World Fantasy Awards 2013: Complete list of winners

The 2013 World Fantasy Awards proved to be a banner year for speculative fiction that challenged conventions and pushed boundaries. G. Willow Wilson’s Alif the Unseen claimed the Best Novel prize, a debut that weaves together Middle Eastern settings, digital culture, and genuine magic into something entirely fresh. The novella category went to K. J. Parker’s “Let Maps to Others,” while Gregory Norman Bossert’s haunting “The Telling” triumphed in short fiction. These selections reflect what made this particular year so compelling for the World Fantasy Awards judges: a diverse roster of voices bringing new perspectives and unexpected narratives to fantasy as a form.

The World Fantasy Awards, one of the field’s most prestigious honors since their inception in 1975, have long served as a barometer for what serious fantasy literature can achieve. The 2013 winners especially seemed to emphasize innovation—whether through Wilson’s bold exploration of technology and belief systems, Parker’s accomplished technical narrative craft, or Bossert’s quietly devastating emotional core. These weren’t safe choices, but rather signals that the fantasy community was ready to embrace complexity, cultural specificity, and literary ambition.

Here are the complete 2013 World Fantasy Awards winners and finalists:

Best Novel

• Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson

Best Novella

• “Let Maps to Others” by K. J. Parker

Best Short Fiction

• “The Telling” by Gregory Norman Bossert