Nebula Award Best Novel Winner

The Falling Woman

by Pat Murphy

Summary

Pat Murphy centers on Elizabeth Butler, an archaeologist excavating Mayan ruins who can see the shades of people from the distant past. When the ghost of an ancient Mayan priestess begins to speak to her, and her estranged daughter arrives at the dig, past and present collide with rising danger. The novel blends archaeology, family conflict, and the supernatural into a literary work of quiet intensity.

Historical Context & Significance

The Falling Woman won the Nebula Award for Best Novel the same year Pat Murphy also won the Nebula for Best Novelette.