Moscow, September 26 – The Organizing Committee of the Future History International Literary Award in the field of science fiction (established by the Atom Foundation for the Promotion of Scientific, Educational, and Communication Initiatives with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation) has announced a shortlist based on the results of the first stage of voting.
The list includes 27 of the best stories selected from over 2,400 entries submitted by authors from around the world. The geography of the finalists emphasizes the global scope of the award and proves the universal interest in the science fiction genre. Writers from Russia, countries of Africa, Asia, South America, China, and Europe submitted their works. All the stories are united by a common theme – the search for and embodiment of an image of an optimistic future, in which technology serves humanity, helps overcome global challenges, and reveals the best facets of the human spirit.
The selection process was not easy. The jury chairman, renowned Russian science fiction writer Andrei Gelasimov, commented:
“We were faced with a most difficult task – to choose a few dozen stories from a huge array of talented and original works. We were impressed not only by the number but also by the fairly high quality of the submissions. Authors from all over the planet offered their own, sometimes unexpected but vivid and hopeful, versions of tomorrow. These stories often present a unique perspective on how humanity can use its potential for creation.”
“We see how science fiction is ceasing to be just a literary genre and is becoming a bridge between daring ideas and real technologies,” noted Andrey Timonov, Director of the Communications Department of the State Corporation Rosatom. “The narratives proposed by the authors perfectly reflect the trends of modern science: interest in sustainable development, green energy, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. Supporting such an award is an investment in the future, an inspiration for a new generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers who will be building this world tomorrow.”
The next stage will be the work of the sizeable expert jury, which includes prominent literary and scientific figures, among them: Alexey Varlamov, writer, Rector of the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute; Stanislav Drobyshevsky, anthropologist, science popularizer; Alexei Semikhatov, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Albina Mukhametzyanova, General Director of the animation company YARKO; Andrey Vasilevsky, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Novy Mir; Vladimir Surdin, astronomer, science popularizer; Yulia Selivanova, Head of Book Projects at Eksmo Publishing; Sergey Tishkov, Director of the “Planet of Childhood” Department at AST Publishing; and Tatyana Solovyova, Editor-in-Chief at Alpina.Prose. The expert jury will determine the winners in three main categories: “Best Short Story,” “Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults,” and “Best Short Story in a Foreign Language.”
Shortlist participants:
Category: Best Short Story
Ragim JAFAROV. Psypatriarch.
Yulia DOMNA. The Age of Grasshoppers.
Anastasia IVANOVA. Trees Grow Slowly.
Elena KULESHOVA. Radio Signal Received and Identified.
Alexander LEPYOKHIN. Pirozhki.
Yulia RUBINSTEIN. Candle Stub.
Denis STOLYAROV. The Mandela Effect.
Ivan TUZOVSKY. Key Molecules.
Alexander UDALOV. Matryoshka.
Category: Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults
Marina ANITSKAYA. A Guest from Earth.
Dmitry BULDAKOV. Nine Records of Inga.
Eduard VERKIN. Rumshprunga.
Alisa KOROTOVSKIKH. False Sun.
Evgenia KRETOVA. Vanya Kolesnikov’s New Friend.
Nikolai NAZARKIN. KR-1.
Alexey OLEYNIKOV. Christmas Tree on Enceladus.
Nikolai PRONEV. A Dream in a Digital Night.
Maxim TIKHOMIROV. Venka.
Fyodor FEDOROV. Robinsonade.
Category: Best Short Story in a Foreign Language
Immacolata CASILE. Elian and Others.
Giulia COLLINA. Too Human.
Mario CORRADI. The Last Move.
Imraan COOVADIA. Highly Developed, Cold and Insensitive.
Leonid Alirio Mariño MURILLO. The Jupiter Paradox.
Walter TARTAGLIA. The Awakening of Niila.
Gabrielle Emem HARRY. Constellations on Water.
Sana SHALAN. Finally a Clear and Blue Sky.
Reference:
The Future History Award was established with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation. The total prize fund of the award exceeds 5 million rubles. The award ceremony will take place on November 6, 2025, in Moscow, at the Atom Museum at VDNKh. More information can be found on the award’s website https://fhistory.ru/, as well as on its social media accounts: https://t.me/fhistory_official
and https://vk.com/fhistory_official
The list includes 27 of the best stories selected from over 2,400 entries submitted by authors from around the world. The geography of the finalists emphasizes the global scope of the award and proves the universal interest in the science fiction genre. Writers from Russia, countries of Africa, Asia, South America, China, and Europe submitted their works. All the stories are united by a common theme – the search for and embodiment of an image of an optimistic future, in which technology serves humanity, helps overcome global challenges, and reveals the best facets of the human spirit.
The selection process was not easy. The jury chairman, renowned Russian science fiction writer Andrei Gelasimov, commented:
“We were faced with a most difficult task – to choose a few dozen stories from a huge array of talented and original works. We were impressed not only by the number but also by the fairly high quality of the submissions. Authors from all over the planet offered their own, sometimes unexpected but vivid and hopeful, versions of tomorrow. These stories often present a unique perspective on how humanity can use its potential for creation.”
“We see how science fiction is ceasing to be just a literary genre and is becoming a bridge between daring ideas and real technologies,” noted Andrey Timonov, Director of the Communications Department of the State Corporation Rosatom. “The narratives proposed by the authors perfectly reflect the trends of modern science: interest in sustainable development, green energy, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. Supporting such an award is an investment in the future, an inspiration for a new generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers who will be building this world tomorrow.”
The next stage will be the work of the sizeable expert jury, which includes prominent literary and scientific figures, among them: Alexey Varlamov, writer, Rector of the Maxim Gorky Literature Institute; Stanislav Drobyshevsky, anthropologist, science popularizer; Alexei Semikhatov, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences; Albina Mukhametzyanova, General Director of the animation company YARKO; Andrey Vasilevsky, Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Novy Mir; Vladimir Surdin, astronomer, science popularizer; Yulia Selivanova, Head of Book Projects at Eksmo Publishing; Sergey Tishkov, Director of the “Planet of Childhood” Department at AST Publishing; and Tatyana Solovyova, Editor-in-Chief at Alpina.Prose. The expert jury will determine the winners in three main categories: “Best Short Story,” “Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults,” and “Best Short Story in a Foreign Language.”
Shortlist participants:
Category: Best Short Story
Ragim JAFAROV. Psypatriarch.
Yulia DOMNA. The Age of Grasshoppers.
Anastasia IVANOVA. Trees Grow Slowly.
Elena KULESHOVA. Radio Signal Received and Identified.
Alexander LEPYOKHIN. Pirozhki.
Yulia RUBINSTEIN. Candle Stub.
Denis STOLYAROV. The Mandela Effect.
Ivan TUZOVSKY. Key Molecules.
Alexander UDALOV. Matryoshka.
Category: Best Short Story for Children and Young Adults
Marina ANITSKAYA. A Guest from Earth.
Dmitry BULDAKOV. Nine Records of Inga.
Eduard VERKIN. Rumshprunga.
Alisa KOROTOVSKIKH. False Sun.
Evgenia KRETOVA. Vanya Kolesnikov’s New Friend.
Nikolai NAZARKIN. KR-1.
Alexey OLEYNIKOV. Christmas Tree on Enceladus.
Nikolai PRONEV. A Dream in a Digital Night.
Maxim TIKHOMIROV. Venka.
Fyodor FEDOROV. Robinsonade.
Category: Best Short Story in a Foreign Language
Immacolata CASILE. Elian and Others.
Giulia COLLINA. Too Human.
Mario CORRADI. The Last Move.
Imraan COOVADIA. Highly Developed, Cold and Insensitive.
Leonid Alirio Mariño MURILLO. The Jupiter Paradox.
Walter TARTAGLIA. The Awakening of Niila.
Gabrielle Emem HARRY. Constellations on Water.
Sana SHALAN. Finally a Clear and Blue Sky.
Reference:
The Future History Award was established with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation. The total prize fund of the award exceeds 5 million rubles. The award ceremony will take place on November 6, 2025, in Moscow, at the Atom Museum at VDNKh. More information can be found on the award’s website https://fhistory.ru/, as well as on its social media accounts: https://t.me/fhistory_official
and https://vk.com/fhistory_official