Nigerian speculative fiction writer Wole Talabi has been shortlisted for the inaugural Aldiss Award 2025 for his novel Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon.
The Aldiss Award celebrates outstanding world-building in science fiction and fantasy, honouring the legacy of the late Grand Master Brian Aldiss.
In announcing the shortlist, Chair of Judges Allen Stroud in his words says:
“The short list reflects our determination to find the very best stories that fire the imagination of their readers. We were looking for tales that linger and lurk long after the reading is done. Our six are wonderful examples that live long in the memory.”
Award Founder Tim Aldiss added:
“Although we were unable to attract entries from the world of gaming in this inaugural year, we were delighted to have had a wealth of great literary submissions. It’s so exciting to see just how broad and diverse breaking down barriers between traditional ‘sci-fi’ and fantasy has been when it comes to what constitutes ‘world building’. Good luck to our finalists!”
A Nigerian speculative fiction writer, engineer, and editor, who is considered among the Third Generation of Nigerian Writers. Wole Talabi works include an amount of short stories; the anthologies These Words Expose Us: An Anthology (2014), Lights Out: Resurrection (2016), African Futurism: An Anthology (2020); his collections, Incomplete Solutions (2019) and Convergence Problems (2024); and the award-winning novel, Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon (2023).
This year’s winner will be announced on Sunday, 2nd November 2025, at the World Fantasy Convention, Brighton, UK.
Read the full list of all shortlisted authors here.
Congratulations, Wole Talabi!
Bakare Oluwatobiloba
I write to educate, motivate and define history with literature. Just being me!
