The
Nebula Awards are given each year by the
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for the best
science fiction or
fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year. The award has been described as one of "the most important of the American science fiction awards" and "the science-fiction and fantasy equivalent" of the
Emmy Awards. The
Nebula Award for Best Novella is given each year for science fiction or fantasy
novellas published in English or translated into English and released in the United States or on the internet during the previous calendar year. A work of fiction is defined by the organization as a novella if it is between 17,500 and 40,000 words; awards are also given out for pieces of longer lengths in the
novel category, and for shorter lengths in the
short story and
novelette categories. The Nebula Award for Best Novella has been awarded annually since 1966. Novellas published by themselves are eligible for the novel award instead if the author requests them to be considered as such.