Reading Every Hugo Award-Winning Novel

I've set myself an ambitious reading goal: to read every novel that has won the Hugo Award for Best Novel. The Hugo Awards, presented annually by the World Science Fiction Society since 1953, represent some of the finest works in science fiction and fantasy literature.

This list includes all Hugo Award winners from 1953 to 2025, plus the Retro-Hugo winners (awarded retroactively for years when no Hugos were originally given). For series entries, I've also included prerequisite books that should be read first to fully appreciate the story.

I'll check off each book as I complete it. Let the reading begin!

The Complete List

1950s

1953

• [ ] The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

1955

• [ ] They'd Rather Be Right (also known as The Forever Machine) by Mark Clifton & Frank Riley

1956

• [ ] Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein

1958

• [ ] The Big Time by Fritz Leiber

1959

• [ ] A Case of Conscience by James Blish

1960s

1960

• [X] Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein

1961

• [ ] A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

1962

• [X] Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

1963

• [X] The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

1964

• [ ] Here Gather the Stars (also known as Way Station) by Clifford D. Simak

1965

• [ ] The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber

1966 (Tie)

• [X] Dune by Frank Herbert
• [ ] ...And Call Me Conrad (also known as This Immortal) by Roger Zelazny

1967

• [ ] The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

1968

• [ ] Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny

1969

• [ ] Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

1970s

1970

• [ ] The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

1971

• [ ] Ringworld by Larry Niven

1972

Riverworld Series:

• [ ] To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer (Hugo Winner)

1973

• [ ] The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov

1974

• [X] Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke

1975

Hainish Cycle:

• [ ] The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin (Hugo Winner)

1976

• [X] The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

1977

• [ ] Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm

1978

Heechee Saga:

• [ ] Gateway by Frederik Pohl (Hugo Winner)

1979

• [ ] Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre

1980s

1980

• [ ] The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke

1981

• [ ] The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge

1982

The Book of the New Sun:

• [ ] The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe (prerequisite)
• [ ] The Claw of the Conciliator by Gene Wolfe (Hugo Winner)

1982 (Alternate Winner)

• [ ] Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh

1983

Foundation Series:

• [X] Foundation by Isaac Asimov (prerequisite)
• [X] Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov (prerequisite)
• [X] Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov (prerequisite)
• [ ] Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov (Hugo Winner)

1984

Uplift Saga:

• [ ] Sundiver by David Brin (prerequisite)
• [ ] Startide Rising by David Brin (Hugo Winner)

1985

• [X] Neuromancer by William Gibson

1986

• [X] Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

1987

Ender's Saga:

• [ ] Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (Hugo Winner)

1988

Uplift Saga:

• [ ] The Uplift War by David Brin (Hugo Winner)

1989

• [ ] Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh

1990s

1990

Hyperion Cantos:

• [ ] Hyperion by Dan Simmons (Hugo Winner)

1991

Vorkosigan Saga:

• [ ] The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold (prerequisite)
• [ ] The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold (Hugo Winner)

1992

Vorkosigan Saga:

• [ ] Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold (Hugo Winner)

1993 (Tie)

• [ ] A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge
• [ ] Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

1994

Mars Trilogy:

• [ ] Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (prerequisite)
• [ ] Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Hugo Winner)

1995

Vorkosigan Saga:

• [ ] Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold (Hugo Winner)

1996

• [X] The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson

1997

Mars Trilogy:

• [ ] Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Hugo Winner)

1998

• [ ] Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman

1999

• [ ] To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

2000s

2000

Zones of Thought:

• [ ] A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge (prerequisite)
• [ ] A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge (Hugo Winner)

2001

Harry Potter:

• [X] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling (prerequisite)
• [X] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (prerequisite)
• [X] Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling (prerequisite)
• [X] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling (Hugo Winner)

2002

• [X] American Gods by Neil Gaiman

2003

Neanderthal Parallax:

• [ ] Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer (Hugo Winner)

2004

World of the Five Gods:

• [ ] The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold (prerequisite)
• [ ] Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold (Hugo Winner)

2005

• [ ] Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

2006

• [ ] Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

2007

• [ ] Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge

2008

• [ ] The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

2009

• [ ] The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

2010s

2010 (Tie)

• [ ] The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
• [ ] The City & the City by China Miéville

2011

• [ ] Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis

2012

• [ ] Among Others by Jo Walton

2013

• [X] Redshirts by John Scalzi

2014

• [ ] Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

2014 (Special)

The Wheel of Time:

• [ ] The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 1)
• [ ] The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 2)
• [ ] The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 3)
• [ ] The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 4)
• [ ] The Fires of Heaven by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 5)
• [ ] Lord of Chaos by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 6)
• [ ] A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 7)
• [ ] The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 8)
• [ ] Winter's Heart by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 9)
• [ ] Crossroads of Twilight by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 10)
• [ ] Knife of Dreams by Robert Jordan (prerequisite - Book 11)
• [ ] The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (prerequisite - Book 12)
• [ ] Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (prerequisite - Book 13)
• [ ] A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson (Hugo Winner - Book 14)

2015

Remembrance of Earth's Past:

• [X] The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu (translated by Ken Liu) (Hugo Winner)

2016

The Broken Earth:

• [ ] The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (Hugo Winner)

2017

The Broken Earth:

• [ ] The Obelisk Gate by N. K. Jemisin (Hugo Winner)

2018

The Broken Earth:

• [ ] The Stone Sky by N. K. Jemisin (Hugo Winner)

2019

Lady Astronaut:

• [ ] The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Hugo Winner)

2020s

2020

Teixcalaan:

• [ ] A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (Hugo Winner)

2021

The Murderbot Diaries:

• [X] All Systems Red by Martha Wells (prerequisite - Murderbot Diaries #1)
• [X] Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (prerequisite - Murderbot Diaries #2)
• [X] Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (prerequisite - Murderbot Diaries #3)
• [X] Exit Strategy by Martha Wells (prerequisite - Murderbot Diaries #4)
• [X] Network Effect by Martha Wells (Hugo Winner - Murderbot Diaries #5)

2022

Teixcalaan:

• [ ] A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (Hugo Winner)

2023

• [ ] Nettle & Bone by Ursula Vernon (as T. Kingfisher)

2024

• [ ] Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh

2025

• [ ] The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Retro-Hugo Winners

These awards were given retroactively for years when no Hugos were originally presented.

1939 (Awarded 2014)

• [ ] The Sword in the Stone by T. H. White

1941 (Awarded 2016)

• [ ] Slan by A. E. van Vogt

1943 (Awarded 2018)

• [ ] Beyond This Horizon by Robert A. Heinlein (as Anson MacDonald)

1944 (Awarded 2019)

• [ ] Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber

1945 (Awarded 2020)

• [ ] Shadow Over Mars (also known as The Nemesis from Terra) by Leigh Brackett

1946 (Awarded 1996)

Foundation Series:

• [X] The Mule by Isaac Asimov (Hugo Winner - part of Foundation series)

1951 (Awarded 2001)

• [ ] Farmer in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein

1954 (Awarded 2004)

• [X] Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Reading Stats

• Total Hugo Winners: 73 individual wins
• Total Books to Read (including prerequisites): 140+
• Books Completed: 24
• Current Reading: Hyperion by Dan Simmons
• Started: December 1, 2025

This is a living document that I'll update as I read through the list. The Hugo Awards represent decades of exceptional science fiction and fantasy writing, and I'm excited to experience these genre-defining works!

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