Living Canon

Nebula Awards 1978: Complete list of winners

The 1978 Nebula Awards showcased a particularly strong year for speculative fiction, with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America recognizing some truly inventive storytelling across every category. Vonda N. McIntyre’s Dreamsnake took home the year’s top prize for Best Novel, a win that highlighted the award’s appreciation for deeply imagined worlds and compelling character development. McIntyre’s work stood out among the Nebula Award winners for its fusion of hard science fiction concepts with intimate human drama, marking an important moment in the genre’s ongoing evolution.

The shorter fiction categories revealed the Nebula Awards’ commitment to celebrating diverse voices and experimental approaches. John Varley’s The Persistence of Vision claimed Best Novella, while Edward Bryant’s Stone earned Best Short Story—both authors pushing the boundaries of what science fiction could explore thematically and stylistically. Charles L. Grant’s A Glow of Candles, A Unicorn’s Eye rounded out the fiction winners as Best Novelette, demonstrating that 1978 was a vintage year for the quality of imaginative writing being produced across all lengths.

The 1978 Nebula Award winners represent a fascinating snapshot of science fiction during a transitional period in the genre. Below you’ll find the complete list of honorees and their winning works.

Best Novel

Best Novelette

  • A Glow of Candles, A Unicorn’s Eye by Charles L. Grant

Best Novella

Best Short Story