Story · 1953–2026

The bridesmaids

Shortlisted again and again for the Hugo or the Nebula, and never once chosen.

From 1953 to 2026, 22 authors were shortlisted for the Hugo or Nebula Best Novel four or more times and never won either. Poul Anderson leads, with eight shortlistings. Five of them are still in the running: living, and shortlisted since 2016.

Best Novel only: several of these authors won the Hugo or the Nebula for shorter fiction, which this list does not count. A Retro Hugo for Best Novel counts as a win. The source, the ISFDB, holds few early Hugo shortlists, so the oldest counts are a floor. Still in the running means living, with a shortlisting since 2016.

Poul Anderson

eight shortlistings, seven novels

  • The Star Fox — Poul Anderson (1966)
  • Tau Zero — Poul Anderson (1971)
  • The Byworlder — Poul Anderson (1972)
  • There Will Be Time — Poul Anderson (1973)
  • The People of the Wind — Poul Anderson (1974)
  • A Midsummer Tempest — Poul Anderson (1976)
  • The Boat of a Million Years — Poul Anderson (1990)

Charles Stross

seven shortlistings, seven novels

  • Singularity Sky — Charles Stross (2004)
  • Iron Sunrise — Charles Stross (2005)
  • Accelerando — Charles Stross (2006)
  • Glasshouse — Charles Stross (2007)
  • Halting State — Charles Stross (2008)
  • Saturn's Children — Charles Stross (2009)
  • Neptune's Brood — Charles Stross (2014)

George R. R. Martin

six shortlistings, five novels

  • A Game of Thrones — George R. R. Martin (1998)
  • A Clash of Kings — George R. R. Martin (2000)
  • A Storm of Swords — George R. R. Martin (2001)
  • A Feast for Crows — George R. R. Martin (2006)
  • A Dance with Dragons — George R. R. Martin (2012)

Bruce Sterling

five shortlistings, five novels; won elsewhere: Clarke Award 2000

  • Schismatrix — Bruce Sterling (1986)
  • Islands in the Net — Bruce Sterling (1989)
  • The Difference Engine — Bruce Sterling, William Gibson (1992)
  • Holy Fire — Bruce Sterling (1997)
  • Distraction — Bruce Sterling (1999)

Jerry Pournelle

five shortlistings, four novels

  • Inferno — Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven (1976)
  • The Mote in God's Eye — Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven (1976)
  • Lucifer's Hammer — Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven (1978)
  • Footfall — Jerry Pournelle, Larry Niven (1986)

John Varley

five shortlistings, four novels

  • Titan — John Varley (1980)
  • Wizard — John Varley (1981)
  • Millennium — John Varley (1984)
  • Steel Beach — John Varley (1993)

Seanan McGuire

five shortlistings, five novels

  • Feed — Seanan McGuire (2011)
  • Deadline — Seanan McGuire (2012)
  • Blackout — Seanan McGuire (2013)
  • Parasite — Seanan McGuire (2014)
  • Middlegame — Seanan McGuire (2020)

Tamsyn Muir

five shortlistings, three novels

  • Gideon the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir (2020)
  • Harrow the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir (2021)
  • Nona the Ninth — Tamsyn Muir (2023)

Anne McCaffrey

four shortlistings, four novels

  • Dragonquest — Anne McCaffrey (1972)
  • The White Dragon — Anne McCaffrey (1979)
  • Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern — Anne McCaffrey (1984)
  • All the Weyrs of Pern — Anne McCaffrey (1992)

Charles E. Gannon

four shortlistings, four novels

  • Fire with Fire — Charles E. Gannon (2014)
  • Trial by Fire — Charles E. Gannon (2015)
  • Raising Caine — Charles E. Gannon (2016)
  • Marque of Caine — Charles E. Gannon (2020)

David Gerrold

four shortlistings, three novels

  • When Harlie Was One — David Gerrold (1973)
  • The Man Who Folded Himself — David Gerrold (1974)
  • Moonstar Odyssey — David Gerrold (1978)

George Alec Effinger

four shortlistings, three novels

  • What Entropy Means to Me — George Alec Effinger (1973)
  • When Gravity Fails — George Alec Effinger (1988)
  • A Fire in the Sun — George Alec Effinger (1990)

Ian McDonald

four shortlistings, three novels; won elsewhere: BSFA Award 2004, BSFA Award 2007, BSFA Award 2010

  • River of Gods — Ian McDonald (2005)
  • Brasyl — Ian McDonald (2008)
  • The Dervish House — Ian McDonald (2011)

James Morrow

four shortlistings, three novels

  • This Is the Way the World Ends — James Morrow (1987)
  • Only Begotten Daughter — James Morrow (1991)
  • Towing Jehovah — James Morrow (1995)

John Barnes

four shortlistings, three novels

  • Orbital Resonance — John Barnes (1992)
  • A Million Open Doors — John Barnes (1993)
  • Mother of Storms — John Barnes (1995)

Ken MacLeod

four shortlistings, four novels; won elsewhere: BSFA Award 1999, BSFA Award 2008

  • The Cassini Division — Ken MacLeod (2000)
  • The Sky Road — Ken MacLeod (2001)
  • Cosmonaut Keep — Ken MacLeod (2002)
  • Learning the World — Ken MacLeod (2006)

Nalo Hopkinson

four shortlistings, three novels

  • Midnight Robber — Nalo Hopkinson (2001)
  • The Salt Roads — Nalo Hopkinson (2004)
  • The New Moon's Arms — Nalo Hopkinson (2008)

Nancy Kress

four shortlistings, two novels

  • Beggars in Spain — Nancy Kress (1994)
  • Beggars & Choosers — Nancy Kress (1995)

Norman Spinrad

four shortlistings, three novels

  • Bug Jack Barron — Norman Spinrad (1970)
  • The Iron Dream — Norman Spinrad (1973)
  • The Void Captain's Tale — Norman Spinrad (1984)

Rebecca Roanhorse

four shortlistings, two novels

  • Trail of Lightning — Rebecca Roanhorse (2019)
  • Black Sun — Rebecca Roanhorse (2021)

Thomas M. Disch

four shortlistings, three novels

  • The Genocides — Thomas M. Disch (1966)
  • 334 — Thomas M. Disch (1975)
  • On Wings of Song — Thomas M. Disch (1980)

Yoon Ha Lee

four shortlistings, three novels

  • Ninefox Gambit — Yoon Ha Lee (2017)
  • Raven Stratagem — Yoon Ha Lee (2018)
  • Revenant Gun — Yoon Ha Lee (2019)