Our news
-
The Aldiss Award 2026 Launch
Celebrating Excellence in World-Building Across Speculative Fiction & Gaming London, UK – January 5th 2026 Key Facts: 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. This distinguished annual award honours the rich legacy of Brian Aldiss, a
-
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. And the winner
-
Shortlist close-up: When Among Crows by Veronica Roth
We bear the sword, and we bear the pain of the sword. 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
-
Shortlist close-up: The Dance of Shadows by Rogba Payne
Rumi and his family are Odu, stricken with poverty and disparaged by the other tribes. When ruthless agents of the Palmaine – the colonising nation that dominates the continent of Basmine – threaten to destroy the village market, Rumi takes it upon himself to liberate his family. Taking a place in the prestigious Golden Room,
-
Shortlist close-up: Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon, Wole Talabi
Shigidi is the god of nightmares.Once a feared and powerful member of the Yoruba spirit world, these days he haunts people for scraps of power, which he must give up to the executives of the Orisha Spirit Company.Nneoma is a deadly succubus.Fierce, independent and unpredictable, she’s not afraid to take dangerous risks to free herself
-
2025 Award Ceremony @ World Fantasy Con
We’ll be announcing the inaugural winner of The Aldiss Award for world-building in speculative fiction on Saturday 1st November, and we look forward to seeing you all for the announcement! BOOK YOUR TICKET FOR FANTASYCON 2025 We have the prime billing of 7.30pm on the Saturday night! Read the 2025 Shortlist With two weeks to
-
Shortlist close-up: Saints Of Storm and Sorrow, Gabriella Buba
María Lunurin has been living a double life for as long as she can remember. To the world, she is Sister María, dutiful nun and devoted servant of Aynila’s Codicían colonizers. But behind closed doors, she is a stormcaller, chosen daughter of the Aynilan goddess Anitun Tabu. In hiding not only from the Codicíans and
-
Shortlist close-up: Kavithri, Aman J. Bedi
Meet Kavithri. Outcast. Underdog. Survivor. Kavi is a Taemu. Her people, once feared berserkers and the spearhead of a continent-spanning invasion, are the dregs of Raayan society. Their spirits crushed. Their swords broken. Their history erased. But Kavi has a dream and a plan. She will do whatever it takes to earn a place at
-
Shortlist close-up: Dreadful, Caitlin Rozakis
It’s bad enough waking up in a half-destroyed evil wizard’s workshop with no eyebrows, no memories, and no idea how long you have before the Dread Lord Whomever shows up to murder you horribly and then turn your skull into a goblet or something. It’s a lot worse when you realize that Dread Lord Whomever
-
The 2025 Shortlist
We’re delighted to reveal the shortlist for the inaugural Aldiss Award for World Building in speculative fiction. Our Chair of Judges, Allen Stroud, said: “The short list reflects our determination to find the very best stories that fire the imagination of their readers. We were looking for tales that linger and lurk long after the