It’s time to begin considering what’s worth nominating for potential induction into the next Prometheus Hall of Fame for Best Classic Fiction.
Even as Libertarian Futurist Society members are voting to select the 2026 Hall of Fame winner from the current slate of finalists, it’s not too early to nominate eligible works for the 2027 Hall of Fame.
Only LFS members have the right to nominate works for any category of the Prometheus Award. However, publishers, authors and other SF/fantasy fans and libertarians are welcome to contact us to make suggestions.
While the Best Novel category of the Prometheus Award focuses on new works published each calendar year within the broadly defined fantastical genres, the Prometheus Hall of Fame has a different focus on a wide variety of older classics in print and on screen.
The Hall of Fame was launched in 1983 with a mission to recognize older works of fantastical fiction (including but not limited to science fiction and fantasy) that have stood the test of time and that in different ways explore the virtues of freedom and the dangers of tyranny.
Whether published, recorded, performed, broadcast, staged or screened, any type of fantastical fiction is eligible for consideration so long as it first appeared at least 20 years ago.
For the 2027 award, that means any works first produced in 2007 or earlier years.
Many different forms of fantastical fiction are eligible – including stories, novellas, novels, graphic novels, songs, albums, musicals, operas, plays, poems, films, TV episodes, TV series, anthologies or trilogies.
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF HALL OF FAME HISTORY
Novels dominated the Prometheus Hall of Fame award in its first decades, with the first story (Hans Christian Anderson’s fable “The Emperor’s New Clothes”) inducted in 2000.
Since then, 13 stories, novellas or novelettes have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, including works by Poul Anderson (two stories), Harlan Ellison, E.M. Forster, Robert Heinlein (three stories), Vernor Vinge, Kurt Vonnegut, Jack Williamson and F. Paul Wilson.
That’s more than the number of novels (11) that have been inducted since 2000 into this annual Prometheus category – most recently Terry Pratchett’s The Truth in 2024 and Poul Anderson’s Orion Shall Rise in 2025.
The first anthology (The Survival of Freedom, edited by Jerry Pournell and John F. Carr) was inducted in 2001; the first TV series (Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner), in 2002 and the first graphic novel (Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s V for Vendetta), in 2006.
To look over the full list of past Hall of Fame winners, visit thePrometheus Awards page of the LFS website.
In addition, if you’re curious what has been nominated and what’s become finalists over the decades, visit the LFS page highlighting Past Prometheus Hall of Fame nominees.
WHAT’S NOMINATED SO FAR FOR 2027
Over the past decade or so, quite a few stories and novels have been nominated, along with a few films, songs and TV shows.
Yet, so far, no films or songs have been inducted into the Prometheus Hall of Fame.
Who knows? Next year might change that.
So far, looking ahead to the 2027 Hall of Fame award, LFS members have nominated a TV series (Babylon 5) and two films (Brazil and The Man in the White Suit).
This year’s five Hall of Fame finalists – first published between 1932 and 2003 – are novels by James Blish (The Star Dwellers), Aldous Huxley (Brave New World), C.S. Lewis (That Hideous Strength), Adam Roberts (Salt) and Charles Stross (Singularity Sky).
The voting deadline for the final stage of the 2026 Prometheus Awards is July 4, 2026. Once the Hall of Fame winner is known, the other works selected as finalists will be eligible for renomination.
HOW TO NOMINATE WORKS FOR THE HALL OF FAME
Nominations are now open. Although the Prometheus Hall of Fame nominations deadline is Sept. 30, 2026, don’t delay.
Make nominations soon, so that the Prometheus Hall of Fame Judging Committee, headed by LFS President William H. Stoddard, has ample time to read or watch each nominee and fully consider their merits.
Publishers, authors and sf/fantasy fans who aren’t LFS members are also welcome to bring worthy and potentially eligible works to our attention.
To nominate a work (or suggest a work) for the Prometheus Hall of Fame, contact Stoddard at halloffame@lfs.org
Please include the full title of the work, its author(s) and original year of publication, screening or broadcast. A nominating statement, explaining why you believe it deserves recognition and fits our award, is optional but welcome and highly encouraged.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
First presented in 1979 (for Best Novel), the Prometheus Awards recognize outstanding works of science fiction and fantasy that highlight the perennial conflict between Liberty and Power.
We’re looking for works that in some way dramatize and explore the value of private social cooperation over legalized coercion, expose abuses and excesses of obtrusive government, critique or satirize authoritarian ideas, or champion individual rights and freedoms as the mutually respectful foundation for peace, prosperity, progress, justice, tolerance, civility, and civilization itself.
The awards include gold coins and plaques for the winners for Best Novel, Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame), and occasional Special Awards.
