Fan Favorites in Fiction, Games, and Entertainment Recognized at Dragon Con 2020

Our favorite convention of the year, Dragon Con, went virtual this year! And while we weren’t able to geek out with our fellow con-goers in-person thanks to COVID-19, we were able to do so digitally! One of the coolest aspects of internationally known pop culture, sci-fi, fantasy, and gaming convention, is the Dragon Awards, a fan’s choice awards program to recognize the best in books, comics, games, and filmed entertainment. This year marked year 5 for the Awards, and we have the winners for you below!

Leading this year’s Dragon Awards, The Last Emperox by John Scalzi was the fans’ choice in the Best Science Fiction Novel category. Scalzi was also the 2020 Literary Guest of Honor and was an active guest at Dragon Con Goes Virtual, giving interviews and keeping the beats bouncing as the DJ for one of the convention’s nighttime parties.

More than 8,000 fans cast ballots for Dragon Award winners, selected from among 93 properties in 15 categories covering the full range of fiction, comics, television, movies, video gaming, and tabletop gaming.  Winners were announced on Sept. 6 at Dragon Con Goes Virtual, a pandemic-inspired, five-day streamed convention featuring three channels of programming, bands, parties and the world-famous Dragon Con Parade.

“We are especially grateful to the Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cobb county library systems for their support this year,” said David Cody, Dragon Con Goes Virtual co-chair. “They made many of the nominated books available to their patrons through a variety of means. Along the way, they not only encouraged people to read the best new science fiction and fantasy, but they also encouraged them to participate as voters in the Dragon Awards.”

Fulton County Library System set up a digital collection of the titles it owns that will remain active beyond the end of the convention.  https://fulcolibrary.overdrive.com/collection/1107264

For He Can Creep, a dark fantasy novelette by Siobhan Carroll, was honored with the Eugie Foster Memorial Award for Short Fiction, established in the memory of the Nebula-award winning author and long-time Dragon Con volunteer director. A juried award, the “Eugie” celebrates the best in innovative fiction. Previous winners are Simone Heller (2019), Fran Wilde (2018), and N.K Jemisin (2017).

Because of the pandemic and this year’s virtual format, the Julie Award, given to an industry professional for universal achievement, and the Hank Reinhardt Fandom Award, given to an individual who has made significant contributions to fandom, were not awarded.  These recognitions will return in 2021.

The Dragon Awards were created in 2016 as part of Dragon Con’s 30th-anniversary celebration. All fans – not just Dragon Con members or attendees – were invited to nominate their favorite properties for the awards and then select Dragon Award winners by voting on the annual Dragon Awards ballot.

Final voting was held via the dedicated Dragon Awards website, and the voting period ran from August 10 to September 5. The ballot was selected in an open nomination process in which fans nominated their favorite properties. The nomination period ran from early April until July 17. The best and most popular of the nominated properties were elevated to the ballot.

And the Dragon Award winners are …

Best Science Fiction Novel

The Last Emperox by John Scalzi

Best Fantasy Novel (Including Paranormal)

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

Best Young Adult / Middle-Grade Novel

Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth by Bella Forrest

Best Military Science Fiction or Fantasy Novel

Savage Wars by Jason Anspach & Nick Cole

Best Alternate History Novel

Witchy Kingdom by D. J. Butler

Best Media Tie-In Novel

Firefly – The Ghost Machine by James Lovegrove

Best Horror Novel

The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher

Best Comic Book

Avengers by Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness

Best Graphic Novel

Battlestar Galactica Counterstrike by John Jackson Miller, Daniel HDR

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy TV Series

The Mandalorian, Disney+

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker by J. J. Abrams

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy PC / Console Game

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Respawn Entertainment & Electronic Arts

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Mobile Game

Minecraft Earth, Mojang Studios & Xbox Game Studios

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Board Game

Tapestry, Stonemaier Games

Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Miniatures / Collectible Card / Role-Playing Game

Magic: The Gathering: Throne of Eldraine, Wizards of the Coast