(2026) Guess Nebula nominees > Likes and Comments

In early March (usually before the 8th), Nebula award nominees should be announced (nominations are usually collected Nov 15-Feb 28). It can be fun to flex our forecast muscles and guess which novels will be nominated. So, members are allowed to post up to six novels, novellas, novelettes and short stories that can be nominated. The person who correctly predicts the most will win our admiration, which is better than any riches

Deadline for your lists is Feb 28th, 2026

OK, this list is not complete, but I am posting it so I don't lose it. Gotta go!

Alchemised
The Raven Scholar
The Incandescent

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

I think it would be a very safe bet that The River Has Roots will be a novella nominee, to begin with.

Stephen wrote: "I think it would be a very safe bet that The River Has Roots will be a novella nominee, to begin with."

Agreed.

Also, a general note: Nebula is much more about 'writing excellence' than popularity therefore I think there will be a few surprises.
And I guess The Everlasting will be there

Actually, my nomination of Alchemised may not be nebula worthy. I am maybe 1/3 of the way through and it is slow, it seems to be the worst sort of romantasy, and I am annoyed because it just (not a spoiler-you know on the first page) dropped back in time to the part where she is missing her memories. But you can never tell with these things.

Also, does it seem to you guys that the Nebulas nominate new writers as much the Hugos seem to?

Kateblue wrote: "Also, does it seem to you guys that the Nebulas nominate new writers as much the Hugos seem to?."

I'd say that roughly equally. Say, Nebula also tries to give recognition to older masters as in the case of Helliconia Spring, which wasn't even nominated for Hugo. Brian W. Aldiss had Hugo nominations starting from 1959, but was only among non-fic in the 80s:
Hugo Awards — for SF/F works, voted by members of annual World Science Fiction Convention
(8 nominations; 2 wins)
1991:Bury My Heart at W.H. Smith's (Avernus; Hodder & Stoughton) — nonfiction book — nomination
1987:Trillion Year Spree (by BWA with David Wingrove) (Gollancz; Atheneum) — nonfiction book — winner
1986:The Pale Shadow of Science (Serconia Press) — nonfiction book — nomination
1979:“Enemies of the System ” (F&SF Jun 1978) — novella — nomination
1969:“Total Environment ” (Galaxy Feb 1968) — novelette — nomination
1967:“Man in His Time ” (Who Can Replace a Man?) — short story — nomination
1962:“Hothouse” (F&SF Feb,Apr,Jul,Sep,Dec 1961) — short fiction — winner
1959:— new author of 1958 — nomination
Nebula Awards — for SF/F works, voted by SF & Fantasy Writers of America professional membership
(5 nominations; 1 win)
1986:Helliconia Winter (Atheneum) — novel — nomination
1983:Helliconia Spring (Atheneum) — novel — nomination
1969:“Total Environment ” (Galaxy Feb 1968) — novelette — nomination
1967:“Man in His Time ” (Who Can Replace a Man?) — short story — nomination
1966:“The Saliva Tree ” (F&SF Sep 1965) — novella — winner (tie)

I'd say that Automatic Noodle has a good shot at novella, more based on popularity as I haven't read it. The Summer War for sure. I'm currently reading Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle by Renan Bernardo; I like it a lot, would like to see where it goes. Hemlock & Silver for novel.

Capraq Medicos and The Winning Bite of Chocolate Cake - Limited Edition

The River Has Roots

Nikita wrote: "Capraq Medicos and The Winning Bite of Chocolate Cake - Limited Edition"

This one is your non-fic, right? and not a genre non-fic I guess

Nikita wrote: "The River Has Roots"

This one has a high chance, I fully agree