Living Canon

Nebula Awards 1997: Complete list of winners

The 1997 Nebula Awards showcase some of science fiction and fantasy’s most inventive voices, celebrating stories that pushed the genre toward new imaginative frontiers. Vonda N. McIntyre’s The Moon and the Sun took the top prize for Best Novel, a stunning achievement that brought the author into the Nebula winner’s circle with a work that would go on to gain even wider recognition beyond the science fiction community. The award—one of the oldest and most prestigious honors in speculative fiction—honored McIntyre’s remarkable ability to weave history, science, and wonder into a seamless narrative that captured voters’ imaginations.

Beyond the Novel category, the 1997 Nebula Awards winners revealed the breadth of talent flourishing across shorter forms. Nancy Kress secured Best Novelette for The Flowers of Aulit Prison, while Jerry Oltion earned the Best Novella honor for Abandon in Place, demonstrating how compelling science fiction storytelling thrives at every length. Jane Yolen, a luminary in the field, won Best Short Story for Sister Emily’s Lightship, reminding readers why her career has remained so enduringly influential. Together, these winners represented the diversity of vision the Nebula Award seeks to recognize—from intimate character studies to expansive explorations of possibility.

Here are the full details of the 1997 Nebula Awards winners across all categories:

Best Novel

Best Novelette

  • The Flowers of Aulit Prison by Nancy Kress

Best Novella

Best Short Story