1986 in science fiction

The year 1986 was marked, in science fiction, by the following:

• Gardner Dozois begins his run as editor of Asimov's Science Fiction.^[1]
• The 44th annual Worldcon, ConFederation, is held in Atalanta, USA.
• The first Galaxy Awards, for Chinese science fiction, are awarded.

• Judy Lynn Del Rey
• Gardner Fox
• Frank Herbert
• L. Ron Hubbard

• Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card

• Many Waters, by Madeleine L'Engle

• Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

• Aliens dir. by James Cameron
• The Fly, dir. by David Cronenberg
• Little Shop of Horrors, dir. by Frank Oz

• ALF, created by Tom Patchett and Paul Fusco

• Metroid

• The pinball game Pin-Bot, developed by Python Anghelo and Barry Oursler; published by Williams

• Best novel: Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card^[2]
• Best novella: 24 Views of Mt. Fuji, by Hokusai, by Roger Zelazny^[2]
• Best novelette: "Paladin of the Lost Hour" by Harlan Ellison^[2]
• Best short story: "Fermi and Frost" by Frederick Pohl^[2]
• Best related work: Science Made Stupid by Tom Weller^[2]
• Best dramatic presentation: Back to the Future, dir. by Robert Zemeckis, written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale^[2]
• Best professional editor: Judy Lynn Del Rey (awarded posthumously and declined on her behalf by her husband Lester Del Rey)^[2]
• Best professional artist: Michael Whelan^[2]
• Best Semiprozine: Locus, ed. by Charles N. Brown^[2]
• Best fanzine: Lan's Lantern, ed. by George "Lan" Laskowski^[2]
• Best fan writer: Mike Glyer^[2]
• Best fan artist: Joan Hanke-Woods^[2]

• Best novel: Speaker for the Dead, by Orson Scott Card^[3]
• Best novella: R&R, by Lucius Shepard^[3]
• Best novelette: "The Girl Who Fell into the Sky" by Kate Wilhelm^[3]
• Best short story: "Tangents" by Greg Bear^[3]

• BSFA Award for Best Novel: The Ragged Astronauts, by Bob Shaw
• Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel: The Postman, by David Brin
• Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film: Aliens