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 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 from the 2025 CYGNUS Science Fiction Short List to the 2025 Cygnus Book Awards Semi-Finalists List. 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 at the Holiday Inn on Mitchell Way. 

These titles are in the running for the Finalists 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
• Aspry Jones – Protectors of the Light Crown
• B. Lynn Carter – The Eyes Have It
• Carrie Kwiatkowski – The Bindery Guild
• Celia Seupel – Girl with the Silver Hair
• Charles Weindorf – Comets of Omen the Presser Arc
• Claudia Leboeuf – Fields of Prosperis
• Corey Frazier – Orion Heavenfall
• James Azinheira – Alphamind the Collective Consciousness
• James R Wells – The Eternal Moment
• Kevin D. Miller – Taquoma
• 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
• M. E. Schuman – The Catalyst
• Maxime Trencavel – The Matriarch Messiah
• Mickey Dubrow – Always Agnes
• Noah Kaplan – The Last Book. the Diary of the Last Earthling
• Pa Vasey – Homo Machina
• Philip Carlisle – Mellisya
• Q Turner – Blood Sacrifice
• Robert C Littlewood – Equilibrium (The Balance Wars Book 3)
• Russ Colson – The Vast Empty
• S.G. Blaise – Eldryan Elders
• Sarena Straus – DeInception
• Sean Kennedy – The Fire Within
• Spaulding Taylor – Last Star Standing
• Stephen Eric Johnson – The Man From Rock Bottom
• Tak Salmastyan – The Accelerates Forty Days To Dust
• Tim Rees – Tim Rees Original Earth
• Wilson Kincaid – The Murder Algorithm

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 16-19, 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 annual conference and discover why!