Welcome to the New Recommended Reading List!

We’re proud to open a more engaging and accessible platform for all our recommended reads. SFWA Members have the honor of submitting works to be included in this list, which is used to celebrate great work in science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Yes, this list helps for Nebula consideration, but also to amplify creators for other awards and readership-growth opportunities.

Get to know the benefits of our newest build:

When you visit the new Recommended Reading List, you will notice the main page is filled with more categories and genre breakdowns than there are awards.

That is because the Recommended Reading List can and should be used to celebrate great work throughout the year. It’s our platform for thinking about new directions in SFF storytelling, and all the multimedia intersections that make our community strong. If there is award-potential for some of the work there, fantastic! But there are many other ways and reasons we celebrate SFF, too.

In practical terms: You can now submit a work to multiple lists at the same time, so feel free to recommend an Indie Western SFF Novel, or a moving Nonfiction Book analyzing Space Opera over time, or a Poetry Collection with Environmental themes, or a moving piece of Multimedia Commentary about recent Franchise Tie-In Card Game – and more!

Every recommended work should have a fair chance at finding its next perfect reader.

That’s why each section in the main page of our Recommended Reading List offers a random selection from its respective category or genre tag.

Every time you reload, you will encounter different work, and maybe discover something that thrills you from an author you’ve never read before.

And yes, you can always visit our Reading List directory, which automatically uploads with new work listed alphabetically, if you want to find something by an author you already know and love.

But the pleasant surprises are also a ton of fun!

Possibly the biggest win for this new structure is its external appeal.

SFWA is all about professional and professionalizing writers coming together to learn from each other and support each other. We can set terrific standards at SFWA with the writing we choose to elevate—but we needed an interface that will properly reflect our professionalism, and invite excited outsiders to learn more about the terrific work we’ve recently created.

SFWA Members always have private, logged-in-only access to certain uploaded materials, which are shared here so that voters can read them ahead of making their Nebula Awards nominations.

There are also front-facing links for free-to-read titles, and the structure is intended to bring more eyes to our work. Teachers. Librarians. New readers, near and far!

So hello and welcome! May your next read here be a great one—and SFWA Members: keep ’em coming!

Random Pick from the Full Archive

Categories of Recommended Work

No Poetry Collections yet, but it shouldn’t be long now! For now, enjoy more Poetry.

  • “Moons Over Sea” by Cooney, C. S. E.

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Where Walls Once Rose” by Pichette, Marisca

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500…
  • “All God’s Worthy” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Frivolous Comma Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Unbury” by Logan, Kirsty

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Kaiju Agonistes” by Lynch, Scott

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • “Another Round Again” by Ten, Kristina

    Notes on the Work First published in Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, Kristina Ten’s debut story collection Publication Details Publisher: Stillhouse Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags:…
  • “Bunny Ears” by Ten, Kristina

    Publication Details Publisher: Nightmare Magazine Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorHumorousNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Speculative
  • “Beak” by Muneshwar, Ian

    Publication Details Publisher: Nightmare Magazine Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)
  • “Hide-Bound” by Jones, Heather Rose

    Notes on the Work The story appears in a story collection titled Skin-Singer: Tales of the Kaltaoven. All other material in the collection was previously published. Publication Details Publisher: Harpy…
  • Transmentation | Transience by Lem, Darkly

    Publication Details Publisher: Blackstone Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • The Sea Prince by Schechter, Elizabeth

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Romantasy
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • First Command by Simon, Michael

    Publication Details Publisher: Aethon Books Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Military SFFNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpace Opera
  • The Waitress by Butler, Brooklyn Ann

    Notes on the Work Published in Pretend You Don’t See Her: The Invisible Woman Publication Details Publisher: Kandisha Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorShort…
  • “Rust” by Levine, David

    Publication Details Publisher: Analog Magazine Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Science Fiction Short Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Large Emotional Models” by Tan, Cecilia

    Publication Details Publisher: The Sunday Morning Transport Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Near FutureScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative
  • “We Are the Abikus” by Ossai, Ogochukwu

    Publication Details Publisher: The Dark Magazine Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird

No card games yet?! Eesh. You’ll submit one soon, surely. For now, here are some more games in other forms.

  • Tiny T-Rex by Aymeloglu, Kat

    Publication Details Publisher: Webtoons Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Comic Issue / Issue SeriesCozyFantasyHumorous
  • “The Hodges Meteorite” by Duncan, Andy

    Posted on
    Publication Details Publisher: The Sunday Morning Transport Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryFlash (up to 1,500 words)HumorousScience FictionScript / ScreenplayShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative

No multimedia commentary yet, but we know you’ll send us those podcasts and BookTube recommendations soon! For now, have some more Nonfiction Essays!

We don’t have any works in translation yet on the list, but we should! Will you be the first to add one? For now, enjoy some more novels.

  • Transmentation | Transience by Lem, Darkly

    Publication Details Publisher: Blackstone Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • Dark Matter by Koja, Kathe

    Publication Details Publisher: Meerkat Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • First Ascent by Phillips, Douglas

    Publication Details Publisher: Proton Books Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: IndieNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science Fiction
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • “Hide-Bound” by Jones, Heather Rose

    Notes on the Work The story appears in a story collection titled Skin-Singer: Tales of the Kaltaoven. All other material in the collection was previously published. Publication Details Publisher: Harpy…
  • “Plague Daughter” by Cooper, S. H.

    Publication Details Publisher: Nefarious Bat Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorIndieParanormalShort Story (up to 7,500 words)

Genres of Recommended Work

  • “Plague Daughter” by Cooper, S. H.

    Publication Details Publisher: Nefarious Bat Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorIndieParanormalShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • “In Your Shadow” by Deane, Maya

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • “The Hodges Meteorite” by Duncan, Andy

    Publication Details Publisher: The Sunday Morning Transport Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryFlash (up to 1,500 words)HumorousScience FictionScript / ScreenplayShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative
  • “Wireworks” by Singerling, Sheri

    Publication Details Publisher: Clarkesworld Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Vita Nova” by Han, Bella

    Publication Details Publisher: Quest Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Science FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Float” by Ashcraft, Rachel

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Science FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • Landsome Roads by Zornow, Rebecca

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Romantasy
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • The Sea Prince by Schechter, Elizabeth

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Romantasy
  • Spirit Alembic Keeper by Burnett, Emma

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncharted Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyParanormalSecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative
  • “Pala” by Kwok, Reggie

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousSecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Hide-Bound” by Jones, Heather Rose

    Notes on the Work The story appears in a story collection titled Skin-Singer: Tales of the Kaltaoven. All other material in the collection was previously published. Publication Details Publisher: Harpy…
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Ursula” by Linden, E. M.

    Publication Details Publisher: Flash Fiction Online Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Short Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • Cabaret in Flames by Pueyo, Hache

    Publication Details Publisher: Tordotcom Work Categories & Tags: HorrorNear FutureNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Urban Fantasy
  • “Mind Palace v1.2.1” by Aurand, RJ

    Publication Details Publisher: manywor(l)ds Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Flash (up to 1,500 words)HorrorScience FictionSpeculativeUrban FantasyWeird
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • “Your Hold Is Ready” by Duerr, Laura

    Publication Details Publisher: Cast of Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Near FutureShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • The Waitress by Butler, Brooklyn Ann

    Notes on the Work Published in Pretend You Don’t See Her: The Invisible Woman Publication Details Publisher: Kandisha Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorShort…
  • “His Goose Is Cooked” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: MetaStellar Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HumorousNear FutureScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Pala” by Kwok, Reggie

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousSecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Saturday” by Wood, L. Marie

    Publication Details Publisher: Midnight & Indigo Literary Journal Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird
  • Unworthy by Wood, L. Marie

    Publication Details Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)SpeculativeWeird
  • Not To Yield by Multiple Authors

    Publication Details Publisher: Three Ravens Publishing Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: AnthologyMilitary SFFScience FictionSpace OperaSpeculative
  • “Moonlight Feels Right” by Hanson, Michael

    Publication Details Publisher: Purple Toga Productions Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Science FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative
  • Every Dark Cloud by Pichette, Marisca

    Publication Details Publisher: Ghost Orchid Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiHorrorNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Science FictionSpeculative
  • “Men With Tails” by Mehrotra, Rati

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorParanormalShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • The Sea Prince by Schechter, Elizabeth

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Romantasy
  • “The Advocate” by Ten, Kristina

    Notes on the Work First published in Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, Kristina Ten’s debut story collection Publication Details Publisher: Stillhouse Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags:…
  • “Where Walls Once Rose” by Pichette, Marisca

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500…
  • Mistress of Bones by Medina, Maria Z.

    Publication Details Publisher: Wednesday Books Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovel (40,000 words and up)Young Adult
  • “Bone-Eater Earth” by Burnett, Emma

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncharted Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiHorrorNear FutureScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • Not To Yield by Multiple Authors

    Publication Details Publisher: Three Ravens Publishing Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: AnthologyMilitary SFFScience FictionSpace OperaSpeculative
  • “We Are the Abikus” by Ossai, Ogochukwu

    Publication Details Publisher: The Dark Magazine Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird
  • “Another Round Again” by Ten, Kristina

    Notes on the Work First published in Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, Kristina Ten’s debut story collection Publication Details Publisher: Stillhouse Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags:…
  • Unworthy by Wood, L. Marie

    Publication Details Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)SpeculativeWeird
  • Kitemaster by Hines, Jim C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Caezik SF & Fantasy Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovel (40,000 words and up)Second-world Fantasy
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • “False Beet” by Aurand, RJ

    Publication Details Publisher: Small Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorPoetry

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