The year 1981 was marked, in science fiction, by the following:
Events The Kurd Laßwitz Award, for German-language science fiction, is established The 39th annual Worldcon, Denvention Two, was held in Denver, USA Births and deaths Births Deaths Harry Bates
Literary releases Novels
Downbelow Station, by C. J. Cherryh God-Emperor of Dune, by Frank Herbert VALIS, by Philip K. Dick Short stories "Johnny Mnemonic" by William Gibson Anthologies The Golden Age of Science Fiction, ed. by Kingsley Amis Children's books Other books After Man, by Dougal Dixon Comics First issue of Nexus, by Mike Baron and Steve Rude The first Rogue Trooper story, by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons, is published in 2000 AD Movies
Escape from New York, dir. by John Carpenter Heavy Metal, dir. by Gerald Potterton Mad Max 2/The Road Warrior, dir. by George Miller Scanners, dir. by David Cronenberg Television
Video games Defender Zaxxon
Awards Hugos Best novel: The Snow Queen, by Joan D. Vinge Best novella: Lost Dorsai, by Gordon R. Dickson Best novelette: "The Cloak and the Staff", by Gordon R. Dickson Best short story: "Grotto of the Dancing Deer", by Clifford D. Simak Best related work: Cosmos, by Carl Sagan Best dramatic presentation: The Empire Strikes Back, dir. by Irvin Kershner; screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan; story by George Lucas Best professional editor: Edward L. Ferman Best professional artist: Michael Whelan Best fanzine: Locus, ed. by Charles N. Brown Best fan writer: Susan Wood Best fan artist: Victoria Poyser
Nebulas Best novel: The Claw of the Conciliator, by Gene Wolfe Best novella: The Saturn Game, by Poul Anderson Best novelette: The Quickening, by Michael Bishop Best short story: The Bone Flute, by Lisa Tuttle
Other awards BSFA Award for Best Novel: The Shadow of the Torturer, by Gene Wolfe Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Snow Queen, by Joan D. Vinge Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: Superman II
References