The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given annually for outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas. Established by the Mythopoeic Society in 1971, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award is given for "fiction in the spirit of the Inklings", and the Scholarship Award for non-fiction work. The award is a statuette of a seated lion, with a plaque on the base. It has drawn resemblance to, and is often called, the "Aslan".
The Mythopoeic Award is one of the "principal annual awards" for fantasy according to critic Brian Stableford. From 1971 to 1991, there was one award per category, annual but not always awarded before 1981. Dual awards in each category were established in 1992: Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards for Adult Literature and Children's Literature; Scholarship Awards in Inklings Studies, and Myth and Fantasy Studies. In 2010, a Student Paper Award was introduced for the best paper presented at Mythcon by an undergraduate or graduate student; it was renamed the Alexei Kondratiev Award several months after its creation. In 2024, Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Young Adult Literature was established.
The 2023 winners were announced virtually at the Mythopoeic Society's Online Midsummer Seminar 2023.
Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards
In the following tables, the years correspond to the date of the ceremony, rather than when the novel was first published. Each year links to the corresponding "year in literature". Entries with a yellow background and an asterisk (*) next to the writer's name have won the award; those with a pale grey background are the other nominees on the shortlist.
* Winners
Fantasy (1971–1991)
1970s
YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication1971Mary Stewart*Hodder & Stoughton, William MorrowLloyd AlexanderE. P. DuttonKatherine KurtzDeryni RisingBallantine BooksRoger ZelaznyNine Princes in AmberDoubleday1972Joy Chant*Red Moon and Black MountainGeorge Allen & UnwinJohn GardnerGrendelAlfred A. Knopf, GollanczIsidore HaiblumBallantine BooksUrsula K. Le GuinThe Tombs of AtuanAtheneum BooksMichael Moorcock The Corum TrilogyBerkley BooksJoan NorthFarrar, Straus & GirouxThomas Burnett SwannAce BooksEvangeline WaltonBallantine Books1973Evangeline Walton*Ballantine BooksPoul AndersonDancer from AtlantisNelson DoubledayKatherine KurtzDeryni CheckmateBallantine BooksUrsula K. Le GuinAtheneum BooksThomas Burnett SwannGreen PhoenixDAW BooksRoger ZelaznyDoubleday1974Mary Stewart*Hodder & StoughtonPoul AndersonHrolf Kraki's SagaBallantine BooksSusan CooperMacmillanSanders Anne LaubenthalExcaliburBallantine BooksKatherine KurtzHigh DeryniBallantine Books1975Poul Anderson*DoubledayRichard AdamsWatership DownRex CollingsPatricia A. McKillipAtheneum BooksH. Warner MunnMerlin's RingBallantine BooksThomas Burnett SwannHow Are the Mighty FallenDAW BooksEvangeline WaltonPrince of AnnwnBallantine Books
1980s
YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication1981J. R. R. Tolkien*Unfinished TalesGeorge Allen & UnwinJoy ChantGeorge Allen & UnwinStephen R. DonaldsonDel ReyUrsula K. Le GuinHarper and RowMorgan LlywelynLion of IrelandHoughton Mifflin1982John Crowley*Little, BigBantam BooksTanith LeeDelusion's MasterDAW BooksElizabeth A. LynnBerkley BooksJulian MayHoughton MifflinNancy SpringerPocket BooksGene WolfeTimescape Books1983Carol Kendall*Bodley Head Children's BooksMarion Zimmer BradleyAlfred A. KnopfStephen R. DonaldsonDel ReyDavid EddingsQueen of SorceryDel ReyP. C. HodgellGod StalkAtheneum BooksRobin McKinleyGreenwillow BooksRobin McKinleyGreenwillow BooksDiana L. PaxsonLady of LightPocket BooksMeredith Ann PierceLittle Brown & Co1984Joy Chant*When Voiha WakesGolden AppleOther nominees not available1985Jane Yolen*Cards of GriefAce BooksCharles de LintMoonheartAce BooksR. A. MacAvoyBantam BooksRobin McKinleyGreenwillow BooksJ. R. R. TolkienGeorge Allen & Unwin1986Barry Hughart*Bridge of BirdsSt. Martin's PressBarbara HamblyDragonsbaneDel ReyP. C. HodgellDark of the MoonAtheneum BooksDiana Wynne JonesFire and HemlockGreenwillow BooksUrsula K. Le GuinAlways Coming HomeHarper and RowManuel Mujica LainezBerkley Books1987Peter S. Beagle*Del ReyGuy Gavriel KayBerkley BooksTanith LeeTales from the Flat EarthDAW BooksJane YolenMerlin's BookeAce Books1988Orson Scott Card*Seventh SonTor BooksEmma BullWar for the OaksAce BooksPat MurphyTor BooksConnie WillisLincoln's DreamsBantam Books1989Michael Bishop*Unicorn MountainArbor House / William MorrowJames P. BlaylockAce BooksOrson Scott CardRed ProphetTor BooksKara DalkeyAce BooksDiana L. PaxsonWilliam Morrow & CoMichaela RoessnerWalkabout WomanBantam Books
1990s
YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication1990Tim Powers*Ace BooksOrson Scott CardPrentice AlvinTor BooksPatricia A. McKillipAtheneum BooksPat MurphyDoubledayMatt RuffFool on the HillThe Atlantic Monthly Press1991Ellen Kushner*Thomas the RhymerWilliam Morrow & CoGuy Gavriel KayTiganaPenguin CanadaUrsula K. Le GuinTehanuAtheneum BooksJames MorrowOnly Begotten DaughterWilliam Morrow & CoJane YolenTor Books
Adult Literature
1990s
+Mythopoeic Award for Adult Literature honoreesYearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication1992Eleanor Arnason*William Morrow & CoPamela DeanTam LinTor BooksGreer Ilene GilmanMoonwiseRocPatricia A. McKillipAce BooksSheri S. TepperBeautyDoubleday1993Jane Yolen*Briar RoseTor BooksJames P. BlaylockAce BooksTim PowersLast CallWilliam Morrow & CoSusan ShwartzTor BooksConnie WillisDoomsday BookBantam Spectra1994Delia Sherman*Dutton AdultPeter S. BeagleAce BooksPatricia A. McKillipAce BooksRobin McKinleyDeerskinAce Books1995Patricia A. McKillip*Something Rich and StrangeBantam SpectraPamela DeanTor BooksRobert HoldstockHarperCollinsRachel PollackTemporary AgencySt. Martin's Press1996Elizabeth Hand*Waking the MoonHarperCollinsMichael BishopBrittle InningsBantam BooksJames P. BlaylockAll the Bells on EarthAce BooksPatricia A. McKillipAce BooksKenneth MorrisTom Doherty Assoc.1997
(Adult and Children's awards combined)Terri Windling*Tor BooksJohn BarnesOne for the Morning GloryTor BooksPatricia A. McKillipWinter RoseAce BooksNancy SpringerFair PerilAvon BooksGene WolfeTor Books1998A. S. Byatt*Chatto & WindusPeter S. BeagleGiant BonesRocCharles de LintTraderTor BooksNeil GaimanNeverwhereBBC BooksPatrick O'LearyTor Books1999Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess*StardustDC ComicsCharles de LintSomeplace to be FlyingTor BooksR. E. KleinHoughton Mifflin HarcourtPatricia A. McKillipSong for the BasiliskAce BooksJames StoddardWarner Books
2000s YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication2000Peter S. Beagle*TamsinRocA. S. ByattElementalsChatto & WindusLisa GoldsteinDark Cities UndergroundTor BooksPeg KerrAspectYves MeynardTor Books2001Midori Snyder*Tor BooksWin BlevinsRavenShadowForgeCharles de LintForests of the HeartTor BooksGuy Gavriel KayThe Sarantine MosaicPenguin Books Canada2002Lois McMaster Bujold*EosNeil GaimanAmerican GodsWilliam MorrowSarah A. HoytIll Met by MoonlightAce BooksUrsula K. Le GuinHarcourt Brace & CompanyTim PowersDeclareHarperCollins2003Patricia A. McKillip*Ombria in ShadowAce BooksNina Kiriki HoffmanAce BooksEllen Kushner and Delia ShermanBantam Books2004Robin McKinley*SunshineBerkley Publishing GroupLois McMaster BujoldPaladin of SoulsEosKij JohnsonFudokiTor BooksUrsula K. Le GuinChanging PlanesHarcourt Inc.Patricia A. McKillipIn the Forests of SerreAce Books2005Susanna Clarke*Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellBloomsburyKage BakerTor BooksElizabeth HandMortal LoveWilliam MorrowPatricia A. McKillipAlphabet of ThornAce BooksGene WolfeTor Books2006Neil Gaiman*Anansi BoysWilliam MorrowMargaret AtwoodKnopf CanadaLois McMaster BujoldEosTanith LeeMetallic LoveBantam SpectraTim PrattBantam Spectra2007Patricia A. McKillip*Solstice WoodAce BooksPeter S. BeagleThe Line BetweenTachyon PublicationsSusanna ClarkeBloomsburyKeith DonohueNan A. TaleseSusan PalwickTor BooksTim PowersThree Days to NeverWilliam Morrow2008Catherynne M. Valente*Bantam SpectraTheodora GossIn the Forest of ForgettingPrime BooksNalo HopkinsonGrand Central PublishingGuy Gavriel KayYsabelRocJohn C. WrightChronicles of ChaosTor Books2009Carol Berg*Flesh and Spirit and Breath and BoneRocDaryl GregoryPandemoniumDel ReyUrsula K. Le GuinLaviniaHarcourtPatricia A. McKillipAce BooksGene WolfeTor Books
2010s
YearAuthorNovelPublisher or publication2010Jo Walton*LifelodeNESFA PressBarbara CampbellTrickster's Game trilogyDAW BooksGreer GilmanCloud & Ashes: Three Winter's TalesSmall Beer PressRobert HoldstockAvilionGollanczCatherynne M. ValentePalimpsestBantam Spectra2011Karen Lord*Redemption in IndigoSmall Beer PressGuy Gavriel KayUnder HeavenRocPatricia A. McKillipAce BooksDevon MonkFairwood PressSharon ShinnTroubled WatersAce Books2012Lisa Goldstein*Tachyon PublicationsErin MorgensternDoubledayRichard ParksPS PublishingCatherynne M. ValenteDeathlessTor BooksJo WaltonAmong OthersTor Books2013Ursula Vernon*DiggerSofawolf PressAlan GarnerWeirdstone trilogyCollins, Fourth EstateCaitlin R. KiernanRocR. A. MacAvoyDeath and ResurrectionPrime BooksTim PowersHide Me Among the GravesWilliam Morrow2014Helene Wecker*HarperYangsze ChooWilliam MorrowNeil GaimanWilliam MorrowMax GladstoneThree Parts DeadTor BooksMark H. WilliamsSleepless KnightsAtomic Fez Publishing2015Sarah Avery*Tales from Rugosa CovenDark QuestStephanie FeldmanEccoTheodora GossSongs for OpheliaPapaveria PressJoanne M. HarrisThe Gospel of LokiGollanczJoe Hill and Gabriel RodriguezLocke & KeyIDW Publishing2016Naomi Novik*UprootedDel ReyHolly BlackLittle Brown & CoKazuo IshiguroKnopfE. K. JohnstonDisney-HyperionDaniel José OlderShadowshaperArthur A. Levine Books2017Patricia A. McKillip*KingfisherAce BooksAndrea HairstonWill Do Magic For Small ChangeAqueduct PressMary Robinette KowalGhost TalkersTor BooksMaggie StiefvaterScholasticJo WaltonThessaly trilogyTor Books2018John Crowley*Ka: Dar Oakley in the Ruin of YmrSaga PressAlice HoffmanThe Rules of MagicSimon & SchusterG. A. KathrynsSnow CitySycamore Sky BooksEllen KlagesPassing StrangeTor.comVictor LaValleThe ChangelingSpiegel & Grau2019Naomi Novik*Spinning SilverDel ReyMishell BakerBorderline; Phantom Pains; Impostor SyndromeSagaMadeline MillerCirceLittle, BrownSarah Rees BrennanIn Other LandsBig Mouth HouseRuthanna EmrysThe Litany of Earth; Winter Tide; Deep RootsTor.com
2020s