1984 Nebula Awards®
Presented at Warwick Hotel, New York, New York on May 5, 1985
Ian and Betty Ballantine were presented with a special award for their pioneering contributions to science fiction and fantasy publishing. The Business Meeting took place on Saturday at noon and was followed by the traditional editors’ panel, and agents’ panel. LACon sponsored the pre-banquet reception. As with the 1983 event, publishing professionals outnumbered authors. Attorney Tim Jensen was the primary speaker and spoke about taxes and the author. Following the banquet, Harlan Ellison punched Charles Platt over comments Platt had made regarding an award given to Larry Shaw. Tom Disch also punched William Gibson, without explanation.
Best Novel
- The Man Who Melted by Jack Dann, published by Bluejay
- Winner: Neuromancer by William Gibson, published by Ace
- Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert A. Heinlein, published by Ballantine Del Rey
- The Integral Trees by Larry Niven, published by Ballantine Del Rey
- The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson, published by Ace
- Frontera by Lewis Shiner, published by Baen
Best Novella
- “Young Doctor Esterhazy” by Avram Davidson, published by Amazing Stories
- “Trinity” by Nancy Kress, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- “The Greening of Bed-Stuy” by Frederik Pohl, published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
- “A Traveler’s Tale” by Lucius Shepard, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- “Marrow Death” by Michael Swanwick, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- Winner: “PRESS ENTER[]” by John Varley, published by Asimov’s Magazine
Best Novelette
- Winner: “Bloodchild” by Octavia E. Butler, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- “Bad Medicine” by Jack Dann, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- “Saint Theresa of the Aliens” by James Patrick Kelly, published by Asimov’s Magazine
- “The Lucky Strike” by Kim Stanley Robinson
- “The Man Who Painted the Dragon Griaule” by Lucius Shepard, published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
- “Trojan Horse” by Michael Swanwick, published by Omni
Best Short Story
- Winner: “Morning Child” by Gardner Dozois, published by Omni
- “The Aliens Who Knew, I Mean, Everything” by George Alec Effinger, published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
- “Salvador” by Lucius Shepard, published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
- “Sunken Gardens” by Bruce Sterling, published by Omni
- “A Cabin on the Coast” by Gene Wolfe, published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
- “The Eichmann Variations” by George Zebrowski