Category: World Building
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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 Read more
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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, Read more
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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 Read more
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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 Read more
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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 Read more
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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 Read more
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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 Read more
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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 Read more
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Building Worlds That Breathe: A Guide to Immersive, Self-Consistent Worldbuilding

As creators of speculative fiction, we hold a rare power: to shape worlds that breathe and pulse with life. These are worlds that, though fantastical, are grounded in a self-consistent internal logic that makes them feel alive. Whether in novels, games, or visual storytelling, worldbuilding is essential to drawing readers and players into realms that Read more
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Setting the Stage: How World Building Shapes Our Expectations

In the vast realms of science fiction and fantasy, the magic lies not just in the thrilling plots or dynamic characters, but in the meticulously crafted worlds that draw us in and set our imaginations ablaze. From the towering spires of futuristic cities to the mystical landscapes of enchanted forests, world building is the art Read more
