So after a mere 36784833 days this year we have come to our final decisions. Its fair to say the strangest Subjective Chaos to date and the Judges actually managed to avoid too much chaos. Reading was HARD this year not just due to the excellent choices on offer but also trying to read in a world like this at the moment. As always though I enjoyed the internal journey of finding new books and challenging myself to define what I think I’m looking for - its the best part of judging. But ultimately out of chaos comes great books and lets announce the winners of 2020!

Best Fantasy - Realm of Ash by Tasha Suri

As has been the case one of the most difficult categories with such a strong field but this tale really wowed us. It was my favourite book of 2019 so very happy to see this recognised

Best Science Fiction - A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

This wonderful inventive approach to Space Opera clearly deserves all the acclaim it has been getting this year offering something very different for space opera.

Best Blurred Boundary - David Mogo, Godhunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa

A very inventive merging of contemporary fantasy with some post apocalyptic elements and ancient folklore.

Best Novella - The Deep by Rivers Solomon

One of the most wonderful and powerful reads for the judges and again a category it was very hard to not award all the awards to all the stories

Best Short Fiction - The Migration Suite - A study in C Sharp by Maurice Broaddus (click here to read) Best Short Fiction - The Migration Suite: A Study in C Sharp Minor by Maurice Broaddus

This Uncanny Magazine story spoke to the judges in its scale and subject matter doing what SF does best.

Best Series - The Wormwood Trilogy by Tade Thompson

Having already won Best SF perhaps we should not have been surprised that the tales of Rosewater would come back to the judges but its inventiveness and where the story ended up going make this a richly deserved win.

My thanks to all the nominees for helping us explore what SF&F is at the moment and where it may be going next. Huge congratulations to all the winners and your own personally painted rocks will be soon gathered and sent to you! It was not designed as a weapon so any future injuries are not the fault of Subjective Chaos just follow your hearts and ensure your aim is true!

And finally thanks to my other judges KJ, C, Adri, Jane, Kris, Sara and Imyril for what was a fascinating experience in very difficult circumstances. As for you dear reader see you in 2021 for the next round (plenty of reading time left I’m sure - eeek).