Lambda Literary Awards (also known as the "Lammys") are awarded yearly by the United States–based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works that celebrate or explore LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) themes. The awards are presented annually for books published in the previous year. The Lambda Literary Foundation states that its mission is "to celebrate LGBT literature and provide resources for writers, readers, booksellers, publishers, and librarians—the whole literary community."
Since their inception in 1989, awards have been given in various categories in fiction and non-fiction. The title for this category has changed several times, most recently to "LGBTQ+ Speculative Fiction".
Eligibility guidelines To be eligible for the award, a book must meet the following requirements:
The book must have been published for the first time in the United States between January 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year. The book must be published in English; translations are accepted. The book must be available for purchase in a bound or collected format. Self-published books are eligible, provided they exist in a single published file; books published exclusively on social or subscription-based sites (including blogs, personal newsletters, Wattpad, and Patreon) are not eligible.
This category includes science fiction, fantasy, horror and related genres; submissions can be in the form of novels, novellas, or short story collections.
As with other Lambda Literary Awards, the books nominated for the Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror are selected based on several factors, including LGBTQ+ content, quality of writing and artistic merit.
Winners and nominees
In the following table, the years correspond to the year of the book's release. The ceremonies are always held the following year. Entries with a yellow background have won the relevant award, while those with a white background are the nominees. Categories are abbreviated; the official category titles are presented in the key.
Key Official category title Abbreviation Award years Gay Men's Mystery/Science Fiction Gay M/SF 1989 Lesbian Mystery/Science Fiction Lesb. M/SF1989 Gay Men's Science Fiction/Fantasy Gay SF/F1991–1993 Lesbian Science Fiction/Fantasy Lesb. SF/F1990–1993 Science Fiction/Fantasy SF/F1994–2000 Horror/Science Fiction/Fantasy SF/F/H2001 Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror SF/F/H2002–2006 LGBT Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror LGBT SF/F/H2007–2021LGBTQ Speculative Fiction2022–present
Recipients Multi-time winners of the award include Melissa Scott (4), Nicola Griffith (3), Jim Grimsley (2), and Stephen Pagel (2). Nicola Griffith holds the record for most nominations (6), and Perry Brass has the most nominations without winning (4). +Lambda Literary Award for Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror winners and finalists Year Category Author Title Publisher Result 1989Gay M/SFGoldenboyAlysonWinnerDeath Takes the StageSt. Martin's PressFinalistObedienceMysterious PressUnicorn MountainWilliam Morrow and Co.Who NextInternational PolygonicsLesb. M/SFSkiptraceBanned BooksWinnerHeavy GiltNaiad PressFinalistLessons in MurderNaiad PressMundane WorldCrossing PressThe Crystal CurtainAlyson1990Gay SF/FSomewhere in the NightAlysonWinnerGentle WarriorsKnights PressFinalistKey West 2720 ADKnights PressMagic's PawnDAW BooksWalking Water / After All ThisBanned BooksLesb. SF/F (ed.)What Did Miss Darrington See?Feminist PressWinnerClicking StonesNaiad PressFinalistIn the BloodNaiad Press (ed.)Memories and VisionsCrossing PressSue Slate: Private EyeNaiad Press1991Gay SF/FMagic's PriceDAW BooksWinnerSecret MatterLavenderAlternate CastsBanned BooksFinalistEnchantments of Flesh and SpiritTor BooksThe GiftSpace and TimeLesb. SF/FGossamer AxeRocWinnerDoc and FluffAlysonFinalistMighty Good RoadBaen BooksPrioritiesNaiad PressViragoNaiad Press1992Gay SF/FTor BooksWinner (ed.)Embracing the DarkAlysonFinalistMirageBelhueSteamAlysonVampires AnonymousAlysonLesb. SF/FThe Gilda StoriesFirebrand BooksWinnerMegaMother CourageFinalistShadows of AggarNew VictoriaStrandedNaiad PressZeta BaseNaiad Press1993Gay SF/FChina Mountain ZhangTor BooksWinnerCry GenderBaen BooksFinalistLost SoulsAbyss / DelacorteThe Living OneRandom HouseKnopfLesb. SF/FAmmoniteDel Rey BooksWinnerDreamshipsTor BooksFinalistReturn to IsisRising TideRunning Fiercely Toward a High Thin SoundFirebrand BooksSpeaking DreamsFirebrand Books1994SF/FBantam BooksWinnerBurning BrightTor BooksFinalistDrawing BloodDelacorte BooksIn the Garden of Dead CarsCleis PressThe UnfinishedAlyson Books1995SF/FTrouble and Her FriendsTor BooksWinnerMetal AngelRocFinalistStorm WarningDAW BooksThe FuriesTor BooksWarriors of IsisDAW Books1996SF/FShadow ManTor BooksWinner (tie)Slow RiverDel Rey BooksWinner (tie)Atlantis: Three TalesWesleyanFinalistDark AngelsCleis PressDryland EndRichard Kasak1997SF/FSacramentHarperCollinsWinnerGodmother NightSt. Martin's PressFinalist and Thomas S. Roche (eds.)Sons of DarknessCleis Press and Jewelle Gomez (eds.)Swords of the RainbowAlyson (eds.)Women Who Run With WerewolvesCleis Press1998SF/F and Stephen Pagel (eds.)Bending the Landscape: FantasyWhite WolfWinnerGrave Passions: Tales of the Gay SupernaturalMasqueradeFinalist (ed.)Monsters in the ClosetManchester University Press (ed.)The Drag Queen of ElflandCirclet PressThe HarvestBelhue1999SF/F and Stephen Pagel (eds.)Bending the Landscape: Science FictionOverlook PressWinnerDesmondAlysonFinalistFalling to EarthFirebrand BooksGalileeHarperCollins (ed.)Things Invisible to SeeUltra Violet2000SF/FMinions of the MoonTor BooksWinner and Judith Redding (eds.)Night Shade: Gothic Tales by WomenSeal PressFinalistThe AnnunciateAvonThe Gumshoe, the Witch, and the Virtual CorpseMeisha MerlinThrough a Brazen MirrorCirclet Press / Ace2001SF/F/HKirith KirinMeisha MerlinWinnerAngel LustBelhueFinalistJumping off the PlanetTor BooksMerrickKnopf (ed.)Queer FearArsenal Pulp Press2002SF/F/H and Lisa A. BarnettPoint of DreamsTor BooksWinner and Stephen Pagel (eds.)Bending the Landscape: HorrorOverlook PressFinalistBound in BloodKensingtonGumshoe GorillaMeisha MerlinVampire VowAlyson2003SF/F/H (ed.)Queer Fear IIArsenal PulpWinnerDaughters of an Amber NoonOverlook PressFinalist (as Laura Adams)Seeds of FireBella BooksThe Devil InsideWest Beach (ed.)Wired Hard 3Circlet Press2004SF/F/H (ed.)NecrologueDivaWinnerElf ChildSouthern TierFinalistThe Red Line of YarmaldBella BooksThe Substance of GodBelhueVampire ThrallAlyson2005SF/F/HThe OrdinaryTor BooksWinnerFirelandsAlysonFinalist (ed.)Shadows of the Night: Queer Tales of the Uncanny and UnusualSouthern TierThe Wizard of IsisBella BooksWith Her BodyAqueduct Press2006LGBT SF/F/HDaughters of an Emerald DuskAlysonWinnerFledglingSeven Stories PressFinalistNo Sister of MineBella BooksShapers of DarknessTor BooksTemple LandfallBold Strokes Books2007LGBT SF/F/HIzzy and EveGreen Candy PressWinnerA Strong and Sudden ThawIris PrintFinalistCarnivalBantam SpectraMordred, Bastard SonAlysonSpin ControlBantam Spectra2008LGBT SF/F/HThe Dust of WonderlandAlysonWinner and Sarah MonetteA Companion to WolvesTor BooksFinalistHa'pennyTor BooksSpaceman BluesTor BooksWicked GentlemenBlind Eye Books2009LGBT SF/F/HTurnskinBlind Eye BooksWinnerSea, Swallow Me and Other StoriesLethe PressFinalistThe Archer's HeartBlind Eye BooksThe Magician and the FoolBantam / Del RayWilde Stories 2008Lethe Press2010LGBT SF/F/HPalimpsestBantam BooksWinnerCenturies Ago and Very FastAqueduct PressFinalistFist of the Spider WomanArsenal Pulp PressIn the Closet, Under the BedDark Scribe PressPumpkin TeethLethe Press2011LGBT SF/F/HDiana Comet and Other Improbable StoriesLethe PressWinnerDisturbed by Her SongLethe PressFinalistFlowers of EdoBlack Car Publishing (ed.)Wilde Stories 2010Lethe PressWolfsbane WinterBold Strokes Books2012LGBT SF/F/HThe GermanLethe PressWinnerParadise Tales: and Other StoriesSmall Beer PressFinalistStaticAmber Allure / Amber Quill PressSteam-powered: Lesbian Steampunk StoriesTorquere PressTriptychDragon Moon Press2013LGBT SF/F/HGreen ThumbLethe PressWinnerBeyond Binary: Genderqueer and Sexually Fluid Speculative FictionLethe PressFinalistChocolatiers of the High Winds: A Gay Steampunk RomanceCirclet Press and Steve BermanHeiresses of Russ 2012: the Year's Best Lesbian Speculative FictionLethe PressIn the NowBlue Feather Books and J. M. RedmannNight Shadows: Queer HorrorBold Strokes BooksThe SurvivorsLethe Press2014LGBT SF/F/H and Amy GriswoldDeath by SilverWinnerCollaboratorsFinalistDeprivation; or, Benedetto furioso: an oneiromancyDragon SlayerDust Devil on a Quiet StreetHell's BelleInvisible Soft ReturnLightLike Light for FliesThe Stars Change2015LGBT SF/F/HBitter WatersWinnerAfterpartyFinalistButcher's RoadChild of a Hidden SeaFull Fathom FiveFutureDykeSkin Deep Magic2016LGBT SF/F/HThe GracekeepersWinnerDownFinalistMinotaurSacratiThe Boys on the MountainThe CaphenonThe Glittering WorldWonder City Stories2017LGBT SF/F/HThe DevourersWinnerA Little Queermas CarolFinalistAll Good ChildrenIrish BlackKissing Booth GirlLily, Rasheedah Phillips, Alex Smith, and M. Eighteen TéllezStyle of Attack ReportWill Do Magic for Small Change2018LGBT SF/F/HAutonomousWinnerAmberloughFinalistAn Excess MaleAn Unkindness of GhostsI Stole YouNight VisitorsThe Lost Daughter CollectiveThe Prey of Gods2019LGBT SF/F/HThe Breath of the SunAqueduct PressWinnerForget the Sleepless ShoresLethe PressFinalistIn the Vanishers' PalaceJABberwockyMetabolize, If AbleMonster House PressResilienceHeartsome PublishingThe Barrow Will Send What It MayTor BooksThe Descent of MonstersTor BooksWitchmarkTor Books2020LGBT SF/F/H, Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan SnipesThe DeepSaga Press / GalleryWinnerA Spectral HueWord HordeFinalistBlack Leopard, Red WolfRiverhead BooksFalse BingoDzanc BooksStories to Sing in the DarkLethe PressThe Priory of the Orange TreeBloomsbury PublishingThe RampantAqueduct PressWake, SirenFarrar, Straus and Giroux2021LGBT SF/F/HEveryone on the Moon is Essential PersonnelLethe PressWinnerRebecca RoanhorseBlack SunSaga Press / GalleryFinalistZen ChoThe Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in WaterTor BooksTlotlo TsamaaseThe Silence of the Wilting SkinPink Narcissus PressAaron A. ReedSubcutaneanSelf-published2022LGBTQ Speculative FictionNo Gods, No MonstersBlackstone PublishingWinnerA Desolation Called PeaceTor BooksFinalistBreederBlackstone Publishing with Kit Schluter (trans.)PhototaxisNightboat BooksThe Tensorate SeriesTor Books2023LGBTQ Speculative FictionShattered Scepter PressWinnerThe Book EatersTor BooksFinalistInto the RiverlandsTor.comAngry RobotBallantine Books2024LGBTQ Speculative FictionI Keep My Exoskeletons to MyselfCatapultWinnerBang Bang BodhisattvaSolarisFinalistTor.comTor.comSaga Press2025LGBTQ Speculative FictionMetal From HeavenErewhon BooksWinnerBury Your GaysTor Publishing GroupFinalistMarklessLevine Querido Simon and Schuster Simon and Schuster2026LGBTQ Speculative FictionBeingsBloomsbury PublishingWinnerBlood on Her TongueSourcebooks, Poisoned Pen PressFinalistCry, VoidbringerLeft UnreadTwo Truths and a LiePantheon BooksVolatile MemoryTordotcom
Notes Also jointly won Gay Men's Small Press Book Award. Also nominated for Gay Men's Mystery. Also jointly won Lesbian Fiction. Also won Lesbian Fiction. Also nominated for Drama. Also nominated for Gay Men's Mystery. Also nominated for Gay Men's Anthology-Fiction. Also nominated for Gay Men's Anthology-Fiction. Also nominated for Gay Fiction.
See also
Gaylactic Spectrum Awards LGBTQ themes in speculative fiction Sex and sexuality in speculative fiction
References
External links Lambda Literary Foundation