“Star Trek: Lower Decks,” the animated Trek spinoff that focuses on Starfleet’s lower ranks, scored a double win tonight when this year’s Hugo Awards were handed out at the world’s premier convention for science-fiction authors and fans.
One of the episodes of the Paramount+ streaming series, titled “The New Next Generation,” won the Hugo for best short-form dramatic presentation at Seattle Worldcon 2025. And a choose-your-adventure graphic novel — titled “Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way” — took the prize for best graphic story or comic.
Series creator Mike McMahan accepted the award for the video episode in a video clip that was aired during the ceremony.
“I love being recognized by a community who have recommended so many good and weird books to me over the years,” he said. “I congratulate all the winners, but also all of those who support and work and represent, because it’s also in that direction that advancement and liberty and democracy will proceed.”
The writer for the graphic novel, Ryan North, thanked McMahan in turn for letting the team do a choose-your-adventure book. “Weird books are great,” North said. “That’s what I love about reading. The weirder the better.”
Since 1953, the Hugo Awards have recognized science fiction in a variety of literary categories. Other forms of presentation such as movies, TV and video games have been added over the years. This year, a Hugo for best sci-fi poetry was awarded for the first time.
The Hugo Award trophy traditionally features a slim, shiny rocket, but the base is customized for each year’s Worldcon host city. The 2025 trophy incorporates a blown-glass representation of Mount Rainier in honor of Seattle’s status as host.
Some of tonight’s Hugo honorees used their time on stage to draw attention to real-world social issues. For example, Diana M. Pho, Erewhon Books’ editorial director, said this year’s award came amid “times of devastation.”
“Liberation can feel impossible, but I still believe it is art that sustains us, guides us, and reminds us of the necessary things that can make life beautiful and tender, stories of how people can be frail and foolish, but also mighty and compassionate in the many tomorrows ahead,” Pho said. “Let us remember our best stories and use them to help us prevail. We must fight against fascism in ways large and small, especially when the moral duty to do so can feel overwhelming.”
Neil Clarke, the founder and editor of Clarkesworld Magazine, issued a warning about the threat that the publishing industry is facing from AI.
“Generative AI is theft. … It doesn’t know truth from fiction,” Clarke said. “It doesn’t have a creative spark, and it cannot write a good story. And we are all here for good stories, stories and other works dreamed up by imaginative and creative people. Keep writing, keep creating, and that is how we win.”
Two indigenous authors, Moniquill Blackgoose and Darcie Little Badger, gave a shout-out to their respective tribes. “We’ve come a long way,” said Little Badger, a member of the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas.
The Hugo Awards rank alongside the Nebula Awards as the most prestigious honors given to sci-fi and fantasy authors. Nebula Awards are presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, while the Hugos are presented by the World Science Fiction Society and are voted upon by fans who sign up for each year’s Worldcon.
“It is rewarding to see how many fans have participated this year in nominating and in voting for these awards,” said Kathryn Duval, division head for the World Science Fiction Society.
Duval said that the society received 1,338 nominations in 21 categories, and that 1,962 ballots were cast to choose the winners.
“Four categories were decided in the last round by a margin of 20 votes or less,” she said. “One category was decided by just a single vote difference. Yeah, your vote matters.”
Here are this year’s Hugo winners:
Best novel: “The Tainted Cup” by Robert Jackson Bennett.
Best novella: “The Tusks of Extinction” by Ray Nayler.
Best novelette: “The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea” by Naomi Kritzer.
Best short story: “Stitched to Skin Like Family Is” by Nghi Vo.
Best poem: “A War of Words” by Marie Brennan.
Best series: “Between Earth and Sky” by Rebecca Roanhorse.
Lodestar Award for best young adult book: “Sheine Lende” by Darcie Little Badger.
Best long-form dramatic presentation: “Dune: Part Two.”
Best short-form dramatic presentation: “Star Trek: Lower Decks” – “The New Next Generation,” created and written by Mike McMahan, based on “Star Trek” by Gene Roddenberry, directed by Megan Lloyd
Best graphic story or comic: “Star Trek: Lower Decks – Warp Your Own Way,” by Ryan North, illustrated by Chris Fenoglio.
Best game or interactive work: Caves of Qud. co-creators Brian Bucklew and Jason Grinblat; contributors Nick DeCapua, Corey Frang, Craig Hamilton, Autumn McDonell, Bastia Rosen, Caelyn Sandel, Samuel Wilson (Freehold Games); sound design A Shell in the Pit; publisher Kitfox Games.
Best related work: “Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right” by Jordan S. Carroll.
Best professional artist: Alyssa Winans.
Best fanzine: Black Nerd Problems, editors, William Evans and Omar Holmon.
Best long-form editor: Diana M. Pho, Erewhon Books.
Best short-form editor: Neil Clarke, Clarkesworld Magazine.
Best semiprozine: Uncanny Magazine, publishers and editors-in-chief, Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; poetry editor Betsy Aoki; podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.
Best fancast: Eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones, presented by Emily Tesh and Rebecca Fraimow.
Best fan artist: Sara Felix.
Best fan writer: Abigail Nussbaum.
Astounding Award for best new writer: Moniquill Blackgoose.
