Pip Adam has won the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction.
Today, the Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation announced Pip Adam’s Audition (Coffee House Press) as the winner of the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction, which seeks to reward books that represent the legendary writer’s literary, moral, and
The Ursula K. Le Guin Foundation has bestowed the 2026 Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction upon Pip Adam’s Audition. The prize aims to honor works that embody the spirit of Le Guin, focusing on books that embody her literary, moral, and aesthetic values. These values include depicting "realists of a larger reality," who can envision hope and explore alternate ways of living.
The citation lauded Adam's distinctive narrative structure and exceptional writing style, noting how these elements transform metaphor into tangible experiences, fundamentally altering one's perception of the story and contemporary society. Judges Nicola Griffith, Mat Johnson, Darcie Little Badger, Fonda Lee, and Peter Rock praised the novel's gradual emphasis on survival as three seemingly insignificant individuals rediscover their identities, connections, and optimism. They deemed the work "astonishing and ultimately joyful."
Adam will be awarded $25,000 for her achievement. An account of her acceptance speech can be viewed [here](link).
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