Bacon wins Nebula 2025 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award

The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) has announced Eugen Bacon as winner of the 2025 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award.

Created in 2008, the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award is awarded for ‘significant contributions to the science fiction, fantasy, and related genres community’.

Bacon is an African Australian author of several novels and collections, including Danged Black Thing (Transit Lounge). Among her previous achievements are winning a British Fantasy and Foreword Indies Award, and being a finalist for a World Fantasy Award (twice), the Shirley Jackson Award, the Philip K Dick Award, a Victorian Premier’s Literary Award in the fiction category, and Nommo Awards for speculative fiction by Africans.

SFWA president Kate Ristau said: ‘We are proud to celebrate Eugen for her continued work in the community, challenging us to create and contextualise our own creative practice. In her Bloomsbury Academic book Writing Speculative Fiction, Eugen tells us, “there’s a story in you”. With her curiosity, playfulness, and keen eye for storytelling, Eugen continues to inspire and motivate the speculative fiction community to write that story. Thank you, Eugen, for your passionate leadership and support.’

Bacon said: ‘I am beyond words – we don’t always feel visible. Deepest thanks to SFWA for this amazing recognition! I see the work you do, and can only stay earnest in the hope that science fiction and fantasy writers, globally, will continue to make a difference in these particularly challenging times. My heart is glowing.’

The award will be presented to Bacon at the 60th Annual SFWA Nebula Awards ceremony on 7 June. More information about the award can be found on the Nebula Awards website.

Category: Awards Local news