Locus Awards 1978: Complete list of winners

The 1978 Locus Awards celebrated a pivotal moment in science fiction and fantasy publishing, honoring the year’s most beloved works as voted by the passionate readers of Locus magazine. Established as the field’s most democratic award—determined entirely by fan ballots rather than critical panels—the Locus Awards have long served as a genuine barometer of what resonates with the genre’s devoted community. That year’s ceremony recognized both towering achievements and emerging voices, with winners who would help define the landscape of speculative fiction for decades to come.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, published posthumously in 1977, claimed the Best Fantasy Novel prize, a fitting tribute to the author’s unfinished masterwork and his immeasurable influence on the entire fantasy genre. Meanwhile, the Best Novella award went to “Stardance” by Spider Robinson and Jeanne Robinson, a collaboration that brought a fresh, exhilarating energy to science fiction storytelling. These victories underscore how the 1978 Locus Awards captured a field in transition—one honoring its legendary foundations while embracing innovative new talent pushing the boundaries of what speculative fiction could achieve.

Below you’ll find the complete list of 1978 Locus Awards winners across all categories.

Best Fantasy Novel

• The Silmarillion by J. R. R. Tolkien

Best Novella

• Stardance by Spider RobinsonandJeanne Robinson