Acclaimed novelist and Head of English Adam Roberts earns a place among finalists for the 2026 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award for Best Classic Fiction with his debut novel Salt.
Professor Adam Roberts's debut novel Salt has been shortlisted for the 2026 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award.
Professor Adam Roberts, Head of the Department of English and Professor of 19th Century Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, has been named a finalist for the 2026 Prometheus Hall of Fame Award for Best Classic Fiction.
Professor Roberts’ debut novel, Salt, has earned this recognition. This is the first time his work has been recognised by the Libertarian Futurist Society’s Hall of Fame.
Salt, first published in 2000, explores the escalating tensions between an anarchist community and its statist neighbour on a harsh, desert-like colony world. This cautionary tale contrasts radically different ideas of liberty and reveals how good intentions can lead people astray, with alternating chapters from two rival leaders exposing the tragic consequences of ideological divides.
Alongside Salt, this year’s finalists include James Blish’s The Star Dwellers, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength, and Charles Stross’s Singularity Sky.
A prolific science fiction writer, Professor Roberts has published 25 novels, including Purgatory Mount and The This, as well as the award-winning Jack Glass, and two award-winning non-fiction works: It's the End of the World: But What Are We Really Afraid Of? and Rave and Let Die: The SF and Fantasy of 2014.
Speaking about the recognition, Professor Roberts said: “I’m delighted that Salt has been recognised in this way. When I wrote it, my aim wasn’t to predict the future but to explore ideas – to dramatise how radically different visions of freedom can collide and lead to tragedy. Science fiction, for me, is about provoking thought rather than providing answers, and it’s an honour to see my first novel included among such distinguished company.”
Professor Giuliana Pieri, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Royal Holloway, added: “This is a fantastic achievement for Adam and a testament to the enduring impact of his work. It also reflects the strength and creativity within our English department, where leading scholars and writers shape conversations in literature and culture. We’re proud to see Adam’s contribution to science fiction recognised on an international stage.”
The Award’s final vote will take place in mid‑2026, with the winner announced in summer 2026. Until then, we join the literary world in celebrating Professor Roberts’s remarkable accomplishment, and wish him every success in the final stage of this prestigious award progress.
Find out more about the Libertarian Futurist Society’s Prometheus Hall of Fame Award and this year’s finalists.
