Sidewise Awards for Alternate History

Categories and criteria

The awards are presented in two principal categories. The Short-Form award covers shorter works, defined by a length threshold, while the Long-Form award is intended for full-length novels or multi-volume series. In most years the dividing line between short and long form is set at approximately 60,000 words. A Special Achievement recognition is also bestowed from time to time to honor significant contributions to the field that predate the awards' founding.

Origins and founding

Three enthusiasts of the alternate-history field—Steven H. Silver, Evelyn C. Leeper, and Robert B. Schmunk—created the Sidewise Awards to give the genre a dedicated, peer-recognized prize. The name nods to Leinster's influential tale and signals the awards' focus on speculative reinterpretations of history rather than on related subgenres such as alternate-world fantasy or pure science fiction.

Administration and judging

Administration has remained intentionally informal and community-driven. The number and composition of judges have varied from year to year, typically ranging from a small panel to a larger committee. Judges have been drawn from different countries and communities; panels have included representatives in the United Kingdom (UK judge example) and in South Africa (South African judge example). Decisions are based on reading and deliberation among the judges rather than popular voting.

Eligibility and presentation

Works considered for the Sidewise Awards are generally those published in the year prior to the award, although the organizers provide specific eligibility guidance each year. Winners are commonly announced and celebrated at conventions associated with speculative fiction, and the awards are often presented at Worldcon or similar gatherings, which helps bring alternate-history fiction to a wider audience within the science fiction and fantasy community.

Significance and impact

Over time the Sidewise Awards have helped to define and promote alternate-history writing by spotlighting both newcomers and established authors who probe history's contingencies. The prize encourages experimentation with historical premises, rigorous attention to plausible divergence points, and imaginative worldbuilding that explores the consequences of changed events for politics, culture, and everyday life.

Notable features and distinctions

• Genre focus: Exclusive concentration on alternate-history narratives rather than broader speculative categories.
• Two-tier structure: Separate recognition for short and long works accommodates both short stories and expansive novels or series.
• Occasional lifetime or retrospective honors: Special Achievement awards acknowledge influential works published before the award's founding.

The Sidewise Awards remain a central institution for readers and writers interested in alternate history. By offering sustained, annual recognition, they foster continued creative interest in reimagining past events and in asking how different choices and chances might have reshaped the present.