Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation has announced the shortlist for Ursula K. for fiction. Le Guin Awardwhich awards $25,000 annually to the author of the book that best represents the literary, moral, and aesthetic ideals of the great writer: “realists of a larger reality, who can imagine real grounds for hope and see alternatives to how we live now.”
Nine books were selected by the Foundation for its 2026 shortlist following a public voting process:
Pip Adam, hearing (Coffee House Press)
William Alexander, towards the sun (Saga Press)
Christopher Caldwell, call and respond (neon hemlock)
Bora Chung, Tr. Anton Hur, midnight timetable (Algonquin)
Hiron Aeneas, functions of vermin (Tor Books)
Isaac Feldman, Notes from a Regicide (Tor Books)
Tashan Mehta, mad sisters of esi (DAW Books)
lover mohammed, one message left (psychopomp)
Claire North, slow god (Class)
The winner of this year’s award will be selected by a panel of Nicola Griffiths, Matt Johnson, Fonda Lee, Darcey Little Badger and Peter Rock and announced on October 21 (which is also Le Guin’s birthday).
