The award originally included only a category for novels. Categories for short works and artists were added in 1980. The artists category became artwork in 1995 and a category for related non-fiction was added in 2002. A media category was awarded from 1979 to 1992. The current standard award categories are:
BSFA Award for Best NovelBSFA Award for Best Short FictionBSFA Award for Best Non-FictionBSFA Award for Best ArtworkPrevious categories:
BSFA Award for Best Media1969Novel:
Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner
1970Novel:
The Jagged Orbit by John Brunner
1971Collection:
The Moment of Eclipse by Brian W. Aldiss
1972No award — insufficient votes.
1973Novel:
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. ClarkeSpecial Award:
Billion Year Spree by Brian W. Aldiss
1974Novel:
Inverted World by
Christopher Priest1975Novel:
Orbitsville by
Bob Shaw1976Novel:
Brontomek! by Michael G. ConeySpecial Award:
A Pictorial History of Science Fiction by
David Kyle1977Novel:
The Jonah Kit by
Ian Watson1978Novel:
A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. DickCollection:
Deathbird Stories by Harlan EllisonMedia:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (original radio series) -
Douglas Adams1979Novel:
The Unlimited Dream Company by J. G. BallardShort: "Palely Loitering" by
Christopher Priest (
F&SF)Media:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy recordArtist:
Jim Burns1980Novel:
Timescape by Gregory BenfordShort: "The Brave Little Toaster" by
Thomas M. Disch (
F&SF)Media:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy second radio series - Douglas AdamsArtist:
Peter Jones1981Novel:
The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene WolfeShort: "
Mythago Wood" by
Robert Holdstock (
F&SF)Media:
Time BanditsArtist:
Bruce Pennington1982Novel:
Helliconia Spring by Brian W. AldissShort: "Kitemaster" by
Keith Roberts (
Interzone)Media:
Blade RunnerArtist: Tim White
1983Novel:
Tik-Tok by John SladekShort: "After-Images" by
Malcolm Edwards (
Interzone)Media:
AndroidArtist:
Bruce Pennington1984Novel:
Mythago Wood by Robert HoldstockShort: "The Unconquered Country" by
Geoff Ryman (
Interzone)Media:
The Company of WolvesArtist:
Jim Burns1985Novel:
Helliconia Winter by Brian W. AldissShort: "Cube Root" by
David Langford (
Interzone)Media:
BrazilArtist: Jim Burns
1986Novel:
The Ragged Astronauts by Bob ShawShort: "Kaeti and the Hangman" by
Keith Roberts (in collection
Kaeti & Company)Media:
AliensArtist: Keith Roberts
1987Novel:
Grainne by Keith RobertsShort: "Love Sickness" by
Geoff Ryman (
Interzone)Media:
Star CopsArtist: Jim Burns
1988Novel:
Lavondyss by Robert HoldstockShort: "Dark Night in Toyland" by
Bob Shaw (
Interzone)Media:
Who Framed Roger RabbitArtist:
Alan Lee1989Novel:
Pyramids by Terry PratchettShort: "In Translation" by
Lisa Tuttle (Zenith)Media:
Red DwarfArtist: Jim Burns
1990Novel:
Take Back Plenty by Colin GreenlandShort: "The Original Doctor Shade" by
Kim Newman (
Interzone)Media:
Twin PeaksArtist: Ian Miller
1991Novel:
The Fall of Hyperion by Dan SimmonsShort: "Bad Timing" by Molly Brown (
Interzone)Media:
Terminator 2: Judgment DayArtwork: Mark Harrison
1992Novel:
Red Mars by Kim Stanley RobinsonShort: "Innocent" by
Ian McDonald (
New Worlds 2)Artwork: Jim Burns
1993Novel:
Aztec Century by Christopher EvansShort: "The Ragthorn" by
Robert Holdstock and
Garry Kilworth (
Interzone)Artwork: Jim BurnsSpecial Award:
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ed.
John Clute and
Peter Nicholls1994Novel:
Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. BanksShort: "The Double Felix" by Paul di Filippo (
Interzone)Artwork: Jim Burns
1995Novel:
The Time Ships by Stephen BaxterShort: "The Hunger and Ecstasy of Vampires" by
Brian Stableford (shorter version,
Interzone 91/92)Artwork: Jim Burns (cover for
Seasons of Plenty)
1996Novel:
Excession by Iain M. BanksShort: "A Crab Must Try" by
Barrington J. Bayley (
Interzone 103)Artwork: Jim Burns (cover for
Ancient Shores)
1997Novel:
The Sparrow by Mary Doria RussellShort: "War Birds" by
Stephen Baxter (
Interzone 126)Artwork: SMS ('The Black Blood of the Dead' cover
Interzone 116)
1998Novel:
The Extremes, by Christopher PriestShort: "La Cenerentola" by
Gwyneth Jones (
Interzone 136)Artwork: Jim Burns, 'Lord Prestimion' (cover,
Interzone 138)
1999Novel:
The Sky Road by Ken MacLeodShort: "Hunting the Slarque" by
Eric Brown (
Interzone 141)Artwork: Jim Burns, Darwinia (cover of
Darwinia, Robert Charles Wilson)
2000Novel:
Ash: A Secret History by Mary GentleShort: "The Suspect Genome" by
Peter F. Hamilton (
Interzone 156)Artwork: Hideaway - Dominic Harman (Cover,
Interzone 157)
2001Novel:
Chasm City by Alastair ReynoldsShort Story: "Children of Winter" by
Eric Brown (
Interzone 163)Artwork: cover of
Omegatropic by Colin OdellNon-fiction:
Omegatropic by
Stephen Baxter2002Novel:
The Separation by Christopher PriestShort Fiction:
Coraline by Neil GaimanArtwork: cover,
Interzone 179 by Dominic HarmanRelated Publication: Introduction to
Maps: The Uncollected John Sladek by
David Langford2003Novel:
Felaheen by Jon Courtenay GrimwoodShort Fiction:
The Wolves in the Walls by
Neil Gaiman & Dave McKeanArtwork: cover,
The True Knowledge of Ken MacLeod by Colin OdellNon-fiction:
Reading Science Fiction by
Farah Mendlesohn2004Novel:
River of Gods by Ian McDonaldShort Fiction:
Mayflower II by Stephen BaxterArtwork: cover,
Newton's Wake by
Stephan Martinière (US Edition)
2005Novel:
Air by Geoff RymanShort Fiction:
Magic for Beginners by Kelly LinkArtwork: cover,
Interzone #200 by Pawel LewandowskiNon-fiction Award:
Soundings: Reviews 1992-1996 by
Gary K. Wolfe2006Novel:
End of the World Blues by Jon Courtenay GrimwoodShort Fiction:
The Djinn's Wife by Ian McDonaldArtwork: cover,
Time Pieces Angelbot by Christopher "Fangorn" Baker
2007Novel:
Brasyl by Ian McDonaldShort Fiction:
Lighting Out by Ken MacLeodArtwork:
Cracked World, cover of
disLocations, by Andy Bigwood
2008Novel:
The Night Sessions by Ken MacLeodShort Fiction:
Exhalation by Ted ChiangArtwork: cover of
Subterfuge by Andy BigwoodNon-fiction:
Rhetorics of Fantasy by
Farah Mendlesohn2009Novel:
The City & the City by China MiévilleShort Fiction:
The Beloved Time of Their Lives by
Ian Watson and Roberto QuagliaArtwork: cover of
Desolation Road by Stephan MartinièreNon-fiction:
Mutant Popcorn by
Nick Lowe2010Novel:
The Dervish House by Ian McDonaldShort Fiction:
The Ship Maker by Aliette de BodardArtwork: cover of
Zoo City, by Joey Hi-FiNon-Fiction:
Blogging the Hugos: Decline by
Paul Kincaid2011Novel:
The Islanders by Christopher PriestShort Fiction:
The Copenhagen Interpretation by Paul CornellArtwork: cover of
The Noise Revealed, by Dominic HarmanNon-Fiction:
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction 3rd edition by
John Clute,
Peter Nicholls, David Langford and
Graham Sleight2012Novel:
Jack Glass by Adam RobertsShort Fiction:
Adrift on the Sea of Rains by Ian SalesArtwork: cover of
Jack Glass by BlacksheepNon-Fiction:
The World SF Blog, chief editor
Lavie Tidhar2013Novel:
Ancillary Justice by
Ann Leckie and
Ack-Ack Macaque by
Gareth L. Powell (tie)Short Fiction:
Spin by Nina AllanArtwork: cover of
Dream London by Joey Hi-FiNon-Fiction:
Wonderbook by
Jeff VanderMeer2014Novel:
Ancillary Sword by Ann LeckieShort Fiction:
The Honey Trap by Ruth E. J. Booth, La FemmeArtwork:
The Wasp Factory after
Iain Banks by Tessa FarmerNon-Fiction:
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers and the First World War by
Edward James (historian)
2015Novel:
House of Shattered Wings by Aliette de BodardShort Fiction:
Thirty Cups of Grief by Starlight by Aliette de BodardArtwork: cover of
Pelquin's Comet by Jim BurnsNon-Fiction:
Rave and Let Die: the SF and Fantasy of 2014 by
Adam Roberts