Every year when the Nebula finalists are announced, I get a little zing of anticipation. If you’re a fan of science fiction and fantasy, you probably know the feeling—wondering what made the cut this time, what surprises the list holds, and what favorites didn’t quite make it. The 2024 shortlist just dropped, and there’s a lot to dig into.
The Nebulas are a big deal in the SFF world. Think of them as the genre’s version of the Oscars—except it’s writers voting for writers. The other major award is, of course, the Hugos. Interestingly a lot of titles win both awards, so the phrase “Nebula and Hugo Award Winner” appears on many covers. The Hugos are reader-voted awards, the flipside of the Nebulas.
That peer recognition is one of the things that makes the Nebulas special. They’ve spotlighted some mind-bending, genre-shaping works over the years. We’re talking Dune, The Left Hand of Darkness, Neuromancer, Parable of the Sower… books that didn’t just tell a great story—they shifted what the genre could be.
This year’s Best Novel finalists are:
- Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory by Yaroslav Barsukov
- Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera
- Asunder by Kerstin Hall
- A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher
- The Book of Love by Kelly Link
- Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell
You can see the finalists in all categories here. Many of the shorter titles have links to online pages where you can read the story for free.
Which of these have you read? Any favorites? If you could vote, which one would you hand the Nebula to? And maybe most interesting of all—what book do you think should’ve been on this list but isn’t? Eligible book are any titles released in 2024.
Why the Nebulas Matter (And Why I Care)
The Nebulas have been around since 1965, started by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). SFWA is basically the professional guild for SFF writers—supporting careers, advocating for authors’ rights, and helping writers navigate the business side of publishing. I’m proud to be a full member, which means I’ve met their criteria for professional publication (yep, I’ve got the battle scars to prove it!).
Some of the greats have been members over the years—people like Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Isaac Asimov, and Anne McCaffrey. These are the writers who shaped the genre—and, let’s be honest, shaped a lot of us too.
One cool thing SFWA does is publish Nebula Award anthologies each year—collections of nominated short fiction and other standout pieces. If you’re looking for a taste of the best speculative fiction being written right now, those anthologies are a great place to start (although they’ve got a bit behind, there are plans to catch up).
When Are the Winners Announced?
Winners will be revealed during the Nebula Conference in May 2025. It’s a whole weekend of panels, workshops, networking, and general celebration of SFF. And while most of us aren’t in it for the awards, let’s face it—getting nominated (or winning) a Nebula is a milestone moment.
So, let me know—have you read any of the 2024 finalists? Which ones lit a fire in your imagination? And what amazing books do you think were snubbed?
Let’s talk books.
Cameron Cooper
SRP Author
Check Cam’s books here on Stories Rule Press.
