If you love science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction, chances are you have heard of the Hugo Awards. But what exactly are they, and why do readers pay so much attention to them?
First presented in 1953, the Hugo Awards recognise excellence in science fiction and fantasy. Fans and members of the World Science Fiction Society vote for the winners each year at the World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Worldcon. The awards cover everything from novels and novellas to short stories, comics, games, and more.
The 2026 Hugo Awards were presented at LAcon V on August 30th, and three books took home the top fiction prizes. So, if you are wondering what these award-winning fantasy books are actually about, The Bombay Circle Press has you sorted.
The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Winner: Best Novel)
What if the legend you grew up hearing was not quite the truth?
The Everlasting follows Sir Una Everlasting, a legendary orphan and lady-knight who dies fighting for her queen and country. Centuries later, her story survives through songs, books, and legends, but the truth of her life has disappeared. Enter Owen Mallory, a struggling scholar who becomes fascinated by Una’s story. His obsession eventually takes him into the past where he finds himself tangled in Una’s life and fate. Part historical fantasy, romantasy, and time-travelling adventure, The Everlasting explores love, sacrifice, memory, and the stories we choose to remember. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novel at the 2026 ceremony.
The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Winner: Best Novella)
If you love fairy tales, magical worlds, sisterhood, and lyrical fantasy, The River Has Roots might be right up your alley.
The story takes us to Thistleford, a small town on the edge of Faerie. There, sisters Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn care for enchanted willow trees and honour an ancient magical pact through song. But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor named Samuel Pollard in favour of a lover from Faerie, both sisters find themselves in danger. El-Mohtar combines fantasy, romance, folklore, and sisterly love to create a story that feels almost like a modern fairy tale. At just a hundred and forty-four pages, this Hugo-winning novella also makes for a wonderfully quick read if you want to dip your toes into fantasy without committing to a sprawling series.
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (Winner: Best Series)
If you enjoy military science fiction, fast-paced adventures, alien worlds, and clever humour, Old Man’s War might be right up your alley.
The series follows John Perry, a seventy-five-year-old widower who joins the Colonial Defense Forces after humanity offers him a chance to start over among the stars. He leaves Earth behind, receives a genetically enhanced younger body, and begins fighting humanity’s wars across the galaxy. What follows is a thrilling mix of space battles, alien encounters, political conflicts, and questions about what it really means to be human. Scalzi combines action, humour, and thoughtful science fiction to create a series that feels both entertaining and surprisingly reflective. The series won the 2026 Hugo Award for Best Series, adding one of science fiction’s most prestigious honours to its list of accolades.
Whether you are a longtime fantasy reader or simply curious about award-winning fantasy books, these three Hugo winners offer very different worlds to explore. So, which recommendation from the The Bombay Circle Press Bulletin are you adding to your TBR first?