The Cygnus Book Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Science Fiction, Steampunk, Alternative History, and Speculative Fiction. The Cygnus Awards is a genre division of Chanticleer International Book Awards and Novel Competitions (The CIBAs).

Science fiction is having a moment, and these incredible books prove it. From climate catastrophes to galactic adventures, from AI consciousness to time-bending mysteries, this year’s Cygnus Long List showcases the full spectrum of speculative imagination that authors are bringing to life.

Each of these authors is already winning with their books are now featured on our high-traffic website, shared across our social media, and promoted to our newsletter subscribers. But this is just the beginning of their CIBA journey.

These titles have moved forward in the first look rounds from all 2025 CYGNUS Science Fiction entries to the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards Long List. These entries are now in competition for the 2025 Cygnus Short List. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions. Finalists will be chosen from the Semi-Finalists and recognized at the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC26.

We will announce the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners at the CIBAs Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday April 18th, 2026 in beautiful Bellingham, WA.

These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards novel competition for Science Fiction!

Join us in cheering on the following authors and their works!

A.T. Balsara – The Great and the Small
AA Dasilva – The Bleed-Through Effect
Ansel Kohn – Betaterrestrial
Augustus Cileone – Galloper’s Quests
B. Lynn Carter – The Eyes Have It
Brett Lawrence – Shadow Seers
Carrie Kwiatkowski – The Bindery Guild
Celia Seupel – Girl with the Silver Hair
Charles Weindorf – Comets of Omen the Presser Arc
Chris Coward – Perpendicular Women: Adventures in the Multiverse
Claudia Leboeuf – Fields of Prosperis
Corey Frazier – Orion Heavenfall
D.J. Darcey – Kingdoms and Empires Dark Rage
David M. Pearce – The Holovid Hero
David Tenenbaum – Survival Andromeda
Deborah Mistina – Imber
Dheepa R. Maturi – 108 an Eco-Thriller
Georg Koszulinski – Future X
Noah Kaplan – The Last Book. the Diary of the Last Earthling
James Azinheira – Alphamind the Collective Consciousness
James R Wells – The Eternal Moment
Jeremy Clift – Space Vault the Seed Eclipse
Joanne Hatfield – Ghost of Nostalgia
Joshua A.H. Harris – Eyes of Iris
Joshua Dyer – Avitron Ephemeris
Kevin D. Miller – Taquoma
L. Galuppo – Eco Reign Warning the Barriers Burn
L.R. O’Brien – Tomorrow Is the Day
Lawrence Brown – Black Phantom Dogs Book 1 Unrestricted Climb
Lloyd Jeffries – Embers of Shadow Ages of Malice Book III
Lou Dischler – In the Time of False Gods
Lynn Yvonne Moon – Journey’s Travels – Mirrors
M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
Matthew Marullo – Welcome To Opine
Maxime Trencavel – The Matriarch Messiah
Michael C Bland – The Price of Freedom
Michael Gorton – Tachyon Tunnel 2: The Daklin Empire
Michael Grigsby – Rescue in Time
Michael W Hickman – Richard War Erupts
Mickey Dubrow – Always Agnes
Pa Vasey – Homo Machina
Philip Carlisle – Mellisya
Philroy A. Hinds – Humanity at Fault
Q Turner – Blood Sacrifice
Robert C Littlewood – Equilibrium (The Balance Wars Book 3)
Russ Colson – A People Joined Asunder
Russ Colson – Future’s Soul
Russ Colson – The Vast Empty
S. W. Lawrence Md – Cloud Dragon
S.G. Blaise – Eldryan Elders
Sarena Straus – DeInception
Sean Kennedy – The Fire Within
Spaulding Taylor – Last Star Standing
Stephen A Salaka – Elysium Rising
Stephen Eric Johnson – The Man From Rock Bottom
Steve Sterling – Black Cliff Chronicles
Tak Salmastyan – The Accelerates Forty Days To Dust
Thomas Lapham – Beyond the Signal
Thomas Sundberg – Bending Light
Tim Rees – Tim Rees Original Earth
Tom Mayer – Ithaca! The Warrior Queen of Aslon!
William X. Adams – Attic Polters
Wilson Kincaid – The Murder Algorithm
Y S Pascal – The Zygan Emprise
πnag Ual – How the World Gets Done

Good luck to all as your works move on to the next rounds of judging.

PROMOTING OUR AUTHORS!

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We will also be promoting this list in our Newsletter, which you can sign up for here!

Congratulations once more to the 2024 Cygnus Grand Prize Winner

Ares

By Jayson Adams

Click here to see the full list of 2024 CYGNUS Book Award Winners for Science Fiction.

Ready to Submit?

Submissions for the 2026 Cygnus Awards and other Speculative Fiction Divisions are open now! For other genres, we still have 25 divisions open for the 2025 CIBAs! Whether you write mystery, romance, historical fiction, or something entirely different, there’s likely a perfect fit for your work.

Winners will be announced at the 2025 CIBA Awards Ceremony that is sponsored by the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference.

April 17-19, 2026! Save the Date for Registration!

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 14th annual conference and discover why!