The Dragon Awards are a set of literary and media awards presented annually by Dragon Con. Voted on by fandom, the awards highlight excellence in the speculative categories of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and alternate history across various media — novels, comic books, movies, television series, video games, and tabletop enterprises.
History The Dragon Awards were first presented in 2016, created on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Dragon Con to "recognize excellence in all things Science Fiction and Fantasy." By 2018, 11,000 voters cast a ballot, given out annually at Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia.
A distinct feature of the awards, there is a diverse set of subgenera on the ballot.
The finalists for the first Dragon Awards were announced on August 11, 2016, and the winners were announced on September 4 that year.
In 2017, nominated authors Allison Littlewood, John Scalzi, and N. K. Jemisin asked Dragon Con to remove their names from the ballot; Scalzi subsequently reconsidered and remained in the contest. However, the coordinators of the Dragon Awards initially refused to remove the other authors' names from the running, which generated criticism across blogs and science fiction related publications, ultimately leading the organizers to comply with nominee wishes when they desire to abstain.
Nomination and voting processes The nominations and votes are collected electronically. Participation is available to everyone, requiring only an e-mail address, but no membership or other fees, to vote. The Dragon Awards website states that they "[reserve] the right to invalidate suspect or questionable ballots without notice," and that "All decisions regarding the voting process and selection of winners shall be made by DRAGON CON in its sole discretion, shall be final, and shall not be subject to challenge or appeal." Language describing the review of nominations does not state that nominations are counted numerically but are "gathered and reviewed to create a final ballot." Neither counts of nominations nor votes have ever been made public.
The award process consists of two steps: a nomination step where each voter nominates one work of choice in each category. The nominations are "gathered and reviewed to create a final ballot." a voting step where the finalists selected from the nominated works are voted on by each voter.
Reception The Dragon Awards have been criticized because of the appearance that the awards were created in conjunction with campaigns by the Rabid and Sad Puppies to attack the Hugo Award. Another concern raised is regarding the opaqueness of the nomination and voting process.
Winners The full list of last-stage nominees can be found at List of Dragon Award finalists.
Best Science Fiction Novel
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Somewhither: Being the First Part of A Tale of the Unwithering Realm John C. Wright Castalia House 2017 Babylon's Ashes James S. A. Corey Orbit Books 2018 Artemis Andy Weir Crown Publishing Group 2019 A Star-Wheeled Sky Brad R. Torgersen Baen Books 2020 The Last Emperox John Scalzi Tor Books 2021 Project Hail Mary Andy Weir Ballantine Books 2022 Leviathan Falls James S. A. Corey Hachette Book Group 2023 The Icarus Plot Timothy Zahn Baen Books 2024 Starter Villain John Scalzi Tor Books 2025 This Inevitable Ruin Matt Dinniman Ace Books 2026Operation Bounce House Matt Dinniman Ace Books
Best Fantasy Novel
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Son of the Black Sword Larry Correia Baen Books 2017 Monster Hunter Memoirs: Grunge Larry Correia, John Ringo Baen Books 2018 Oathbringer Brandon Sanderson Tor Books 2019 House of Assassins Larry Correia Baen Books 2020 The Starless Sea Erin Morgenstern Doubleday 2021 Battle Ground Jim Butcher Ace Books 2022 Book of Night Holly Black Tom Doherty Associates 2023 Witch King Martha Wells Tordotcom 2024 Iron Flame Rebecca Yarros Red Tower Books 2025 The Devils Joe Abercrombie Tor Books 2026Twelve Months*Jim ButcherAce
Best Horror Novel
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Souldancer Brian Niemeier self-published 2017 The Changeling Victor LaValle Spiegel & Grau 2018 Sleeping Beauties Stephen King and Owen King Scribner 2019 Little Darlings Melanie Golding Crooked Lane Books 2020 The Twisted Ones T. Kingfisher Saga 2021 The Hollow Places T. Kingfisher Saga 2022 The Book of Accidents Chuck Wendig Del Rey Books 2023 A House with Good Bones T. Kingfisher Tor Books 2024 Black River Orchard Chuck Wendig Del Rey Books 2025 Bury Your Gays Chuck Tingle Tor Nightfire 2026King SorrowJoe HillMorrow; Headline UK
Best Alternate History Novel
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 League of Dragons Naomi Novik Del Rey Books 2017 Fallout Harry Turtledove Del Rey Books 2018 Uncharted Kevin J. Anderson and Sarah A. Hoyt Baen Books 2019 Black Chamber S. M. Stirling Baen Books 2020 Witchy Kingdom D. J. Butler Baen Books 2021 1637: No Peace Beyond the Line Eric Flint and Charles E. Gannon Baen Books 2022 The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley Mercedes Lackey DAW Books 2023 Lost In Time A. G. Riddle Head of Zeus 2024 All the Dead Shall Weep Charlaine Harris Saga Press 2025 The Martian Contingency Mary Robinette Kowal Tor Books 2026The Winds of FateS.M. StirlingBaen Books
Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel
The category "Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel" was removed from the awards in 2023.
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Hell's Foundations Quiver David Weber Tor Books 2017 Iron Dragoons Richard Fox Triplane Press 2018 A Call to Vengeance Timothy Zahn, David Weber and Thomas Pope Baen Books 2019 Uncompromising Honor David Weber Baen Books 2020 Savage Wars Jason Anspach & Nick Cole (author) Galaxy's Edge 2021 Gun Runner Larry Correia & John Brown Baen Books 2022 A Call to Insurrection David Weber, Timothy Zahn, and Thomas Pope Simon & Schuster
Best Apocalyptic Novel
The category "Best Apocalyptic Novel" was removed from the awards in 2018.
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Ctrl Alt Revolt! Nick Cole self-published 2017 Walkaway Cory Doctorow Tor Books "More Dragon Awards News", Locus, August 11, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
Best Media Tie-In Novel
The category "Best Media Tie-In Novel" was first introduced in 2018 and removed from the awards in 2023.
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2018 Leia: Princess of Alderaan Claudia Gray Disney-Lucasfilm 2019 Thrawn: Alliances Timothy Zahn Penguin Random House 2020 Firefly: The Ghost Machine James Lovegrove Titan Books 2021 Firefly: Generations Tim Lebbon Titan Books 2022 Star Wars: Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil Timothy Zahn Random House Worlds
Best Young Adult / Middle Grade Novel
YearWorkAuthor(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 The Shepherd's Crown Terry Pratchett Doubleday 2017 The Hammer of Thor Rick Riordan Disney-Hyperion Books 2018 Children of Blood and Bone Tomi Adeyemi Henry Holt and Company 2019 Bloodwitch Susan Dennard Tor Books 2020 Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth Bella Forrest Nightlight Books 2021 A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking T. Kingfisher Argyll Productions 2022 A Dark and Starless Forest Sarah Hollowell HMH Books for Young Readers 2023 The Golden Enclaves Naomi Novik Del Rey Books 2024 Midnight at the Houdini Delilah S. Dawson Delacorte Press 2025 Sunrise on the Reaping Suzanne Collins Scholastic Press 2026Ride or Die Delilah S. DawsonDelacorte
Best Illustrative Cover
The category "Best Illustrative Cover" was first introduced in 2023.
YearWorkArtist(s)Author(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2023 Tower of Silence Kurt Miller Larry Correia Baen Books 2024 Of Jade and Dragons Kelly Chong Amber Chen Viking Books for Young Readers 2025 Wind and Truth Michael Whelan Brandon Sanderson Tor Books 2026Hemlock & SilverT. KingfisherT. KingfisherTor; Tor UK
Best Comic Book
The categories "Best Comic Book" and "Best Graphic Novel" were combined into a single category in 2023.
YearWorkAuthor(s)/Artist(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 Ms. Marvel Sana Amanat, Stephen Wacker, G. Willow Wilson, Adrian Alphona Marvel Comics 2017 The Dresden Files: Dog Men Jim Butcher, Mark Powers Dynamite Entertainment See revised list at More Dragon Awards News", Locus, August 11, 2017. Accessed April 1, 2018. 2018 Mighty Thor Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman Marvel Comics 2019 Saga Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Image Comics 2020 Avengers Jason Aaron & Ed McGuinness Marvel 2021 X-Men Jonathan Hickman & Mahmud Asrar Marvel 2022 Immortal X-Men Kieron Gillen and Mark Brooks Marvel
Best Graphic Novel
The categories "Best Comic Book" and "Best Graphic Novel" were combined into a single category in 2023.
YearWorkAuthor(s)/Artist(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2016 The Sandman: Overture Neil Gaiman, J. H. Williams III Vertigo Comics 2017 The Dresden Files: Wild Card Jim Butcher, Carlos Gomez Dynamite Entertainment 2018 White Sand, Volume 1 Brandon Sanderson, Rik Hoskin and Julius M. Gopez Dynamite Entertainment 2019 X-Men: Grand Design – Second Genesis Ed Piskor Marvel Comics 2020 Battlestar Galactica: Counterstrike! John Jackson Miller & Daniel HDR Dynamite Entertainment 2021 The Magicians: New Class Lev Grossman, Lilah Sturges & Pius Bak Archaia Entertainment 2022 Dune: House Atreides Volume 2 Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Dev Pramanik BOOM! Studios
Best Comic Book/Graphic Novel
"Best Comic Book" and "Best Graphic Novel" existed as separate categories before 2023.
YearWorkAuthor(s)/Artist(s)Publisher(s)Ref. 2023 Dune: House Harkonnen Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer BOOM! Studios 2024 Monstress Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda Image Comics 2025 Daredevil: Cold Day In Hell Charles Soule and Steve McNiven Marvel Comics 2026Something is Killing the ChildrenJames Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera
Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie
YearWorkCreator(s)StudioRef. 2016 The Martian Ridley Scott (director), Drew Goddard (writer) Scott Free Productions, Kinberg Genre 2017 Wonder Woman Patty Jenkins (director), Allan Heinberg (writer), Zack Snyder (writer), Jason Fuchs (writer) RatPac-Dune Entertainment, DC Films, Tencent Pictures, Wanda Pictures, Atlas Entertainment, Cruel and Unusual Films 2018 Black Panther Ryan Coogler (director, writer), Joe Robert Cole (writer) Marvel Studios 2019 Avengers: Endgame Russo brothers (directors) Marvel Studios 2020 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker J. J. Abrams Disney 2021 The Old Guard Gina Prince-Bythewood Netflix 2022 Dune Denis Villeneuve Legendary Pictures 2023 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves Jonathan Goldstein (director, writer), John Francis Daley (director, writer), Michael Gilio (writer) Paramount Pictures 2024 Dune: Part Two Denis Villeneuve (director, writer), Jon Spaihts (writer) Legendary Pictures 2025 Deadpool & Wolverine Shawn Levy (director, writer), Ryan Reynolds (writer) Marvel Studios 2026Project Hail MaryPhil Lord and Christopher Miller
Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series
YearWorkCreator(s)Released onRef. 2016 Game of Thrones David Benioff and D. B. Weiss HBO 2017 Stranger Things The Duffer Brothers Netflix 2018 Game of Thrones David Benioff and D. B. Weiss HBO 2019 Good Omens Neil Gaiman Amazon Prime Video 2020 The Mandalorian Jon Favreau Disney+ 2021 The Expanse Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby Amazon Prime Video 2022 Stranger Things The Duffer Brothers Netflix 2023 The Sandman Neil Gaiman, David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg Netflix 2024 Fallout Amazon Prime Video 2025 Andor Disney+ 2026A Knight of the Seven KingdomsHBO
Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC/Console Game
The categories "Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC/Console Game" and "Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game" were combined into a single category in 2023.