Genre Book Awards

  • Cooking

    • James Beard/KitchenAid Award: Recognizes the best books on culinary topics in categories including Cookbook of the Year, Wine and Spirits and Baking and Desserts.

  • Crime

    • Hammett Awards: Given annually by the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers.

  • Horror

    • Bram Stoker Awards: Given annually by the Horror Writers Association. The awards currently fall into 12 categories, including novel, first novel, short fiction, long fiction, fiction collection, poetry collection and anthlogy.

  • Mystery

    • Agatha Award: Given annually at Malice Domestic, a convention that honors mystery writing in the tradition of Agatha Christie.

    Edgar Allen Poe Award: Also known as the Edgars, a set of awards given annually by the Mystery Writers of America.

    Macavity Award: Given annually by Mystery Readers International.

    Shamus Award: Given annually by Private Eye Writers of America.

  • Nonfiction

    • Robert F. Kennedy Book Award: Given annually to the book that best represents the values RFK stood for: "concern for the poor and the powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must assure all young people a fair chance, and his faith that a free democracy can act to remedy disparities of power and opportunity."

  • Romance

    • Rita Awards: Given annually by Romance Writers of America, recognizing the best romance writing in several categories.

  • Science Fiction & Fantasy

    • Mythopoeic Awards: Awarded annually by the Mythopoeic Society, which is dedicated to the study, discussion and enjoyment of fantasy and mythic literature.

      Hugo Award: Annual award named for Hugo Gernsback, the "Father of Magazine Science Fiction;" it is sponsored by the World Science Fiction Society.

      Nebula Award: Given annually by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.

      Philip K. Dick Award: Given annually to a distinguished original science fiction paperback.

      Skylark Award: Officially known as the E. E. Smith Memorial Award. Given annually by New England Science Fiction Association, honoring a person who has contributed significantly to the genre of science fiction.

    • James Tiptree Jr. Award: An annual literary prize for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender. "The award is named for Alice B. Sheldon, who wrote under the pseudonym James Tiptree, Jr. By her impulsive choice of a masculine pen name, Sheldon helped break down the imaginary barrier between 'women’s writing' and 'men’s writing.'”

  • Western

    • Spur Awards: Given annually by Western Writers of America, recognize the best in writing about the American West.