Dystopian Fiction Prize Results 2025
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We are thrilled to announce the results of the 2025 Dystopian Fiction Prize
Winner: “The Year of Y” by Leyla Ferrand
Runner up: “Waterkeep” by Isaac Cave
Honourable Mention: “What They Stole From Us” by Leo Oliver Otoiu
Many congratulations to Leyla who is studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Bristol University. We’d also like to thank everyone else who entered the competition this year.
“We had a good number of entries for the Dystopian Fiction Prize in 2025, all from students studying at UK universities. I am so thrilled for the winner, Leyla Ferrand, who wrote a piece with a very original concept and plenty of surprises for the reader. We wish Leyla the best of luck with her writing career.”
Richard Blair, Son of George Orwell and Patron of The Orwell Society.
“The Year of Y” will be published in the Orwell Society Journal, as we have published all previous winners.
Details of the 2026 competition will be posted in Autumn 2025.
Shortlist announced for the 2025 competition
We are thrilled to announce the three finalists in the 2025 Dystopian Fiction Prize are as follows:
Waterkeep by Isaac Cave
The Year of Y by Leyla Ferrand
What They Stole From Us, by Leo Otoiu
We’d like to congratulate the finalists and also thank everyone who entered the competition this year. The winner and runner up will be notified by Friday 2nd May and will be invited to attend The Orwell Society AGM and prizegiving in London on Saturday 10th May 2025.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £750 and their story will be published in the Society’s Journal. The Runner up will receive a non-cash prize.
The terms for the 2025 prize, which has now closed, are below.
Entries are open for the 2025 competition
The Orwell Society organises an annual short story competition for current students (both BA and MA) at British universities. We look for dystopian narratives of 3,000 words and entry to the competition is free. The winner will receive £750 and the winning entry will be published in the Society’s Journal.
The runner up will receive a non-cash prize.
The professional judging panel includes Richard Blair, the son of George Orwell and Patron of The Orwell Society, as well as other distinguished judges. You can see a selection of the panel here.
The timeline for the 2025 competition is as follows:
Entries open: 31st October 2024
Deadline for submissions: 28th February 2025
Shortlist announced: 19th April 2025
Winner notified: 2nd May 2025
Award presentation: 10th May 2025 (at The Orwell Society AGM in London)
All submissions are assessed anonymously.
The professional judging panel includes Richard Blair, the son of George Orwell and Patron of The Orwell Society, as well as other distinguished judges. You can see a selection of the panel here. Feedback and quotes from the professional panel will be available to each of the shortlisted writers after the prizegiving in May.
“Winning the prize is a stellar thing to have on your CV and such a fantastic talking point in an interview.” Holly Domney, winner of the 2016 prize.
The winner of the 2024 Prize was: When Fillings Burn by Loïs Bolton see details here:
Loïs Bolton is studying an MA in Creative and Critical Writing at Liverpool University and is driven by a long-term enthusiasm for how current affairs and social justice influence – and are influenced by – art and culture. “I am drawn to dystopian narratives to explore social and ecological issues through an intimate – and distanced – lens. For me, the Prize is a gateway to networking with others similarly invested in such literature, as well as social responsibility, care, and curiosity. I’m an avid reader and also a bookseller, and am always keen to discuss and develop exciting concepts: dark, hopeful, illuminating, and possibly foreboding.”
Commending the winning entry, professional judge James Keane from Northodox Press said “The author produces a modern and thought-provoking narrative with the expertise of Atwood and Le Guin. Characterisation is poignant and cathartic, with the joyous spirit of humanity and our perseverance.”
Loïs was presented with a bust of George Orwell, to be kept for one year and will also receive a cash prize of £750 and have her entry published in The Orwell Society Journal.
Details for the 2026 competition will be announced later this year.