World Fantasy Awards 2002: Complete list of winners

Ursula K. Le Guin’s return to her beloved Earthsea archipelago proved triumphant at the 2002 World Fantasy Awards, where The Other Wind claimed the Best Novel prize. The final book in the Earthsea cycle arrived to widespread acclaim, demonstrating Le Guin’s enduring mastery of fantasy worldbuilding and her ability to deepen complex themes across decades of storytelling. Her win underscored the World Fantasy Awards’ commitment to honoring both established literary voices and imaginative rigor in the fantasy genre.

Beyond the novel category, the 2002 World Fantasy Awards ceremony recognized exciting work across shorter forms. S. P. Somtow took the Best Novella award for “The Bird Catcher,” while Albert E. Cowdrey’s “Queen for a Day” earned the Best Short Fiction honor. These selections reflected the breadth of the World Fantasy Awards—often considered one of the field’s most prestigious accolades—in celebrating everything from sweeping epics to intimate, tightly crafted tales. The ceremony highlighted a year when fantasy literature continued to push artistic boundaries while remaining deeply rooted in the genre’s imaginative traditions.

The full list of 2002 World Fantasy Awards winners across all categories can be found below:

Best Novel

• The Other Wind by Ursula K. Le Guin

Best Novella

• “The Bird Catcher” by S. P. Somtow

Best Short Fiction

• “Queen for a Day” by Albert E. Cowdrey