The award for Best First Novel was first presented in 1981. Awards presented in a given year are for works published in the previous calendar year.
Locus Award for Best First Novel Public
Created and curated by Phil in SF
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Dragon's Egg by Robert L. Forward (Dragon's Egg, #1)
4 stars
In a moving story of sacrifice and triumph, human scientists establish a relationship with intelligent lifeforms--the cheela--living on Dragon's Egg, …
Phil in SF says: 1981 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1982 winner
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Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury
Gaet, Hoemei and Joesai are three clone brothers, survivors of the rigorous and deadly process of nurture and weeding that …
Phil in SF says: 1983 winner
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Tea with the Black Dragon by R.A. MacAvoy (Black Dragon, #1)
Martha Macnamara knows that her daughter, Elizabeth, is in trouble—she just doesn’t know what kind. Mysterious phone calls from San …
Phil in SF says: 1984 winner
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The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson (Three Californias Trilogy, #1)
Seventeen-year-old Henry wanted to help make America great again, like it had been sixty years ago, before all the bombs …
Phil in SF says: 1985 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1986 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1987 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1988 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1989 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1990 winner
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In the Country of the Blind by Michael Flynn
What if it were all a plot? What if there really were a secret conspiracy running things behind the scenes…and …
Phil in SF says: 1991 winner
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China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh
4 stars
What if Chinese Marxism, not Western capitalism, came to dominate the globe? In this dazzling and insightful novel, Maureen F. …
Phil in SF says: 1992 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1993 winner
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Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
5 stars
Conrad Metcalf has problems. He has a monkey on his back, a rabbit in his waiting room, and a trigger-happy …
Phil in SF says: 1994 winner
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Phil in SF says: 1995 winner