The Aldiss Award
WORLD BUILDING
An annual award to acknowledge endeavours in literature and gaming, specifically around world building, in the science fiction & fantasy genre.
World Building
Our Definition
World building in a story is about how the author or writer (in the context of games) is able to create a sense of the setting, scene and character of their fiction in the mind of their audience. It is about reaching out to the imaginations of others and creating a world for them to explore whilst engaging with the text, as well as afterwards. Good worlds linger in the mind, they spark ideas and encourage people to dream.
Why The Aldiss Award
Throughout his career Brian Aldiss, Science Fiction Grandmaster, first president of the British Science Fiction Association, and creator of worlds, helped nurture the creative spirit of modern fiction that is alive and well today. In conjunction with what would have been his centenary year and with the blessing of the Aldiss Literary Estate, this new prestigious award will help triumph this special skill within today’s cultural nebula, and embraces gaming as well as literature.
Our Partners
Our judging panel will be made up of select members of the British Science Fiction Association, the British Fantasy Society, and the UK Interactive Entertainment Association.
Our Reach
Streamed live, the award is presented at the start of the Saturday evening awards ceremony at the prestigious World Fantasy Awards on the Saturday night of the World Fantasy Convention. Held in October 2025 in front of an audience of 1,000 delegates, the inaugural award was broadcast to a global audience.
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“This tremendous world I have inside of me. How to free myself, and this world, without tearing myself to pieces. And rather tear myself to a thousand pieces than be buried with this world within me.”
Kafka Franz
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Diaries, 1910-1923
Publishers & Independents can submit their work here.
✓ PUBLISHERS
✓ INDEPENDENTS
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this differ from every other award?
We believe that any award celebrating the creative process is a good one, and hope that we have found a niche to celebrate in world building.
When do submissions open and close?
We’re honouring Brian W. Aldiss’s birthday and opening submissions on the 18th August 2024.
What’s the submission criteria?
Titles must have been published in the UK in 2024.
Where will the award be given?
We are still looking for a home! There’s talk of the World Science Fiction or Fantasy Conventions, so watch this space!
What’s the award?
We are hoping to make the award a cash award along with a trophy which will honour the other great trophies given in the literary world.
What’s the cost of entry?
We have a tiered submission cost based on whether you are an independent or a publishing house. See the submission page for more detail.
“Whatever creativity is, it is in part a solution to a problem.”
Brian Aldiss
Discover the ART OF WORLD BUILDING
World Building one blog at a time
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Why World‑Building & why Brian Aldiss?
Some worlds behave like weather. You don’t simply read them, or play them, and move on. They settle in you—quietly at first—then you notice they’ve changed your internal climate. You look at real streets and real skies and feel, briefly, that you’ve returned from somewhere else with mud on your boots.
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The 2026 Aldiss Award Long List
We’re absolutely thrilled to have such an excellent list of publications for consideration for The Aldiss Award for world-building in speculative fiction this year. Amongst the list, there are plenty of well-known names, previous award winners, and lots of well-regarded 2025 publications.
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The Aldiss Award 2026 Launch
The Aldiss Award, dedicated to celebrating exceptional world-building in science fiction and fantasy across literature and gaming, is excited to announce its 2026 submissions window opening.
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And the winner is… Rogba Payne for The Dance of Shadows
At the start of the Saturday evening’s award ceremony at this year’s World Fantasy Convention I (Tim, Brian’s son) was proud to be able to stand up and introduce not only the concept of an award for world-building in speculative fiction, but to also announce the winner of this, the inaugural year.
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Shortlist close-up: When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill.
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Shortlist close-up: The Dance of Shadows by Rogba Payne
ROGBA PAYNE was born in London and raised across both London and Lagos, Nigeria. He is a descendant of John Augustus Otunba-Payne; the noted lawyer, writer and murdered prince of the Ijebu-Ode royal family.