There are a lot of metrics by which we can call an author great. Award nominations. award wins. Sales figures. Literary reputation. Influence on the genre. Starting in 1975, the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association) began awarding the title of Grandmaster to selected author in the field of science fiction and fantasy. The award, while not given ever year, is still going today. It is one of genre fiction’s highest honours, shared by only forty people, and intended to recognise a significant career.

As I continue to read my way through the history of science fiction, I thought it might be interesting to run through the list and see how they stack up in my own experience. Clearly, these are authors who have done a lot of things very well. But if you’re reading this, it’s because you care about one man’s opinion.

It’s me. I am that man.

1975
Robert A Heinlein
Books Read: 5
Average Rating: 3.60
Best Work: Double Star
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

1976
Jack Williamson
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 3.00
Best Work: The Legion of Space
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

1977
Clifford D. Simak
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 5.00
Best Work: Way Station
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

1979
L. Sprague de Camp
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Unlikely

1981
Fritz Leiber
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 4.00
Best Work: The Big Time
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly

1984
Andre Norton
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: The Time Traders
Will I Read Further? No

1986
Arthur C. Clarke
Books Read: 8
Average Rating: 3.25
Best Work: Rendezvous with Rama
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

1987
Isaac Asimov
Books Read: 54
Average Rating: 3.76
Best Work: Foundation
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

1988
Alfred Bester
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 2.50
Best Work: The Stars My Destination
Will I Read Further? No.

1989
Ray Bradbury
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 3.50
Best Work: The Martian Chronicles
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

1991
Lester del Rey
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 3.00
Best Work: Police Your Planet
Will I Read Further? No.

1993
Frederik Pohl
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 2.50
Best Work: Gateway
Will I Read Further? No.

1995
Damon Knight
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

1996
A. E. van Vogt
Books Read: 9
Average Rating: 2.67
Best Work: Empire of the Atom
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

1997
Jack Vance
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: Servants of the Wankh
Will I Read Further? No.

1998
Poul Anderson
Books Read: 3
Average Rating: 2.67
Best Work: Conquests
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly

1999
Hal Clement
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: Mission of Gravity
Will I Read Further? No.

2000
Brian W. Aldiss
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 3.00
Best Work: Heliconia
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

2001
Philip Jose Farmer
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: To Your Scattered Bodies Go
Will I Read Further? No.

2003
Ursula K. Le Guin
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: The Lathe of Heaven
Will I Read Further? No.

2004
Robert Silverberg
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 3.50
Best Work: Needle in a Timestack
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly

2005
Anne McCaffery
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No.

2006
Harlan Ellison
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No.

2007
James Gunn
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2008
Michael Moorcock
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2009
Harry Harrison
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 3.00
Best Work: Bill, the Galactic Hero
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2010
Joe Haldeman
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 4.00
Best Work: The Forever War
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

2012
Connie Willis
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2013
Gene Wolfe
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 2.50
Best Work: Shadow of the Torturer
Will I Read Further? No.

2014
Samuel R. Delaney
Books Read: 2
Average Rating: 3.50
Best Work: Nova
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2015
Larry Niven
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 3.00
Best Work: Ringworld
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

2016
C. J. Cherryh
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? Yes, definitely.

2017
Jane Yolen
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No.

2018
Peter S. Beagle
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No.

2019
William Gibson
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: Neuromancer
Will I Read Further? No.

2020
Lois McMaster Bujold
Books Read: 1
Average Rating: 2.00
Best Work: Barrayar
Will I Read Further? Yes, possibly.

2021
Nalo Hopkinson
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No

2022
Mercedes Lackey
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No

2023
Robin McKinley
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No

2024
Susan Cooper
Books Read: 0
Average Rating: N/A
Best Work: N/A
Will I Read Further? No

As you can see, I’m far from familiar with everyone on the Grandmasters list. I won’t comment on the fantasy author who have been appointed, but when it comes to science fiction, the SFWA know what they’re talking about. Pretty much everyone on the list is worth a look, and there are plenty that I need to read more of. And reading is exactly what I intend to do.