#2026IgnyteAwards
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theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards Short Story Finalists (2/2):
Ichthyosis – @emelkrishnan.bsky.social ocial
The Octopus Dreams of Personhood – @hannahyangwrites.bsky.social cial
June 8, 2026 at 3:45 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
#2026IgnyteAwards Middle Grade finalists 2/2:
​The Glade – @jamsternazzy.bsky.social @simonkids.bsky.social @ssedlib.bsky.social
The Island of Forgotten Gods – @victorpineiro.bsky.social
June 8, 2026 at 3:38 PM
tochitruestory.bsky.social
What company. What an honor. What a blessed start to the week. #2026IgnyteAwards
theignyteawards.bsky.social The Ignyte Awards @theignyteawards.bsky.social · Jun 8
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Novel: Adult are:
Cursed Daughters – Oyinkan Braithwaite
Harmattan Season – @tochitruestory.bsky.social
Motheater – @lincodega.com
Song of Legends Lost – @mhayinde.bsky.social
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – @stephengrahamjones.com
OUTSTANDING NOVEL: ADULT for novel-length work (40k words) Works intended for an adult audience Cursed Daughters – Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday) Harmattan Season – Tochi Onyebuchi (Tor Books) Motheater – Linda H. Codega (Erewhon Books) A Song of Legends Lost – M. H. Ayinde (Saga Press) The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Stephen Graham Jones (Saga Press)
June 8, 2026 at 4:11 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards Ember Award finalists for Unsung Contributions to Genre are:

@arleysorg.bsky.social
@davering.bsky.social
@drkarenlord.bsky.social
@marthawells.com
@mauricebroaddus.bsky.social
THE EMBER AWARD for unsung contributions to genre Arley Sorg dave ring Karen Lord Martha Wells Maurice Broaddus
June 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
#2026IgnyteAwards Speculative Poetry finalists (2/2):
The Language of Fireflies – @angelaliu.bsky.social cial
The oblique light at Kakushima (a memory of persimmons) – @ryu-ando.bsky.social | 安堵 龍
June 8, 2026 at 3:48 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
Hello hello and welcome to the shortlist announcement thread for the #2026IgnyteAwards, recognizing outstanding contributions to SFFH and its community in 2025!

We are grateful to be supported this year by sponsors @bcsmagazine.bsky.social , @edmontonin2030.bsky.social, & @laworldcon.bsky.social
The 2026 Ignyte Awards, sponsored by Beneath Ceaseless Skies, the Edmonton in 2030 Worldcon Bid, and LA Worldcon 2026
June 8, 2026 at 3:04 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
Alright! You didn't come here for any of that. So without further ado, we begin with the finalists for Outstanding Novel: Adult.

#2026IgnyteAwards
June 8, 2026 at 3:21 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
Thank you as well to all of the individual donors who have supported the Ignytes over the years! This would be a very expensive endeavor without each and every one of you.
#2026IgnyteAwards
June 8, 2026 at 3:07 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
This is not about their validity or significance as contributors to the field! Those things are indisputable. We hope to see them recognized in meaningful ways from other award entities. #2026IgnyteAwards
June 8, 2026 at 3:11 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
Also, beginning in July, we'll be rolling out a new program highlighting opportunities for educators and librarians working with middle grade and YA readers on how their kids can nominate titles for the Ignytes (since, you know, those books were written for them)! #2026IgnyteAwards
June 8, 2026 at 3:15 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
#2026IgnyteAwards Creative Nonfiction finalists:
Positive Obsession: The Life and Times of Octavia E. Butler – Susana M. Morris
The Outspoken and the Incendiary – Terry Bisson
The Secret History of Indian Science Fiction – @gautambhatia88.bsky.social
(2/2)
June 8, 2026 at 4:04 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
And finally the #2026IgnyteAwards Community Award for Outstanding Efforts in Service of Inclusion and Equitable Practice in Genre are:

@augursociety.bsky.social
@jasonsanford.bsky.social
@sistahscifi.bsky.social
@strangehorizons.bsky.social
@willthisbeaproblem.bsky.social
THE COMMUNITY AWARD for Outstanding Efforts in Service of Inclusion and Equitable Practice in Genre Augur Magazine/Augur Society Jason Sanford’s Genre Grapevine Sistah Scifi Strange Horizons Will This Be A Problem
June 8, 2026 at 4:08 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
And finally, a survey of orgs, mags, and other entities focused on speculative fiction, to determine where need might be greatest to help the field stay alive, whether it be through funding, outreach, or anything else. The survey is open thru 6/29. #2026IgnyteAwards
airtable.com/appOgisruufu...
State of Spec Orgs Survey: An Ignytes-Adjacent Project. Open for responses thru 6/29
June 8, 2026 at 3:19 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
First some updates: Energy around the Artist and Comics categories has flagged over the years. From judges, voters, and finalists, we've consistently seen low numbers in noms, votes, and responses to emails. We've made the decision to eliminate those categories this year. #2026IgnyteAwards
June 8, 2026 at 3:09 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists in Outstanding Novella are:

Audition for the Fox – @mcflycahill90.bsky.social
Descent – @wtalabi.com
Psychopomp & Circumstance – @edenroyce.bsky.social
The Iron Below Remembers – @sharangbiswas.bsky.social
The River Has Roots – @amalelmohtar.com
OUTSTANDING NOVELLA for speculative works ranging from 17,500-39,999 words Audition for the Fox – Martin Cahill (Tachyon Publications) Descent – Wole Talabi (Clarkesworld) Psychopomp & Circumstance – Eden Royce (Tordotcom) The Iron Below Remembers – Sharang Biswas (Neon Hemlock) The River Has Roots – Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom)
June 8, 2026 at 3:40 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Novel: Adult are:
Cursed Daughters – Oyinkan Braithwaite
Harmattan Season – @tochitruestory.bsky.social
Motheater – @lincodega.com
Song of Legends Lost – @mhayinde.bsky.social
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – @stephengrahamjones.com
OUTSTANDING NOVEL: ADULT for novel-length work (40k words) Works intended for an adult audience Cursed Daughters – Oyinkan Braithwaite (Doubleday) Harmattan Season – Tochi Onyebuchi (Tor Books) Motheater – Linda H. Codega (Erewhon Books) A Song of Legends Lost – M. H. Ayinde (Saga Press) The Buffalo Hunter Hunter – Stephen Graham Jones (Saga Press)
June 8, 2026 at 3:26 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Anthology/Collected Works (3/5):
As the Earth Dreams: Black Canadian Speculative Stories: ED. @teresempierre.bsky.social
As the Earth Dreams: Black Canadian Speculative Stories: ED. Terese Mason Pierre . CONTRIBUTORS: Chimedum Ohaegbu, Chinelo Onwualu, Terese Mason Pierre, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, francesca ekwuyasi, Trynne Delaney, Lue Palmer, Whitney French, Zalika Reid-Benta, Aline-Mwezi Niyonsenga (Spiderline)
June 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM
strangehorizons.bsky.social
And Strange Horizons is also nominated for the #2026IgnyteAwards Community Award for Outstanding Efforts in Service of Inclusion and Equitable Practice in Genre!

🎉 Congratulations again to everyone! 🎉
June 29, 2026 at 9:57 AM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists in Outstanding Novelette are:

Human Voices – @isabel.kim
Never Eaten Vegetables – @hhpak.bsky.social
Uncertain Sons – @thomasha.bsky.social
We Begin Where Infinity Ends – @somtoihezue.bsky.social
What I Saw Before the War – Alaya Dawn Johnson
OUTSTANDING NOVELETTE for speculative works ranging from 7,500-17,499 words Human Voices – Isabel J. Kim (Lightspeed Magazine) Never Eaten Vegetables – H. H. Pak (Clarkesworld) Uncertain Sons – Thomas Ha (Undertow Publications) We Begin Where Infinity Ends – Somto Ihezue (Clarkesworld) What I Saw Before the War – Alaya Dawn Johnson (Reactor)
June 8, 2026 at 3:42 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists in Outstanding Short Story are:

Autogas Ferryman – @champwongs.bsky.social
Because I Held His Name Like A Key – @aimeeogdenwrites.com
Commensalism, Or the Labyrinth’s Vessels – @nkereuwxm.bsky.social
(1/2)
OUTSTANDING SHORT STORY for speculative works ranging from 2,000-7,499 words Autogas Ferryman – Champ Wongsatayanont (Nightmare Magazine) Because I Held His Name Like A Key – Aimee Ogden (Strange Horizons) Commensalism, Or the Labyrinth’s Vessels – Albert Nkereuwem (Will This Be a Problem) Ichthyosis – M.L. Krishnan (Fantasy Magazine) The Octopus Dreams of Personhood – Hannah Yang (Diabolical Plots)
June 8, 2026 at 3:45 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Fiction Podcast are:

@bcsmagazine.bsky.social
@escapepod.org
@khoreo.bsky.social
@lightspeedmagazine.com
@nightmare-magazine.com
OUTSTANDING FICTION PODCAST for excellence in audio performance and production for speculative fiction Beneath Ceaseless Skies: Scott H. Andrews, Editor-in-Chief/Producer Escape Pod: Mur Lafferty, Valerie Valdes, Kevin Wabaunsee, Phoebe Barton, Tina Connolly, Alasdair Stuart, Summer Brooks, Adam Pracht, Marcus Tsong, Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko, Ewen Ma, Christine Amsden, Rick Danforth, Michael A. Pepin, EA Crawley, Abhijeet, Sarah Loch, Phoenix Alexander and Casey Lawrence khōréō Magazine Lightspeed Magazine: John Joseph Adams, Stefan Rudnicki, Alison Belle Bews, Alex Barton Nightmare Magazine: Wendy N. Wagner, John Joseph Adams, Stefan Rudnicki, Terence Taylor, Alison Belle Bews
June 8, 2026 at 3:52 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Novel: Young Adult are:
Needy Little Things – @elledesamours.bsky.social @wednesdaybooks.bsky.social
(S)kin – Ibi Zoboi
The Leaving Room – @ambsmcbride.bsky.social
They Bloom at Night – Trang Thanh Tran
The Transition – @transhorrors.bsky.social
OUTSTANDING NOVEL: YOUNG ADULT for novel-length (40k+ words) works intended for the young adult audience Needy Little Things – Channelle Desamours (Wednesday Books) (S)kin – Ibi Zoboi (Versify) The Leaving Room– Amber McBride (Feiwel & Friends) They Bloom at Night – Trang Thanh Tran (Bloomsbury YA) The Transition – Logan-Ashley Kisner (Delacorte Press)
June 8, 2026 at 3:31 PM
strangehorizons.bsky.social
Congratulations to all the #2026IgnyteAwards finalists!

For anyone still wondering how to vote, Strange Horizons is proud to have published a few works on the list and we hope you'll consider them!
June 29, 2026 at 9:57 AM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Middle Grade are:
Afia in the Land of Wonders – @miaaraujo.bsky.social
Candace, the Universe, and Everything – Sherri L. Smith
Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave – @allyoutthere.bsky.social
(1/2)
OUTSTANDING MIDDLE GRADE for works intended for the middle grade audience Afia in the Land of Wonders – Mia Araujo (Scholastic Press) Candace, the Universe, and Everything – Sherri L. Smith (G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers) Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave – Ally Russel (Delacorte Press) The Glade – Naseem Jamnia (Bittersweet Books) The Island of Forgotten Gods – Victor Piñeiro (Sourcebooks Young Readers)
June 8, 2026 at 3:37 PM
theignyteawards.bsky.social
The #2026IgnyteAwards finalists for Outstanding Anthology/Collected Works (4/5):
The Black Fantastic: 20 Afrofuturist Stories: ED. @andrecarrington.bsky.social
The Black Fantastic: 20 Afrofuturist Stories: ED. André M. Carrington . CONTRIBUTORS: Nalo Hopkinson, An Owomoyela, Thaddeus Howze, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Dawolu Jabari Anderson, Jennifer Marie Brissett, Sofia Samatar, Kiini Ibura Salaam, Violet Allen, P. Djèlí Clark, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, N.K. Jemisin, Alex Smith, Justina Ireland, Rion Amilcar Scott, Tochi Onyebuchi, Craig Laurance Gidney, Tara Campbell, Victor LaValle, Maurice Broaddus, Stacey Robinson (Library of America)
June 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM