Comments: 1983 was one of the few times that members of the "Big Three" of Asimov, Clarke, and Heinlein went head to head in the Hugo Awards, and as far as I know, it was the only time all three were competing against each other in the same category. Sadly, all three were nominated for work that was clearly not up to their best standards, and realistically none of them should have won. In the end, Asimov took home the rocket statue for the decidedly mediocre Foundation's Edge. Asimov's win in the Best Novel category was possibly partially driven by the win for James Gunn's win in the Best Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Work category for his biography of Asimov, Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction.
Jim Henson returned to the Hugo nominating ballot in 1983, this time for the fantasy film The Dark Crystal, which was represented twice in the nominations: once for the film itself in the Best Dramatic Presentation category, and also in the Best Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Work category for the book The World of the Dark Crystal by J.J. Llewellyn. It didn't win in either category, losing to James Gunn's aforementioned biography of Isaac Asimov in the Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Work category, and losing the Dramatic Presentation award to the Philip K. Dick inspired movie Blade Runner. 1983 also marks the second time a Star Trek feature length movie had been nominated for a Hugo award, but had lost.
Best Novel
Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov
Other Nominees:
2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke
Courtship Rite by Donald M. Kingsbury
Friday by Robert A. Heinlein
The Pride of Chanur by C.J. Cherryh
The Sword of the Lictor by Gene Wolfe
Best Novella
Souls by Joanna Russ
Other Nominees:
Another Orphan by John Kessel
Brainchild by Joseph H. Delaney
The Postman by David Brin
To Leave a Mark by Kim Stanley Robinson
Unsound Variations by George R.R. Martin
Best Novelette
Fire Watch by Connie Willis
Other Nominees:
Aquila by Somtow Sucharitkul
Nightlife by Phyllis Eisenstein
Pawn's Gambit by Timothy Zahn
Swarm by Bruce Sterling
Best Short Story
Melancholy Elephants by Spider Robinson
Other Nominees:
The Boy Who Waterskied to Forever by James Tiptree, Jr.
Ike at the Mike by Howard Waldrop
Spider Rose by Bruce Sterling
Sur by Ursula K. Le Guin
Best Nonfiction, Related, or Reference Work
Isaac Asimov: The Foundations of Science Fiction by James E. Gunn
Other Nominees:
The Engines of the Night by Barry N. Malzberg
Fear Itself: The Horror Fiction of Stephen King edited by Tim Underwood and Chuck Miller
A Reader's Guide to Fantasy by Baird Searles, Beth Meacham, and Michael FranklinThe World of the Dark Crystal by J.J. Llewellyn, illustrated by Brian Froud
Best Dramatic Presentation
Blade Runner
Other Nominees:
The Dark Crystal
E.T. The Extraterrestrial
The Road Warrior
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Best Professional Editor
Edward L. Ferman
Other Nominees:
Terry Carr
David G. Hartwell
Stanley Schmidt
George Scithers
Best Professional Artist
Michael Whelan
Other Nominees:
Frank Kelly Freas
Don Maitz
Rowena Morrill
Barclay Shaw
Darrell Sweet
Best Fanzine
Locus edited by Charles N. Brown
Other Nominees:
Fantasy Newsletter edited by Robert A. Collins
File 770 edited by Mike Glyer
Science Fiction Chronicle edited by Andrew Porter
Science Fiction Review edited by Richard E. Geis
Best Fan Writer
Richard E. Geis
Other Nominees:
Mike Glyer
Arthur Hlavaty
Dave Langford
Best Fan Artist
Alexis Gilliland
Other Nominees:
Joan Hanke-Woods
William Rotsler
Stu Shiffman
Dan Steffan
John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
Paul O. Williams
Other Nominees:
Joseph H. Delaney
Lisa Goldstein
Sandra Miesel
Warren G. Norwood
David R. Palmer
What Are the Hugo Awards?
Go to previous year's nominees: 1982
Go to subsequent year's nominees: 1984
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