Hugo Awards - Short Stories & Dramatic Presentations

The Hugo Awards are given out annually for the best writings in science fiction and fantasy. I dabble in consuming science fiction novels, and have read a scant handful of fantasy classics…but I love short stories (particularly in the sci-fi and speculative realm). I also love a good sci-fi film or program. So here’s a list of Hugo Award winners, by year, in the Short Story and Dramatic Presentation categories. You can go to Hugo’s main site - where I pulled these from - for winners in the Novel, Novella, Novelette, and Related Non-Fiction categories.

(ones in italics are ones I have read or viewed at least once)

2021

Best Short Stories of 2020

“Metal Like Blood in the Dark”, T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
√ Little Free Library, Naomi Kritzer (Tor.com)
“A Guide for Working Breeds”, Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, ed. Jonathan Strahan (Solaris))
“Open House on Haunted Hill”, John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots – 2020, ed. David Steffen)
“The Mermaid Astronaut”, Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
“Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse”, Rae Carson (Uncanny Magazine, January/February 2020)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form of 2020

The Old Guard
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Soul
Palm Springs
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Tenet

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form of 2020

The Good Place: Whenever You’re Ready
The Expanse: Gaugamela
The Mandalorian: Chapter 16: The Rescue
The Mandalorian: Chapter 13: The Jedi
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Heart (parts 1 and 2)
Doctor Who: Fugitive of the Judoon

2020

Best Short Story

“As the Last I May Know”, by S.L. Huang (Tor.com, 23 October 2019)
“Do Not Look Back, My Lion”, by Alix E. Harrow (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, January 2019)
“And Now His Lordship Is Laughing”, by Shiv Ramdas (Strange Horizons, 9 September 2019)
“A Catalog of Storms”, by Fran Wilde (Uncanny Magazine, January/February 2019)
“Blood Is Another Word for Hunger”, by Rivers Solomon (Tor.com, 24 July 2019)
“Ten Excerpts from an Annotated Bibliography on the Cannibal Women of Ratnabar Island”, by Nibedita Sen (Nightmare Magazine, May 2019)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Good Omens
Captain Marvel
Russian Doll (Season One)
Avengers: Endgame
Us
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Good Place: “The Answer”
(tie) Watchmen: “A God Walks into Abar”
(tie) The Mandalorian: “Redemption”
The Expanse: “Cibola Burn”
Watchmen: “This Extraordinary Being”
Doctor Who: “Resolution”

2019

Best Short Story

“A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies,” by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, February 2018)
“The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington,” by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine, February 2018)
“The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society,” by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine 25, November-December 2018)
“STET,” by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine, October 2018)
“The Court Magician,” by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed, January 2018)
“The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat,” by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine 23, July-August 2018)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Black Panther
Avengers: Infinity War
Annihilation
A Quiet Place
Sorry to Bother You

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Good Place: “Janet(s)”
The Expanse: “Abaddon’s Gate”
Doctor Who: “Demons of the Punjab”
Doctor Who: “Rosa”
The Good Place: “Jeremy Bearimy”
Dirty Computer

2018

Best Short Story

√ “Welcome to your Authentic Indian Experience™,” by Rebecca Roanhorse (Apex, August 2017)
“Fandom for Robots,” by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Uncanny, September/October 2017)
“The Martian Obelisk,” by Linda Nagata (Tor.com, July 19, 2017)
“Sun, Moon, Dust” by Ursula Vernon, (Uncanny, May/June 2017)
“Carnival Nine,” by Caroline M. Yoachim (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2017)
“Clearly Lettered in a Mostly Steady Hand,” by Fran Wilde (Uncanny, September 2017)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Wonder Woman
Get Out
Thor: Ragnarok
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
The Shape of Water
Blade Runner 2049

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Good Place: “The Trolley Problem”
Black Mirror: “USS Callister”
The Good Place: “Michael’s Gambit”
Doctor Who: “Twice Upon a Time”
Star Trek: Discovery: “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad”
“The Deep” [song], by Clipping

2017

Best Short Story

“Seasons of Glass and Iron”, by Amal El-Mohtar (The Starlit Wood: New Fairy Tales, Saga Press)
“The City Born Great”, by N. K. Jemisin
“A Fist of Permutations in Lightning and Wildflowers” by Alyssa Wong
“Our Talons Can Crush Galaxies”, by Brooke Bolander
“Seasons of Glass and Iron”, by Amal El-Mohtar
“That Game We Played During the War”, by Carrie Vaughn
“An Unimaginable Light”, by John C. Wright

Best Dramatic Presentation

coming soon

2015

Best Short Story of 2014

(No Award)
“Totaled”, Kary English (Galaxy’s Edge Magazine, 07-2014)
“A Single Samurai”, Steven Diamond (The Baen Big Book of Monsters)
“Turncoat”, Steve Rzasa (Riding the Red Horse)
“On A Spiritual Plain”, Lou Antonelli (Sci Phi Journal #2, 11-2014)
“The Parliament of Beasts and Birds”, John C. Wright (The Book of Feasts & Seasons)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form of 2014

√Guardians of the Galaxy, written by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, directed by James Gunn

√Captain America: The Winter Soldier, screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, concept and story by Ed Brubaker, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

√Edge of Tomorrow, screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, and John-Henry Butterworth, directed by Doug Liman

√Interstellar, screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, directed by Christopher Nolan

√The Lego Movie, written by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, story by Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord & Christopher Miller, directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form of 2014

Orphan Black: “By Means Which Have Never Yet Been Tried”, ” written by Graeme Manson, directed by John Fawcett
Doctor Who: “Listen”, written by Steven Moffat, directed by Douglas Mackinnon
√Game of Thrones: “The Mountain and the Viper”, written by David Benioff & D. B. Weiss, directed by Alex Graves
√The Flash: “Pilot”, teleplay by Andrew Kreisberg & Geoff Johns, story by Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg & Geoff Johns, directed by David Nutter
Grimm: “Once We Were Gods”, written by Alan DiFiore, directed by Steven DePaul

2014

Best Short Story of 2013

√“The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere”, John Chu (Tor.com, 02-2013)
“Selkie Stories Are for Losers”, Sofia Samatar (Strange Horizons, Jan-2013)
“If You Were a Dinosaur, My Love”, Rachel Swirsky (Apex Magazine, Mar-2013)
“The Ink Readers of Doi Saket”, Thomas Olde Heuvelt (Tor.com, 04-2013)

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form of 2013

Gravity, written by Alfonso Cuarón & Jonás Cuarón, directed by Alfonso Cuarón (Esperanto Filmoj; Heyday Films; Warner Bros.)
√Frozen,screenplay by Jennifer Lee, directed by Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee
√Pacific Rim, screenplay by Travis Beacham & Guillermo del Toro, directed by Guillermo del Toro
√Iron Man 3, screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black, directed by Shane Black
√The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, screenplay by Simon Beaufoy & Michael Arndt, directed by Francis Lawrence

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form of 2013

√Game of Thrones: “The Rains of Castamere”, written by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
Doctor Who: “The Day of the Doctor”, written by Steven Moffat
Orphan Black: “Variations under Domestication” written by Will Pascoe
An Adventure in Space and Time, written by Mark Gatiss
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, written & directed by Peter Davison
Doctor Who: “The Name of the Doctor”, written by Steven Moffa

2012

Best Short Story

√ “The Paper Menagerie”, Ken Liu (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction)
“The Cartographer Wasps and the Anarchist Bees”, E. Lily Yu (Clarkesworld)
“The Homecoming”, Mike Resnick (Asimov’s)
“Movement”, Nancy Fulda (Asimov’s)
“Shadow War of the Night Dragons: Book One: The Dead City: Prologue”, John Scalzi (Tor.com)

Best Dramatic Presentation

Game of Thrones (Season 1)
Hugo
Captain America: The First Avenger
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,
Source Code

2005

Best Short Story of 2004

√ “Travels with My Cats” by Mike Resnick [Asimov’s Feb 2004]
√ “The Best Christmas Ever” by James Patrick Kelly [Sci Fiction, scifi.com 2004-05-26]
“A Princess of Earth” by Mike Resnick [Asimov’s Dec 2004]
“Shed Skin” by Robert J. Sawyer [Analog Jan/Feb 2004]
“Decisions” by Michael A. Burstein [Analog Jan/Feb 2004]

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form of 2004

√The Incredibles - Written and directed by Brad Bird
√Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Directed by Michael Gondry; Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman; Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michael Gondry & Pierre Bismuth
√Spider-Man 2 - Directed by Sam Raimi; Screenplay by Alvin Sargent; Screen Story by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar and Michael Chabon; based on the comic book by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
√Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow - Written and directed by Kerry Conran
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Directed by Alfonso Cuarón; Written by Steve Kloves; based on the novel by J. K. Rowling

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form of 2004

Battlestar Galactica – “33”- Directed by Michael Rymer; Written by Ronald D. Moore
Angel – “Smile Time” - Directed by Ben Edlund; Teleplay by Ben Edlund; Story by Joss Whedon & Ben Edlund
Stargate SG-1 – “Heroes Part 1 & 2” - Directed by Andy Mikita; Written by Robert C. Cooper
Angel – “Not Fade Away”- Directed by Jeffrey Bell; Written by Jeffrey Bell & Joss Whedon
√Lost – “Pilot Episode” - Directed by J. J. Abrams; Teleplay by J. J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof; Story by Jeffrey Lieber and J. J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof

2004

Best Short Story of 2003

“A Study in Emerald” by Neil Gaiman [Shadows Over Baker Street, ed. by Michael Reaves & John Pelan (Del Rey), 2003]
“Paying It Forward” by Michael A. Burstein [Analog Sep 2003]
“Robots Don’t Cry” by Mike Resnick [Asimov’s Jul 2003]
“Four Short Novels” by Joe Haldeman [F&SF Oct/Nov 2003]
“The Tale of the Golden Eagle” by David D. Levine [F&SF Jun 2003]

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form of 2003

√The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King - Directed by Peter Jackson
√Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - Directed by Gore Verbinski
√X2: X-Men - Directed by Bryan Singer
√Finding Nemo - Directed by Andrew Stanton & Lee Unkrich
√28 Days Later… - Directed by Danny Boyle; Written by Alex Garland

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form of 2003

“Gollum’s Acceptance Speech at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards” (2003) [Wingnut Films/New Line] Written and directed by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson
Firefly – “The Message”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Chosen”
Firefly – “Heart of Gold”
Smallville – “Rosetta”

2003

Best Short Story of 2002

“Falling onto Mars” by Geoffrey A. Landis [Analog Jul/Aug 2002]
√“‘Hello,’ Said the Stick” by Michael Swanwick [Analog Mar 2002]
“The Little Cat Laughed to See Such Sport” by Michael Swanwick [Asimov’s Oct/Nov 2002]
“Creation” by Jeffrey Ford [F&SF May 2002]
√“Lambing Season” by Molly Gloss [Asimov’s Jul 2002] read first time 20231213

1963

Best Short Fiction

“The Dragon Masters” by Jack Vance [Galaxy Aug 1962]
“Myrrha” by Gary Jennings [F&SF Sep 1962]
“The Unholy Grail” by Fritz Leiber [Fantastic Oct 1962]
“When You Care, When You Love” by Theodore Sturgeon [F&SF Sep 1962]
“Where Is the Bird of Fire?” by Thomas Burnett Swann [Science Fantasy Apr 1962]

Best Dramatic Presentation

No winner chosen this year
Burn, Witch, Burn (1962) (alt: Night of the Eagle) [Anglo-Amalgamated/Independent Artists] Directed by Sidney Hayers;
The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) [British Lion/Pax] Directed by Val Guest; Written by Wolf Mankowitz & Val Guest
Last Year at Marienbad (1962) [Argos Films] Directed by Alain Resnais; based on the novel The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares
The Twilight Zone (TV series) by Rod Serling [CBS]

1962

Best Short Fiction

the “Hothouse” series by Brian W. Aldiss [F&SF Feb,Apr,Jul,Sep,Dec 1961]
“Monument” by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. [Analog Jun 1961]
“Scylla’s Daughter” by Fritz Leiber [Fantastic May 1961]
“Status Quo” by Mack Reynolds [Analog Aug 1961]
“Lion Loose” by James H. Schmitz [Analog Oct 1961]

Best Dramatic Presentation

coming soon

Best Dramatic Presentation

coming soon