Locus Awards 1976: Complete list of winners

The 1976 Locus Awards marked another year of the science fiction community celebrating the works that had captivated readers most. As one of the field’s most democratic honors—voted on by the readers of Locus magazine themselves rather than a panel of judges—the awards have always offered a fascinating glimpse into what genuinely resonated with fans during the previous year. The 1976 winners demonstrated the breadth of the genre, from sweeping space operas to intimate character studies, capturing a moment when science fiction was experiencing remarkable creative vitality.

One standout winner that year was “The Storms of Windhaven,” a novella by Lisa Tuttle and George R. R. Martin, which claimed the Best Novella category. The collaboration showcased the kind of imaginative worldbuilding and emotional depth that the Locus voters had come to value, blending speculative elements with deeply human storytelling. For Martin in particular, this early recognition would prove to be just the beginning of a career that would eventually reshape the landscape of epic fantasy and science fiction.

The 1976 Locus Awards reflected reader preferences across the full spectrum of science fiction and fantasy, and these winners have since become part of the genre’s historical record. Below is the complete list of that year’s award winners:

Best Novella

• The Storms of Windhaven by Lisa TuttleandGeorge R. R. Martin