First all-female nominees for Best Novel at the Hugo Awards

In 2020, for the first time in the 66-year history of the Hugo Awards’ Best Novel category, all six nominees were female: winner Arkady Martine (b. AnnaLinden Weller, for her debut novel A Memory Called Empire), Charlie Jane Anders, Alix E. Harrow, Kameron Hurley, Seanan McGuire (all USA) and Tamsyn Muir (New Zealand, b. Australia). Female authors also dominated the category in 2021, with Muir joined on the six-woman shortlist by winner Martha Wells (for Network Effect), N.K. Jemisin, Mary Robinette Kowal, Rebecca Roanhorse (all USA) and Susanna Clarke (UK).

At the 2022 Hugo Awards, presented at Chicon 8: The 80th World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on 4 September, Arkady Martine made it two wins from two novels/nominations with her second science fiction offering, A Desolation Called Peace, thus extending the record of consecutive female Best Novel winners to seven (2016-22).

Best Novel was first awarded (to American author Alfred Bester for The Demolished Man) in 1953. Ursula K. Le Guin (USA, 1929-2018) was the first female winner, in 1970, and she claimed the prize again in 1975. Female winners since then have included C.J. Cherryh in 1982 and 1989, Lois McMaster Bujold in 1991-92, 1995 and 2004, Connie Willis (all USA) in 1993, 1999 and 2011, J.K. Rowling (UK) in 2001, N.K. Jemisin in 2016-18 and Mary Robinette Kowal in 2019.

The Hugo Awards recognise excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy. They were first presented in 1953 (annually since 1955) and are the longest-running science fiction awards. The Hugos are run by and voted on by fans.