Starting this editorial with some good news, we are well into awards season and we have many Clarkesworld authors to be happy for this year! As of late April, we’ve been informed about the following winners and finalists:

2025 BSFA Award Finalists

• “Descent” by Wole Talabi (Best Shorter Fiction)
• “Beyond Everything” by Wang Yanzhong, translated by Stella Jiayue-Zhu (Best Translated Short Fiction)
• “Pollen” by Anna Burdenko, translated by Alex Shvartsman (Best Translated Short Fiction)
• “Bodyhoppers” by Rocío Vega, translated by Sue Burke (Best Translated Short Fiction)
• “Still Water” by Zhang Ran, translated by Andy Dudak (Best Translated Short Fiction)

And 2025 BSFA Award Winner

• “The Apologists” by Tade Thompson (Best Shorter Fiction)

2025 Nebula Award Finalists

• “In My Country” by Thomas Ha (Best Short Story)
• “We Begin Where Infinity Ends” by Somto Ihezue (Best Novelette)
• “Never Eaten Vegetables” by H.H. Pak (Best Novelette)
• “Descent” by Wole Talabi (Best Novella)

2026 Derringer Award Finalist (our first)

• “The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe” by Tia Tashiro (Best Novelette)

2026 Ditmar Award Finalist

• “Through These Moments, Darkly” by Samantha Murray (Best Short Story)

2026 Aurora Award Finalist

• “The Stone Played at Tengen” by R.H. Wesley (Best Short Story)

2026 Sir Julius Vogel Award Finalist

• “The Cold Burns” by Anne Wilkins (Best Short Story)

2026 Locus Award Finalist

• “In My Country” by Thomas Ha (Best Short Story)
• “Wire Mother” by Isabel J. Kim (Best Short Story)
• “Missing Helen” by Tia Tashiro (Best Short Story)
• “We Begin Where Infinity Ends” by Somto Ihezue (Best Novelette)
• Clarkesworld (Best Magazine)
• Neil Clarke (Best Editor)

2026 Hugo Award Finalists

• “In My Country” by Thomas Ha (Best Short Story)
• “Missing Helen” by Tia Tashiro (Best Short Story)
• “Wire Mother” by Isabel J. Kim (Best Short Story)
• “Never Eaten Vegetables” by H.H. Pak (Best Novelette)
• Neil Clarke (Best Editor Short Form)

A special shout-out goes to H.H. Pak. We’ve published four of their stories—including their debut—and are absolutely thrilled to see them listed as a finalist for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. Also Anne Wilkins, who is a finalist for the Sir Julius Vogel Award for Best New Talent.

The BSFA Award winners were announced in April. The Locus, Ditmar, and Derringer Awards will be announced in May, the Sir Julius Vogel and Nebula Awards in June, and the Aurora, Astounding, and Hugo Awards in August. By our 20th anniversary issue, we should know all the results, but no matter how things shake out, we’re extremely proud of all of them.

Congratulations to all our finalists!

So far, I’ve sort of ignored my own name appearing on that list. Even after many nominations and a few wins, it still feels weird to single myself out. That said, I do want to specifically thank people for those as well. I’m honored and grateful. Your continued support—either through nominations/votes, subscriptions, reading, listening, and/or sharing stories—is greatly appreciated. Thank you!