Nebula Awards 1985: Complete list of winners

The 1985 Nebula Awards represented a banner year for speculative fiction, showcasing the genre’s remarkable range and imaginative firepower. Orson Scott Card’s groundbreaking Ender’s Game claimed the top prize for Best Novel, a decision that would prove prescient—the book has only grown in stature over the decades, becoming a cornerstone of science fiction literature. The Nebula Awards, given annually by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to honor excellence in speculative fiction, highlighted an exceptional year across all categories, with established masters and emerging talents alike receiving recognition for their stellar work.

Beyond the novel category, the 1985 Nebula winners demonstrated the depth of talent working across different narrative lengths. George R.R. Martin brought his characteristic emotional intensity to Portraits of His Children, while Robert Silverberg delivered the lyrical majesty of Sailing to Byzantium in the novella slot. Nancy Kress rounded out the major categories with Out of All Them Bright Stars, a short story that captured readers’ imaginations with its unique perspective on human connection in an alien-filled cosmos. These selections reflected a field brimming with ambition and craft, rewarding writers who pushed the boundaries of what science fiction could explore and achieve.

The winners and finalists that year continue to resonate with readers and influence contemporary writers, making the 1985 Nebula Awards a particularly vital moment in the evolution of the genre. Below you’ll find the complete list of winners across all categories.

Best Novel

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

Best Novelette

• Portraits of His Children by George R.R. Martin

Best Novella

• Sailing to Byzantium by Robert Silverberg

Best Short Story

• Out of All Them Bright Stars by Nancy Kress