Each year, the Libertarian Futurist Society honors the best in libertarian science fiction with the Prometheus Award—a distinction that has recognized some of the genre’s most influential authors. This year, Theft of Fire, the debut novel by Devon Eriksen, has earned a place among the top five finalists.
The Prometheus Award highlights works that explore the value of individual freedom, voluntary cooperation, and resistance to authoritarianism—core themes that resonate deeply throughout Theft of Fire. The novel’s gritty asteroid-mining setting, tense power struggles, and morally complex characters have struck a chord with readers who appreciate both hard science fiction and political nuance.
Past winners of the Prometheus Award include genre legends like Larry Niven, John Varley, and Neal Stephenson—a powerful lineage of writers known for combining thrilling storytelling with big ideas about liberty, technology, and society. To be named alongside them is no small feat and marks Theft of Fire as one of the most significant science fiction debuts of the year.
Administered since 1979, the Prometheus Award is unique among literary honors in its focus: rather than spotlighting broad popularity or literary experimentation alone, it specifically celebrates speculative fiction that challenges centralized control and champions human autonomy.
With its selection as a finalist, Theft of Fire joins a distinguished tradition—and continues the conversation about what freedom means in the future we’re building.