Living Canon

Nebula Awards 1979: Complete list of winners

The 1979 Nebula Awards delivered a fascinating snapshot of science fiction at a pivotal moment in the genre’s evolution. Arthur C. Clarke’s visionary The Fountains of Paradise claimed the top prize for Best Novel, cementing Clarke’s legacy as a master of hard science fiction with its audacious concept of a space elevator stretching from Earth to the heavens. Meanwhile, the shorter fiction categories showcased the depth of imaginative storytelling flourishing in the late seventies, with George R.R. Martin’s Sandkings earning the Novelette award and proving that the author’s talent extended far beyond the fantasy epics he would later become famous for. Barry B. Longyear’s Enemy Mine won Best Novella with its touching exploration of unlikely kinship and survival, while Edward Bryant’s giANTS captured the Best Short Story category with its own unique vision.

The Nebula Awards, presented annually by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, had by 1979 become the premier peer-recognition honor in speculative fiction—a distinction they maintain today. This particular year’s winners reflected both the genre’s enduring fascination with the cosmos and technological possibility, as well as its growing emotional sophistication in exploring human connection across impossible divides. The breadth of the 1979 Nebula Award winners demonstrates why this award season remains essential reading for anyone tracking the evolution of science fiction.

Below you’ll find the complete list of 1979 Nebula Award winners across all categories:

Best Novel

Best Novelette

Best Novella

Best Short Story