| inner | Other nominees | | style="font-size:x-large;" | 2005 | TBD August 7 2005 | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 2004 | Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 2003 | Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 2002 | American Gods by Neil Gaiman | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 2001 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 2000 | A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1999 | To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1998 | Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1997 | Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1996 | The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1995 | Mirror Dance by Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1994 | Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1993 | (tie) | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1992 | Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1991 | The Vor Game by Lois McMaster Bujold | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1990 | Hyperion by Dan Simmons | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1989 | Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1988 | The Uplift War by David Brin | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1987 | Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1986 | Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1985 | Neuromancer by William Gibson | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1984 | Startide Rising by David Brin | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1983 | Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1982 | Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1981 | The Snow Queen by Joan D. Vinge | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1980 | The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1979 | Dreamsnake by Vonda McIntyre | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1978 | Gateway by Frederik Pohl | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1977 | Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Kate Wilhelm | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1976 | The Forever War by Joe Haldeman | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1975 | The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1974 | Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1973 | The Gods Themselves by Isaac Asimov | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1972 | To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip Jos Farmer | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1971 | Ringworld by Larry Niven | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1970 | The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1969 | Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1968 | Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1967 | The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1966 | (tie) | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1965 | The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1964 | Here Gather the Stars (book title: Way Station) by Clifford D. Simak | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1963 | The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1962 | Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1961 | A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1960 | Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1959 | A Case of Conscience by James Blish | |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1958 | The Big Time by Fritz Leiber |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1956 | Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1955 | They'd Rather Be Right by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley |
| style="font-size:x-large;" | 1953 | The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester |