Reddit’s r/Fantasy group has chosen the nominees for the Best of /r/Fantasy 2021 — the Stabby Awards.

The group has over 1.6 million members, although last year just 1,632 valid votes were cast.

Voting continues until February 7. The winners will be announced February 11.

The r/Fantasy mods remind everyone —

You are welcome and encouraged to share this voting thread, but not directly to the Google Form. Share information about the Stabby Awards as a whole.As in previous years, the moderator team reserves the right to determine winners in the event of hinky business:

Examples of brigading include: individuals using large online platforms to encourage nominating or voting for specific creators, creating specific voting slates and encouraging others to vote for the same slate, etc. The moderation team will make case-by-case judgement calls and take action as necessary to keep the Stabby Awards fair to our community members and eligible creators.

If we find evidence of concerted efforts to brigade, we will disqualify votes as necessary.

Creators are encouraged to share their eligibility during the nomination period or finalist status as they please on social media. This does not fall under brigading unless the finalist is abusing their platform to promote a specific slate including candidates other than themselves. Again, the moderation team will make case-by-case judgement calls and take action as necessary to keep the Stabby Awards fair to our community members and eligible creators.

Click here to be directed to the Google Forms voting link.

There are many categories – the lists of nominees follow the jump.

COMMUNITY AWARDS

Best r/fantasy contributor: community member of 2021

• u/barb4ry1
• u/Jos_V
• u/Nineteen_Adze
• u/tarvolon
• u/werthead

Best r/fantasy contributor: professional (author, artist, publisher or other) of 2021

• Django Wexler – u/DjangoWexler
• Janny Wurts – u/JannyWurts
• Krista D. Ball – u/KristaDBall
• Raymond St. Elmo – u/RAYMONDSTELMO
• RJ Barker – u/RJBarker

Best r/fantasy essay of 2021

• Clarifying Wuxia, Xianxia and related Chinese Fantasy genres by u/MengJiaxin https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/q7gdl4/clarifying_wuxia_xianxia_and_related_chinese/
• Downcast that iconic female friendships in fantasy are so rare by u/Eostrenocta https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/msepyy/downcast_that_iconic_female_friendships_in/
• I Want My Girlfriend to Read Fantasy, or How We Recommend Books to Non-Fantasy Readers by u/KristaDBall https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/pu6ps7/i_want_my_girlfriend_to_read_fantasy_or_how_we/
• So, Someone Called Your Favourite Book Problematic?! On the Nature of Contemporary Criticism. by u/Jos_V https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/qw12f8/so_someone_called_your_favourite_book_problematic/
• We are not a monolith: the problem with disability representation in sff (help i did a graph) by u/Cryptic_Spren https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/mza0q6/we_are_not_a_monolith_the_problem_with_disability/
• What Is Feminist SFF (with Recommendations) by u/Arette https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/lx3raj/what_is_feminist_sff_with_recommendations/

Best r/fantasy review of 2021

• A Southeast Asian’s Review of Raya and the Last Dragon by u/k0ks3nw4i https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/m1fmmr/a_southeast_asians_review_of_raya_and_the_last/
• Author Spotlight: Becky Chambers by u/fuckit_sowhat https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/oyp1oc/author_spotlight_becky_chambers/
• (Review) The funniest fantasy book you’ve never even heard of: A Night of Blacker Darkness by Dan Wells by u/Udy_Kumra https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/qcnds3/review_the_funniest_fantasy_book_youve_never_even/
• The World’s Most Comprehensive to Martha Wells’ Books of Rakura; or, 76 Reasons You Should Consider Reading Them. by u/hoang-su-phi https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/qoouep/the_worlds_most_comprehensive_to_martha_wells/
• Zebba_oz’s bingo review: The Origin of Birds in the Footprints of Writing by Raymond St Elmo by u/zebba_oz https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/mp36us/zebba_ozs_bingo_review_the_origin_of_birds_in_the/

Best r/fantasy original post (other than an essay or review) of 2021

• Books with trans/nonbinary characters for every bingo square by u/manowar88 https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/q8t4m7/books_with_transnonbinary_characters_for_every/
• Hugo Finalist Readalong run by u/tarvolon, u/ullsi, u/gracefruits, u/Dsnake1, u/Nineteen_Adze, u/Moonlitgrey, u/TinyFlyingLion(+uneligible mods) https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/mw2m0w/hugo_finalist_readalong_announcement_and_schedule/
• Let’s Talk About Awesome Mothers and Families in Fantasy by u/NStorytellerDragon https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/lp45qr/lets_talk_about_awesome_mothers_and_families_in/
• Top Novels Poll – my favorites down list: Under Ten Votes by u/JannyWurts https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/pf6w4w/top_novels_poll_my_favorites_down_list_under_ten/
• What is Valid LGBTQ+ Representation in Fantasy? Thoughts from a Gay Man by u/Bryek https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/lggcsg/what_is_valid_lgbtq_representation_in_fantasy/

Best r/fantasy comment of 2021

• Arthurian movie flops explanation by u/Hergrim https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/l7l3br/is_there_a_reason_every_king_arthur_movie_flops/gl81qfq/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
• Bingo eve poem by u/GALACTIC-SAUSAGE https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/mh4k2t/rfantasy_daily_recommendation_requests_and_simple/gsyvqdk/
• Fermenting facts by u/Mournelithe https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/n50njb/why_are_beer_and_wine_the_primary_drinks_of/gwz0nzb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
• Kushiel’s Dart described using food metaphors by u/LadyCardinal https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/kscsfe/rfantasy_daily_recommendation_requests_and_simple/gihanfx/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
• No baby golems by u/RAYMONDSTELMO https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/kqyjq4/baby_golem_brings_you_the_january_2021_rfantasy/gi86zw2/

EXTERNAL AWARDS – MISCELLANEOUS & AUDIO-VISUAL WORKS

Best fantasy website of 2021

• Before We Go Blog – https://beforewegoblog.com/
• FanFiAddict – https://fanfiaddict.com/
• Fantasy Book Critic – http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/
• Out of This World SFF – https://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.com/
• The Fantasy Hive – https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/

Best narrator of 2021

• John Banks – https://www.audible.com/search?node=18580606011&pageSize=40&searchNarrator=John+Banks&sort=pubdate-desc-rank&ref=a_search_c4_pageSize_2&pf_rd_p=1d79b443-2f1d-43a3-b1dc-31a2cd242566&pf_rd_r=53EYJPYADS1DEC1FEBA6
• Natalie Naudus https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Natalie+Naudus&node=18580606011&sort=pubdate-desc-rank&ref=a_search_c1_sort_1&pf_rd_p=073d8370-97e5-4b7b-be04-aa06cf22d7dd&pf_rd_r=AXAVKM8HPTSQ3YV490Z6
• Rasha Zamamiri https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Rasha+Zamamiri&node=18580606011&ref=a_search_l1_catRefs_1&pf_rd_p=daf0f1c8-2865-4989-87fb-15115ba5a6d2&pf_rd_r=BV85H3W71GRN502FAANM
• Robin Miles https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Robin+Miles&node=18580606011&sort=pubdate-desc-rank&ref=a_search_c1_sort_1&pf_rd_p=073d8370-97e5-4b7b-be04-aa06cf22d7dd&pf_rd_r=15N43ZKTZ132EZ19N8BS
• Steven Pacey https://www.audible.com/search?keywords=Steven+Pacey&node=18580606011&sort=pubdate-desc-rank&ref=a_search_c1_sort_1&pf_rd_p=073d8370-97e5-4b7b-be04-aa06cf22d7dd&pf_rd_r=PFCCQ7QXRJDVQ4ZX8GH1

Best audio original – fiction of 2021

• Podcastle – https://podcastle.org/
• Old Gods of Appalachia – https://www.oldgodsofappalachia.com/
• The Sandman: Act II, By: Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs, Narrated by: Neil Gaiman, James McAvoy, Emma Corrin, Brian Cox, Kat Dennings, John Lithgow, Bill Nighy
• The White Vault – https://thewhitevault.com/

Best audio original – non-fiction of 2021

• Atoz: A Speculative Fiction Book Club Podcast – https://www.claytemplemedia.com/atoz
• Not A Podcast ASOIAF Re-Read Podcast – https://notacastasoiaf.podbean.com/
• Page Break Podcast – https://www.brianmcclellan.com/page-break-podcast
• Swords and Sports Podcast – https://open.spotify.com/show/0PY7JFZIR40myNOuvBlkBN?si=bWvedq8RQzyQUF1-0VNX1w&nd=1

Best artist of 2021

• Felix Ortiz – https://www.artstation.com/felixortiz
• marceline2174 – https://www.instagram.com/marceline2174/
• Rovina Cai – https://www.rovinacai.com/
• Tommy Arnold – https://www.tommyarnoldart.com/

Best artwork of 2021

[See artwork at the link.]

• Baru Cormorant Fan Art by Marceline2174 – https://mobile.twitter.com/Marceline2174/status/1481357118699892736/photo/3
• Grave to Cradle by Harkalé Linaï – https://www.artstation.com/artwork/X1evD0
• Ocean of Dune Jian Guo – https://www.deviantart.com/breath-art/art/ocean-of-dune-896232861
• Ringlander:The Path and the Way by John Anthony Di Giovanni – https://jad.artstation.com/projects/AqbEKX
• Spirits of Vengeance by Felix Ortiz – https://felixortiz.artstation.com/projects/PoQOb8

Best game (any format) of 2021

• Deathloop – https://bethesda.net/en/game/deathloop
• Death’s Door – https://www.devolverdigital.com/games/deaths-door
• The Forgotten City – https://forgottencitygame.com/
• Resident Evil Village – https://www.residentevil.com/village/us/

Best TV series or movie of 2021

• Arcane
• Dune
• Shadow and Bone
• The Witcher
• Wheel of Time

Best virtual convention of 2021

• FIYAHCon – https://theconvention.fiyahlitmag.com/
• Quarancon – https://www.quarancon2020.com/schedule-1
• TBRCon – https://fanfiaddict.com/tbrcon21/

Best related work of 2021

• The Library of Allenxandria – https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLibraryofAllenxandria
• Biggest Challenges Faced by Female Indie-Fantasy Authors: Guest Post https://fantasy-hive.co.uk/2021/07/biggest-challenges-faced-by-female-indie-fantasy-authors-guest-post/
• Critical Role – https://critrole.com/
• Discussing Fantasy Works with A. P. Canavan – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7Ohf1rF0CE&list=PLhgH1o9NH60LrcXokV5gyvBU3D5xRt3DC&index=3
• Sympathy for the Villain. by EmpLemon – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzfUj-m2I6I
• The Animal is Tired – http://www.robinhobb.com/blog/posts/38429
• The Fantasy Nuttwork Youtube Channel – https://youtube.com/channel/UCt7u2yaCcESbs7bWd0XZk-g
• THE Vampire Diaries Video – Jenny Nicholson – https://youtu.be/p4AdFD3E2ok

EXTERNAL AWARDS – TEXT-BASED WORKS OF FICTION

Best anthology, collection or periodical of 2021

• FIYAH Magazine edited by DaVaun Sanders https://www.fiyahlitmag.com/
• I’m Waiting for You and Other Stories by Bo-Young Kim
• Never Have I Ever by Isabel Yap

Best short fiction of 2021

• Bride, Knife, Flaming Horse by M.L. Krishnan – https://apparitionlit.com/bride-knife-flaming-horse/
• Comments on Your Provisional Patent Application for an Eternal Spirit Core by Wole Talabi – https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/talabi_03_21/
• Mr. Death by Alix E. Harrow – https://apex-magazine.com/mr-death/
• The Revolution Will Not Be Served With Fries by Meg Elison – https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-revolution-will-not-be-served-with-fries/
• Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather by Sarah Pinsker – https://uncannymagazine.com/article/where-oaken-hearts-do-gather/

Best serialised fiction of 2021

• A Journey of Black and Red by Mecanimus – https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/26675/a-journey-of-black-and-red
• A Practical Guide to Evil by ErraticErrata – https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/
• Azarinth Healer by Rhaegar – https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/16946/azarinth-healer
• Beneath The Dragon Eye Moons by Selkie myth – https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/36299/beneath-the-dragoneye-moons
• Beware Of Chicken by Casualfarmer – https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/39408/beware-of-chicken
• The Path of Ascension by C_Mantis – https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/40920/the-path-of-ascension

Best novella of 2021

• A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
• Defekt by Nino Cipri
• Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky
• Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
• Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
• The Fall by Ryan Cahill

Best debut novel of 2021

• Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao
• Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar
• Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill
• She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
• The Hand of the Sun King by J.T. Greathouse
• The Unbroken by C.L. Clark

Best self-published/independent novel of 2021

• Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar
• Miss Percy’s Pocket Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons by Quenby Olson
• Norylska Groans by Michael R. Fletcher, Clayton W. Snyder
• Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill
• The Siege of Skyhold by John Bierce

Best novel of 2021

• A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine
• Jade Legacy by Fonda Lee
• She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
• The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman
• The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
• The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne