The Astounding Award for Best New Writer
A five-pointed star pin made of fountain pen nibs resting in a small box
Pin given to all winners and nominees
Awarded forThe best new writer whose first professional work of science fiction or fantasy was published within the two previous calendar years.
Presented byWorld Science Fiction Society
First awarded1973
Most recent winnerXiran Jay Zhao
Ada Palmer accepting the 2017 award

The Astounding Award for Best New Writer (formerly the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer) is given annually to the best new writer whose first professional work of science fiction or fantasy was published within the two previous calendar years.[1] It is named after Astounding Science Fiction (now Analog Science Fiction and Fact), a foundational science fiction magazine. The award is sponsored by Dell Magazines, which publishes Analog.[1]

Between its founding in 1973 and 2019, the award was named after Astounding's long-time editor John W. Campbell, one of the most influential figures in the early history of science fiction.[2][3] In the aftermath of 2019 winner Jeannette Ng's acceptance speech, in which she described Campbell as a fascist, the science fiction fandom community discussed whether it was appropriate to continue honoring Campbell in this way;[4] the editor of Analog subsequently announced that the award had been renamed.[3]

The nomination and selection process is administered by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), represented by the current Worldcon committee, and the award is presented at the Hugo Award ceremony at the Worldcon, although it is not itself a Hugo Award.[5] All nominees receive a pin, while the winner receives a plaque. Beginning in 2005, the award has also included a tiara; created at the behest of 2004 winner Jay Lake and 2005 winner Elizabeth Bear, the tiara is passed from each year's winner to the next.[6][7][8]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Locus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference ESF199 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NameChange was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ngrename was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference WSFSCamp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference RIPJayLake was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Whatever was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Whatever2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).