This page lists the finalists for the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best science fiction novel of the year, by year of publication. For many years, to make it onto this list, a book must have received at least one vote from the jury (1st, 2nd, or 3rd place - or, in some cases, Honorable Mention). Starting with the 2016 award, the jury Chair now creates a finalist list based on each juror's top 3-5 books, and then the full jury discusses the merits of each, eventually voting on this more-complete list.

We cannot list all the nominations. We are currently researching prior-years' finalist lists, but we only began formally releasing these in 2003 after Chris McKitterick joined the committee. As we identify prior finalists, we will post them here, as well. Anyone with information, please contact us: Gunn.SF.Center@gmail.com

The Award is presented during the Gunn Center Conference Awards Banquet at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, as the focal point of a weekend of discussions about the writing, illustration, publishing, teaching, and criticism of science fiction. Finalists are listed alphabetically by author's last name. When each year's results are made public - usually near the Gunn Center Conference - this page is updated to show the winners (highlighted below).

2019 Campbell Award Finalists

2018 Campbell Award Finalists

2017 Campbell Award Finalists

2016 Campbell Award Finalists

This year's Award was presented on Thursday evening of the 2016 WorldCon (MidAmeriCon II) in Kansas City, in the Convention Center, Room 2501D, with a light banquet and cash bar in the beautiful room. The 2016 Gunn Center Conference served as the academic-programming track for MidAmeriCon II.

2015 Campbell Award Finalists

This year's list of finalists is longer than usual partly in response to controversy over other, non-juried awards, and partly because 2014 offered so many fine SF novels.

2014 Campbell Award Finalists

2013 Campbell Award Finalists

2012 Campbell Award Finalists

2011 Campbell Award Finalists

2010 Campbell Award Finalists

2009 Campbell Award Finalists

2008 Campbell Award Finalists

2007 Campbell Award Finalists

Ben Bova - 1st Place winner Titan Tor Nick DiChario A Small and Remarkable Life Robert J. Sawyer Books David Louis Edelman Infoquake Pyr M. John Harrison Nova Swing Gollancz Jack McDevitt Odyssey Ace James Morrow The Last Witchfinder William Morrow Justina Robson Living Next Door to the God of Love Tor UK Barbara Sapergia Dry Coteau Books Karl Schroeder Sun of Suns Tor Charles Stross Glasshouse Ace Vernor Vinge Rainbows End Tor Jo Walton Farthing Tor Peter Watts Blindsight Tor

2006 Campbell Award Finalists

Stephen Baxter Transcendent Gollancz Steve Cash The Meq Del Rey David Gerrold Child of Earth Benbella Paul McAuley Mind's Eye Simon & Schuster UK Jack McDevitt Seeker Ace Ken Macleod Learning the World Tor Ian R. Macleod The Summer Isles Aio Publishing David Marusek Counting Heads Tor Robert J. Sawyer - 1st Place winner Mindscan Tor Charles Stross Accelerando Ace Karen Traviss The World Before Eos Robert Charles Wilson Spin Tor

2005 Campbell Award Finalists

John Barnes, Gaudeamas

Jack Dann, The Rebel

Ken MacLeod, Newton's Wake

Louise Marley, The Child Goddess

Paul McAuley, White Devils

1st Place winner: Richard Morgan, Market Forces

Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

Frederik Pohl, The Boy Who Would Live Forever

Robert Reed, The Well of Stars

Philip Roth, The Plot Against America

Geoff Ryman, Air

Karen Traviss, City of Pearl

2004 Campbell Award Finalists

Max Barry, Jennifer Government

Philip Baruth, The X President

Greg Bear, Darwin's Children

Mike Brotherton, Star Dragon

Michael Flynn, The Wreck of the River of Stars

Kay Kenyon, The Braided World

James Lovegrove, Untied Kingdom

1st Place winner: Jack McDevitt, Omega

Syne Mitchell, The Changeling Plague

Linda Nagata, Memory

Robert Reed, Sister Alice

Justina Robson, Natural History

Sheri S. Tepper, The Companions

Amy Thomson, Storyteller

John Varley, Red Thunder

2003 Campbell Award Finalists