The John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel has been awarded every year since 1973, except in 1994. Unlike other major science fiction awards, such as the Hugo and the Nebula, recipients are selected by a panel.

In 1976, the panel felt that no truly outstanding novels had been published the previous year, and so the award was given retrospectively to a novel published in 1970.

In 1994, no award was given; this was due to a breakdown in the nomination process, not because no novel was judged worthy.

The award ceremony has been held in a number of places over the years, but since 1979 has been held at the University of Kansas, where it has become the focus of a weekend-long conference that also includes discussions of the writing, illustration, publishing, teaching, and criticism of science fiction.

Recipients

• 1973 - Beyond Apollo, Barry N. Malzberg
• 1974 (tie) - Rendezvous with Rama, Arthur C. Clarke; Malevil, Robert Merle
• 1975 - Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said, Philip K. Dick
• 1976 - The Year of the Quiet Sun, Wilson Tucker (special retroactive award)
• 1977 - The Alteration, Kingsley Amis
• 1978 - Gateway, Frederik Pohl
• 1979 - Gloriana, Michael Moorcock
• 1980 - On Wings of Song, Thomas M. Disch
• 1981 - Timescape, Gregory Benford
• 1982 - Riddley Walker, Russell Hoban
• 1983 - Helliconia Spring, Brian W. Aldiss
• 1984 - The Citadel of the Autarch, Gene Wolfe
• 1985 - The Years of the City, Frederik Pohl
• 1986 - The Postman, David Brin
• 1987 - A Door into Ocean, Joan Slonczewski
• 1988 - Lincoln's Dreams, Connie Willis
• 1989 - Islands in the Net, Bruce Sterling
• 1990 - The Child Garden, Geoff Ryman
• 1991 - Pacific Edge, Kim Stanley Robinson
• 1992 - Buddy Holly Is Alive and Well on Ganymede, Bradley Denton
• 1993 - Brother to Dragons, Charles Sheffield
• 1994 - No award
• 1995 - Permutation City, Greg Egan
• 1996 - The Time Ships, Stephen Baxter
• 1997 - Fairyland, Paul McAuley
• 1998 - Forever Peace, Joe Haldeman
• 1999 - Brute Orbits, George Zebrowski
• 2000 - A Deepness in the Sky, Vernor Vinge
• 2001 - Genesis, Poul Anderson
• 2002 (tie) - Transforming Earth, Jack Williamson; The Chronoliths, Robert Charles Wilson