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Read the Best of SFF with the 2025 Locus Awards Finalists

The finalists for the 2025 Locus Awards have been announced, which celebrates the best recent sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books.

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Readers of science fiction and fantasy–or those curious to dive into the genres–it’s time to rejoice. The finalists for the 2025 Locus Awards are here.

Finalists below were selected based on public votes. The winners in each of the categories will be announced June 21, at the Locus Awards Ceremony. Held in Nile Hall at Preservation Park in Oakland, California, the awards ceremony can be attended by anyone, and this year’s event will be hosted by MC Gail Carriger and special guests Tochi Onyebuchi and Sarah Gailey. Tickets are available here.

Ten finalists are named in each category. Dive on into some of the categories below.

Science Fiction Novel

cover of Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera

The Man Who Saw Seconds by Alexander Boldizar

Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey

The Bezzle by Cory Doctorow

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older

Kinning by Nisi Shawl

Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Space Oddity by Catherynne M. Valente

Absolution by Jeff VanderMeer

Fantasy Novel

cover of I'm Afraid You've Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle; illustration of a castle with many dragons circling the skies around it

I’m Afraid You’ve Got Dragons by Peter S. Beagle

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark

The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman

Asunder by Kerstin Hall

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

The Siege of Burning Grass by Premee Mohamed

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan

The City in Glass by Nghi Vo

Horror Novel

book cover of the angel of indian lake

Cuckoo by Gretchen Felker-Martin

House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias

The Angel of Indian Lake by Stephen Graham Jones

Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

The Wilding by Ian McDonald

Forgotten Sisters by Cynthia Pelayo

Model Home by Rivers Solomon

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

The Underhistory by Kaaron Warren

Check out the full list of categories and finalists on the Locus Magazine website, including Young Adult Novel, First Novel, Novella, Short Story, Anthology, Publisher, Artist, Non-Fiction, and more.

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