Nebula Awards 1972: Complete list of winners

The 1972 Nebula Awards proved to be a landmark year for science fiction, celebrating work that pushed the genre toward more ambitious storytelling and diverse perspectives. Isaac Asimov took home the Best Novel award for The Gods Themselves, a sweeping exploration of parallel universes that showcased his trademark blend of rigorous hard science and human drama. The novelette and novella categories brought equally impressive credentials: Poul Anderson’s “Goat Song” and Arthur C. Clarke’s “A Meeting with Medusa” both exemplified the genre’s capacity for both philosophical depth and imaginative wonder.

What makes this year’s winners particularly significant is the emergence of Joanna Russ into the award spotlight—her Best Short Story win for “When It Changed” marked an important moment for women writers in science fiction during the early 1970s. The Nebula Awards, voted on by members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, have always served as the field’s most prestigious peer-voted honor, and 1972 was no exception, honoring writers who would shape science fiction’s trajectory for decades to come.

The complete list of 1972 Nebula Award winners across all categories follows below:

Best Novel

• The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

Best Novelette

• Goat Song by Poul Anderson

Best Novella

• A Meeting with Medusa by Arthur C. Clarke

Best Short Story

• When It Changed by Joanna Russ