Often, the most powerful ideas start with the simple question, "What if?" Writing based on this query-science fiction and exploratory non-fiction, challenges us to look beyond the world in front of us, to imagine what could be, and envision distant worlds and evolved realities. Such speculative tales inspire scientists and engineers, artists and teachers, politicians and cultural icons toward discovery, invention, and exploration; and in so doing, have transformed our world.

The human interstellar journey, travelling beyond our solar system to another star, is a grand challenge that has capture our imagination across the globe. It is also extraordinarily difficult. And it cannot be successfully accomplished without mustering the full of human experience, skills and talent. It is critical to broaden the participants in this journey by integrating the artistic expression of the interstellar exploration initially via literature.

100YSS, led by Dr. Mae Jemison, is an independent, long-term global initiative working to ensure that the capabilities for human interstellar travel, beyond our solar system to another star, exist within the next 100. It is dedicated to identifying and pushing the radical leaps in knowledge and technology to achieve interstellar flight, while pioneering and transforming breakthrough applications that enhance the quality of life for all on Earth. We actively seek to include the broadest swath of people and human experience in understanding, shaping and implementing this global aspiration. The 100YSS Canopus Award is given to celebrate fiction which explores these same challenges and goals.