ELIGIBILITY
- Publication Dates: January 1st – December 31st, 2024.
- Works: Open to novel-length science fiction books and audiobooks published in print or ebook format within the eligibility period.
- Exclusions: Founders of DSF are not eligible to be nominated for or vote in any DSF Award categories to ensure impartiality and prevent conflicts of interest.
CATEGORIES & DEFINITIONS
- Best Science Fiction Novel
- Celebrates the most outstanding and imaginative science fiction novel of the year, showcasing exceptional storytelling and innovative concepts.
- Best Sci-Fi Audiobook
- Honors the top science fiction audiobook, highlighting exceptional narration, production quality, and the ability to bring the story to life through audio.
- Best Sci-Fi Debut
- Recognizes the best first science fiction novel by a new author, emphasizing fresh perspectives and emerging talent in the genre.
- Best Space Opera Novel
- Awards the most compelling space opera, featuring grand-scale adventures, expansive settings, and epic conflicts in space.
- Best Military Sci-Fi Novel
- Highlights the best military science fiction, focusing on themes of warfare, strategy, and the impact of technology on combat.
- Best Alien Sci-Fi Novel
- Celebrates the best novel centered around alien life forms, exploring first contact, unique extraterrestrial cultures, interactions, and conflicts.
- Best LitRPG Novel
- Honors the top LitRPG (Literary Role-Playing Game) novel, blending immersive game mechanics with engaging narrative storytelling.
HOW IT WORKS
- Nominations
- When: Opens December 5th and closes December 18th, 2024.
- How to Nominate: Readers submit their favorite titles by providing the book or audiobook title and author’s name for any of the DSF Award categories.
- Notes: Readers can nominate as many books as they like across different categories. The books with the most nominations in each category will advance to the voting round.
- Voting
- When: Begins December 19th and closes December 31st, 2024.
- How to Vote: The official voting form will be posted to the DSF blog on December 19th.
- Each voter is limited to one vote per category.
- Eligibility: Open to all fans—no fees or memberships required.
- Winners Announcement
- When: Winners will be announced on the DSF blog on January 2nd, 2025.
- Prize: Top winners in each category will be featured on the DSF blog, celebrating their achievements and contributions to the science fiction genre. The top voted book for Best Overall Sci-Fi will receive a customized trophy honoring their achievement.
GET INVOLVED
- Nominate Your Favorites: Share the sci-fi books and audiobooks that captivated you in 2024.
- Vote and Support: Cast your vote to help honor the best in science fiction.
- Celebrate Together: Join us in recognizing outstanding contributions to the genre and discover new favorites through community recommendations.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
1. Who can nominate and vote?
- Nominating & Voting: Anyone can nominate and vote for the DSF Awards. There are no purchase or attendance requirements. The only requirement is to register your email address to participate.
2. Where do my fans go to nominate?
- Nominations: Fans can nominate their favorite books and audiobooks right here until the nomination period closes on December 18th, 2024. After nominations close, they will be redirected to the voting page.
4. How does someone nominate my book or audiobook?
- Nomination Process: It's simple! Just go to the nomination page and submit your nomination for each category. Nominations can be made in any of the DSF Award categories at any time during the nomination period.
5. What is the Nomination Period for this year?
- Nomination Period: Nominations are open from December 5th to December 18th, 2024, until 11:59 PM EDT.
7. Do fans have to nominate in all categories at once?
- Flexibility in Nominations: No, fans can nominate in as many categories as they wish.
8. Can someone nominate just my book or audiobook without other categories?
- Selective Nominations: Yes, fans can choose to nominate your book or audiobook in any single category without nominating in others.
9. Can a fan change their nomination after submitting?
- Finality of Nominations: No, once a nomination is submitted in a category, it cannot be changed.
10. How long will my work remain nominated?
- Nomination Duration: Nominations remain open until December 18th, 2024, at 11:59 PM EDT. Voting begins on December 19th, 2024.
11. Do fans have to nominate to vote for finalists?
- Voting Without Nominating: No, fans do not need to nominate to vote. They can vote directly for the finalists during the voting period.
12. When can my fans vote for me if I am a finalist?
- Voting Timeline: Voting for finalists begins on December 19th, and ends on December 31st. Voters can go to the DSF voting page to cast their ballots.
13. Is it okay to encourage my fans to vote for me?
- Encouraging Votes: Yes, it is acceptable to encourage your fans to vote for you. However, please do not offer any incentives or rewards for votes, and ensure that each person only votes once per category.
14. How do I find out who has won?
- Winner Announcement: Winners will be announced on the DSF blog on January 2nd, 2025, and celebrated alongside their achievements in the science fiction community.
