Literary award · United States

Locus Award for Best Short Story

Literary award by the science fiction and fantasy magazine Locus.

About Locus Award for Best Short Story

The Locus Award for Best Short Story is one of a series of Locus Awards given every year by Locus magazine. Awards presented in a given year are for works published in the previous calendar year. Originally known as the Locus Award for Best Short Fiction, the first award in this category was presented in 1971.

From the Wikipedia article “Locus Award for Best Short Story”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Recent winners

YearWinnerWinning work
2026Thomas HaIn My Country
2025Isabel J. KimWhy Don't We Just Kill the Kid In the Omelas Hole
2023Samantha MillsRabbit Test
2022Sarah PinskerWhere Oaken Hearts Do Gather
2021Naomi KritzerLittle Free Library
2020Charlie Jane AndersThe Bookstore at the End of America

From Wikidata; the list may be incomplete for some years.

Eligibility and entering

Check the official rules of the Locus Award for Best Short Story for the current eligibility window, accepted formats, residency or language requirements and any entry fee. For most established prizes the publisher submits on the author's behalf, often with a limit on entries per imprint.

If you are self-published, look for an explicit statement that independently published books are accepted, and budget for entry fees and copies for judges.

Sources & data