Welcome to the New Recommended Reading List!

We’re proud to open a more engaging and accessible platform for all our recommended reads. SFWA Members have the honor of submitting works to be included in this list, which is used to celebrate great work in science fiction, fantasy, and related genres. Yes, this list helps for Nebula consideration, but also to amplify creators for other awards and readership-growth opportunities.

Get to know the benefits of our newest build:

When you visit the new Recommended Reading List, you will notice the main page is filled with more categories and genre breakdowns than there are awards.

That is because the Recommended Reading List can and should be used to celebrate great work throughout the year. It’s our platform for thinking about new directions in SFF storytelling, and all the multimedia intersections that make our community strong. If there is award-potential for some of the work there, fantastic! But there are many other ways and reasons we celebrate SFF, too.

In practical terms: You can now submit a work to multiple lists at the same time, so feel free to recommend an Indie Western SFF Novel, or a moving Nonfiction Book analyzing Space Opera over time, or a Poetry Collection with Environmental themes, or a moving piece of Multimedia Commentary about recent Franchise Tie-In Card Game – and more!

Every recommended work should have a fair chance at finding its next perfect reader.

That’s why each section in the main page of our Recommended Reading List offers a random selection from its respective category or genre tag.

Every time you reload, you will encounter different work, and maybe discover something that thrills you from an author you’ve never read before.

And yes, you can always visit our Reading List directory, which automatically uploads with new work listed alphabetically, if you want to find something by an author you already know and love.

But the pleasant surprises are also a ton of fun!

Possibly the biggest win for this new structure is its external appeal.

SFWA is all about professional and professionalizing writers coming together to learn from each other and support each other. We can set terrific standards at SFWA with the writing we choose to elevate—but we needed an interface that will properly reflect our professionalism, and invite excited outsiders to learn more about the terrific work we’ve recently created.

SFWA Members always have private, logged-in-only access to certain uploaded materials, which are shared here so that voters can read them ahead of making their Nebula Awards nominations.

There are also front-facing links for free-to-read titles, and the structure is intended to bring more eyes to our work. Teachers. Librarians. New readers, near and far!

So hello and welcome! May your next read here be a great one—and SFWA Members: keep ’em coming!

Random Pick from the Full Archive

Categories of Recommended Work

No Poetry Collections yet, but it shouldn’t be long now! For now, enjoy more Poetry.

  • “Blacula” by Verrone, P. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Nightmare Magazine Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorPoetrySpeculative
  • “After” by Hanchey, Jenna

    Publication Details Publisher: Worlds of Possibility Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: PoetrySpeculative
  • “Glitch” by Jones, Darius

    Publication Details Publisher: Alien Buddha Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkFantasyPoetryScience Fiction
  • “A Taste of Clean Water” by Li, Ian

    Publication Details Publisher: Small Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiHopepunkPoetryScience Fiction
  • First Command by Simon, Michael

    Publication Details Publisher: Aethon Books Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Military SFFNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpace Opera
  • Novic by Bacon, Eugen

    Publication Details Publisher: Meerkat Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science FictionSpeculative
  • “Like It’s Golden” by Shawl, Nisi

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Novelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science…
  • First Ascent by Phillips, Douglas

    Publication Details Publisher: Proton Books Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: IndieNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science Fiction
  • “Moons Over Sea” by Cooney, C. S. E.

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Your Hold Is Ready” by Duerr, Laura

    Publication Details Publisher: Cast of Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Near FutureShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • “Blight” by Montroy, Michael Yuya

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiFantasyNear FutureShort Story (up…
  • “Plague Daughter” by Cooper, S. H.

    Publication Details Publisher: Nefarious Bat Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorIndieParanormalShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Beak” by Muneshwar, Ian

    Publication Details Publisher: Nightmare Magazine Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: HorrorNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)
  • “Kaiju Agonistes” by Lynch, Scott

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • “Sea of Fertility” by Han, Bella

    Publication Details Publisher: Clarkesworld Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkNear FutureNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • “Mel for Melissa” by Ten, Kristina

    Notes on the Work First published in Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, Kristina Ten’s debut story collection Publication Details Publisher: Stillhouse Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags:…
  • “Like It’s Golden” by Shawl, Nisi

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Novelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science…
  • Transmentation | Transience by Lem, Darkly

    Publication Details Publisher: Blackstone Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • Angel Maker by Bear, Elizabeth

    Publication Details Publisher: Sobbing Squonk Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNovel (40,000 words and up)SteampunkWestern SFF
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • I, Robot Alien by Dennstedt, Joel R.

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative

No card games yet?! Eesh. You’ll submit one soon, surely. For now, here are some more games in other forms.

    No posts

  • Tiny T-Rex by Aymeloglu, Kat

    Publication Details Publisher: Webtoons Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Comic Issue / Issue SeriesCozyFantasyHumorous
  • “The Hodges Meteorite” by Duncan, Andy

    Posted on
    Publication Details Publisher: The Sunday Morning Transport Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryFlash (up to 1,500 words)HumorousScience FictionScript / ScreenplayShort Story (up to 7,500 words)Speculative

No multimedia commentary yet, but we know you’ll send us those podcasts and BookTube recommendations soon! For now, have some more Nonfiction Essays!

We don’t have any works in translation yet on the list, but we should! Will you be the first to add one? For now, enjoy some more novels.

  • “Hide-Bound” by Jones, Heather Rose

    Notes on the Work The story appears in a story collection titled Skin-Singer: Tales of the Kaltaoven. All other material in the collection was previously published. Publication Details Publisher: Harpy…
  • Reborn in Ash by Steele, Gabrielle

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • First Ascent by Phillips, Douglas

    Publication Details Publisher: Proton Books Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: IndieNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science Fiction
  • “Plague Daughter” by Cooper, S. H.

    Publication Details Publisher: Nefarious Bat Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorIndieParanormalShort Story (up to 7,500 words)

Genres of Recommended Work

  • “Blight” by Montroy, Michael Yuya

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiFantasyNear FutureShort Story (up…
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • Tiny T-Rex by Aymeloglu, Kat

    Publication Details Publisher: Webtoons Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Comic Issue / Issue SeriesCozyFantasyHumorous
  • Transmentation | Transience by Lem, Darkly

    Publication Details Publisher: Blackstone Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • “Float” by Ashcraft, Rachel

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Science FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird
  • Every Dark Cloud by Pichette, Marisca

    Publication Details Publisher: Ghost Orchid Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiHorrorNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Science FictionSpeculative
  • “Kaiju Agonistes” by Lynch, Scott

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • The Death of Mountains by Kurella, Jordan

    Publication Details Publisher: Lethe Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Weird
  • Unworthy by Wood, L. Marie

    Publication Details Publisher: Mocha Memoirs Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)SpeculativeWeird
  • “The Conduit” by Jones, Darius

    Notes on the Work Appears in the collection The Book of Hours Publication Details Publisher: Alien Buddha Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags:…
  • “Vortumna” by Allen, Mike

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: HorrorScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500…
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • Landsome Roads by Zornow, Rebecca

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Romantasy
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • The Sea Prince by Schechter, Elizabeth

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Romantasy
  • “All God’s Worthy” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Frivolous Comma Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Pala” by Kwok, Reggie

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousSecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • Set in Stone by Unknown Author

    Publication Details Publisher: Self-Published Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyIndieNovel (40,000 words and up)RomantasySecond-world Fantasy
  • “In Sheep’s Clothing” by Mills, S. C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Heartlines Spec Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyFantasyRomantasySecond-world FantasyShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Hide-Bound” by Jones, Heather Rose

    Notes on the Work The story appears in a story collection titled Skin-Singer: Tales of the Kaltaoven. All other material in the collection was previously published. Publication Details Publisher: Harpy…
  • Cabaret in Flames by Pueyo, Hache

    Publication Details Publisher: Tordotcom Work Categories & Tags: HorrorNear FutureNovella (between 17,500 and 40,000 words)Urban Fantasy
  • A Light From the Nether by Sullivan, Molly Dowd

    Publication Details Publisher: Wendelton Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHorrorNovel (40,000 words and up)ParanormalRomantasyScience FictionUrban Fantasy
  • “Mind Palace v1.2.1” by Aurand, RJ

    Publication Details Publisher: manywor(l)ds Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Flash (up to 1,500 words)HorrorScience FictionSpeculativeUrban FantasyWeird
  • “Your Hold Is Ready” by Duerr, Laura

    Publication Details Publisher: Cast of Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Near FutureShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • “Ursula” by Linden, E. M.

    Publication Details Publisher: Flash Fiction Online Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Short Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • “Glitch” by Jones, Darius

    Publication Details Publisher: Alien Buddha Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkFantasyPoetryScience Fiction
  • Dark Matter by Koja, Kathe

    Publication Details Publisher: Meerkat Press Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • Salvagia by Chawaga, Tim

    Publication Details Publisher: Diversion Books Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkEnvironmental / Cli-FiHopepunkNear FutureNovel (40,000 words and up)Science FictionSpeculative
  • “Sea of Fertility” by Han, Bella

    Publication Details Publisher: Clarkesworld Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkNear FutureNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • “Wireworks” by Singerling, Sheri

    Publication Details Publisher: Clarkesworld Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CyberpunkScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Another Round Again” by Ten, Kristina

    Notes on the Work First published in Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine, Kristina Ten’s debut story collection Publication Details Publisher: Stillhouse Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags:…
  • “Where Walls Once Rose” by Pichette, Marisca

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500…
  • “Criswell Predicts!” by Duncan, Andy

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press) Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags:…
  • Areta by Rirdan, Daniel

    Publication Details Publisher: Corino Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Novel (40,000 words and up)Science Fiction
  • Kitemaster by Hines, Jim C.

    Publication Details Publisher: Caezik SF & Fantasy Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyNovel (40,000 words and up)Second-world Fantasy
  • “One Familiar Eve” by Ward, Clara

    Publication Details Publisher: Tales & Feathers by Augur Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: CozyEnvironmental / Cli-FiFantasyHopepunkScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Moons Over Sea” by Cooney, C. S. E.

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: FantasyHumorousShort Story (up to 7,500 words)
  • “Your Hold Is Ready” by Duerr, Laura

    Publication Details Publisher: Cast of Wonders Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyFlash (up to 1,500 words)Near FutureShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeUrban Fantasy
  • “Kaiju Agonistes” by Lynch, Scott

    Publication Details Publisher: Uncanny Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Alt HistoryNovelette (between 7,500 and 17,500 words)Science Fiction
  • “Vedritsa of the River” by Kantcheva, Adriana

    Notes on the Work Reprinted in PodCastle: https://podcastle.org/2025/10/14/podcastle-913-vedritsa-of-the-river Publication Details Publisher: Trollbreath Magazine Member Access: Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: Environmental / Cli-FiFantasyShort Story (up…
  • “Float” by Ashcraft, Rachel

    Publication Details Publisher: Hell Itself Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: Science FictionShort Story (up to 7,500 words)SpeculativeWeird
  • The Tinkerers by Carlson, Caroline

    Publication Details Publisher: Candlewick Press Public Link: Review the Recommended Work Work Categories & Tags: FantasyMiddle GradeNovel (40,000 words and up)
  • “Vortumna” by Allen, Mike

    Notes on the Work Published in Storyteller: A Tanith Lee Tribute Anthology Publication Details Publisher: Essential Dreams Press Member Access: Work Categories & Tags: HorrorScience FictionShort Story (up to 7,500…

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