History of Nebula Award in Timeline

The Nebula Awards are annual literary prizes recognizing excellence in science fiction and fantasy, presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA). Established in 1966, the awards initially honored literary works across varying lengths. Later, categories for film/TV scripts and game writing were introduced. In 2019, the Andre Norton Award and Ray Bradbury Award became official Nebula awards. The rules have been modified several times, most recently in 2010. The awards are presented at the SFWA Nebula Conference held annually in the spring within the United States.

1965: Nebula Award Proposed

In 1965, the idea for the Nebula Award, funded by anthology sales, was proposed by Lloyd Biggle, Jr.

1966: First Nebula Awards Given

In 1966, the first Nebula Awards were given for works published in 1965.

1966: Anthology Contains Awards From 1966 Through 1986

In 1989, The Best of the Nebulas anthology, edited by Ben Bova, collected Nebula Award winners from 1966 through 1986.

The Best of the Nebulas

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1966: Nebula Winners Series Started

The Nebula Winners series was started in 1966 as a collection of short story winners and nominees for that year, intended to fund the award presentation.

1970: "No Award" Option Added

In 1970, the option was added for voters to select "no award" if they felt that no nominated work was worthy of winning.

1970: Anthology Stories Won Award Between 1970 And 1989

In 1994, the unofficial anthology Nebula Award Winning Novellas, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, contained ten stories which had won the novella award between 1970 and 1989.

Nebula Award Winning Novellas

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1971: "No Award" Selected in Short Story Category

In 1971, voters selected "no award" in the Short Story category.

1974: Script Award Presented

From 1974 to 1978, a Script award was presented under the names Best Dramatic Presentation and Best Dramatic Writing.

1974: Script Category Introduced

In 1974, a fifth category for film and television episode scripts was introduced to the Nebula Awards.

1975: Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award Started

Since 1975, the Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement has been awarded at the Nebula Awards ceremony.

1977: Nebula Award Increases Book Sales

In 1977, Gahan Wilson claimed that noting a Nebula Award win on a book cover demonstrably increased sales for that novel.

1977: "No Award" Selected in Script Category

In 1977, voters selected "no award" in the Script category.

1978: End of First Script Award Presentation

In 1978, the first run of Script award presentations ended.

1980: Eligibility Year Set to Calendar Year

Beginning in 1980, the eligibility year for nominations was set to the calendar year, and the SFWA panel was allowed to add an additional work.

1986: Anthology Contains Awards From 1966 Through 1986

In 1989, The Best of the Nebulas anthology, edited by Ben Bova, collected Nebula Award winners from 1966 through 1986.

The Best of the Nebulas

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1989: The Best of the Nebulas Anthology Published

In 1989, The Best of the Nebulas anthology, edited by Ben Bova, collected Nebula Award winners from 1966 through 1986.

The Best of the Nebulas

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1992: Publishers Pay Attention to Nebula Winners

In 1992, Spider Robinson noted that publishers pay close attention to Nebula Award winners.

1994: Nebula Award Winning Novellas Anthology Published

In 1994, the unofficial anthology Nebula Award Winning Novellas, edited by Martin H. Greenberg, contained ten stories which had won the novella award between 1970 and 1989.

Nebula Award Winning Novellas

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1995: Author Emeritus Award Started

Since 1995, the Author Emeritus award for contributions to the field has been awarded at the Nebula Awards ceremony.

1996: Nebula Nomination Induces Book Sales

In 1996, Richard Curtis stated that having the Nebula Award on a book cover, even as a nominee, was a powerful inducement for science fiction fans to buy the novel.

1999: Nebula Winners Series Renamed

In 1999, the Nebula Winners series was renamed the Nebula Awards Showcase series.

2000: Script Award Presentation Resumed

From 2000 through 2009, the Script award was presented again as Best Script.

2000: Script Category Reintroduced

In 2000, the film and television episode scripts category was reintroduced to the Nebula Awards after a hiatus.

2005: Initial Publication Year of Winning Works

As a consequence of the rolling eligibility and paperback publication rule, the 2007 awards were given to works initially published in 2005.

2006: Andre Norton Award Inaugurated

In 2006, the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy Book was inaugurated.

2006: Awards Published in 2006

The 2007 awards, despite nominally being for works published in 2006, instead were all given to works initially published in 2005.

2007: Awards Given to Works Published in 2005

As a consequence of the rolling eligibility and paperback publication rule, the 2007 awards were given to works initially published in 2005.

2009: End of Second Script Award Presentation

After 2009, the Best Script award was again removed and replaced by SFWA with the Ray Bradbury Award.

2009: Rolling Eligibility System Used

Prior to 2009, the Nebula Awards employed a rolling eligibility system where each work was eligible for the ballot for one year following its publication date.

2009: Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award Started

Since 2009, the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award for significant impact on speculative fiction has been awarded at the Nebula Awards ceremony.

2010: Rolling Eligibility System Replaced

Beginning with the 2010 awards, the rolling eligibility system and paperback publication exemption were replaced with the current rules.

2010: Ray Bradbury Award Replaces Best Script

In 2010, the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation replaced the Best Script award.

2010: Nebula Awards Rules Changed

In 2010, the rules governing the Nebula Awards underwent changes.

2014: Author Emeritus Award Last Awarded

In 2014, the Author Emeritus award was last awarded.

2018: Game Writing Category Added

In 2018, a new Game Writing category was added to the Nebula Awards.

2019: Andre Norton and Ray Bradbury Awards Recognized

In 2019, the Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction and the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation were officially recognized as Nebula awards.