Literary award · United States · since 1987

Theodore Sturgeon Award

Literary award. Established 1987 in United States.

About Theodore Sturgeon Award

The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is an annual literary award presented by the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust and the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas to the author of the best short science fiction story published in English in the preceding calendar year. The award is named in honor of Theodore Sturgeon, one of the leading authors of the Golden Age of Science Fiction from 1939 to 1950. The award was established in 1987 by his heirs—including his widow, Jayne Sturgeon—and James Gunn, at the time the Director of the Center for the Study of Science Fiction. From 1987 through 1994 the award was given out by a panel of science fiction experts led by Orson Scott Card. Beginning in 1995, the committee was replaced by a group of jurors, who vote on the nominations submitted for consideration.

From the Wikipedia article “Theodore Sturgeon Award”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Recent winners

YearWinnerWinning work
2024R. S. A. GarciaTantie Merle and the Farmhand 4200
2023Samantha MillsRabbit Test
2022Nalo HopkinsonBroad Dutty Water
2021Rebecca CampbellAn Important Failure
2020Suzanne PalmerWaterlines
2018Charlie Jane AndersDon't Press Charges and I Won't Sue
2017Catherynne M. ValenteThe Future Is Blue

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

Eligibility and entering

Check the official rules of the Theodore Sturgeon Award 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