Although its selections have been criticised in the past for being 'over-intellectual' the award provides an opportunity for works to be recognised which might not prove popular with fans, who vote for the Hugo, or writers, who vote for the Nebula.

Award Winners:

1973: Barry N. Malzberg - Beyond Apollo. Also special trophy for excellence in writing awarded to Robert Silverberg for Dying Inside.

1974: (Tie) Arthur C. Clarke - Rendezvous with Rama, and Robert Merle - Malevil

1975: Philip K. Dick - Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said

1976: Wilson Tucker - The Year of the Quiet Sun (special retrospective award)

1977: Kingsley Amis - The Alteration

1978: Frederik Pohl - Gateway

1979: Michael Moorcock - Gloriana

1980: Thomas M. Disch - On Wings of Song

1981: Gregory Benford - Timescape

1982: Russell Hoban - Ridley Walker

1983: Brian W. Aldiss - Helliconia Spring

1984: Gene Wolfe - The Citadel of the Autarch

1985: Frederik Pohl - The Years of the City

1986: David Brin - The Postman

1987: Joan Slonczewski - A Door into Ocean

1988: Connie Willis - Lincoln's Dreams

1989: Bruce Sterling - Island in the Net

1990: Geoff Ryman - The Child Garden

1991: Kim Stanley Robinson - Pacific Edge

1992: Bradley Denton - Buddy Holly is Alive and Well on Ganymede

1993: Charles Sheffield - Brother to Dragons

1994: No award

1995: Greg Egan - Permutation City

1996: Stephen Baxter - The Time Ships

1997: Paul J. McAuley - Fairyland

1998: Joe Haldeman - Forever Peace

1999: George Zebrowski - Brute Orbits

2000: Vernor Vinge - A Deepness in the Sky

2001: Poul Anderson - Genesis

2002: (Tie) Jack Williamson - Terraforming Earth, and Robert Charles Wilson - The Chronoliths

2003: Nancy Kress - Probability Space

2004: Jack McDevitt - Omega

2005: Richard Morgon - Market Forces