Living Canon

Arthur C. Clarke Award 2016: Complete list of winners

Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time claimed the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award, cementing itself as one of the year’s most celebrated science fiction achievements. The novel, which spans thousands of years and explores humanity’s relationship with uplifted spider colonies on a terraformed world, represents exactly the kind of expansive, intellectually rigorous speculative fiction the Clarke Award has championed since its establishment in 1987. Tchaikovsky’s win showcased the award’s commitment to recognizing works that blend hard science fiction concepts with genuinely compelling storytelling—no small feat in a year that saw strong competition from across the genre.

The Arthur C. Clarke Award, named after the legendary science fiction author, has long served as a crucial bellwether for serious speculative fiction in the UK and beyond. By focusing exclusively on science fiction published in the previous year, the award maintains a laser focus on how contemporary authors are grappling with technology, society, and the future. Tchaikovsky’s victory underscored a growing trend in the award’s selections: ambitious, world-spanning narratives that refuse to shy away from big ideas while still delivering the character depth and emotional resonance readers crave.

Below, you’ll find the complete details of the 2016 Arthur C. Clarke Award winner and the full shortlist that made this year’s competition so compelling.

Science Fiction