What makes the Ignytes stand out is their stated mission: “to celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of the current and future landscapes of science fiction, fantasy, and horror by recognizing incredible feats in storytelling and outstanding efforts toward inclusivity of the genre.”

In 2025, we were proud to publish science fiction by and about people from around the world, sharing a broad range of experiences that may be challenging, but are always ultimately hopeful. We strive to keep your escape pod fully stocked with stories, while ensuring that those stories remind us that the future belongs to everyone.

This nomination honors not only our writers, without whom we would have no stories to tell, but also our amazing narrators, our crew, and the universe of Escape Artists staff who work tirelessly to bring those stories to life in audio form.

Thank you to our listeners, our readers, and to the Ignyte jurors!