2001
The Human Stain by Philip Roth--Winner!
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
Harry Gold by Millicent Dillon
The Name of the World by Denis Johnson
Off Keck Road by Mona Simpson

2000
Waiting by Ha Jin--Winner!
The Night Inspector by Frederick Busch
Pu-239 and Other Russian Fantasies by Ken Kalfus
Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Siam; or, the Woman Who Shot a Man by Lily Tuck

1999
The Hours by Michael Cunningham--Winner!
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks
Starting Out in the Evening by Brian Morton
The Doctor Stories by Richard Selzer

1998
The Bear Comes Home by Rafi Zabor--Winner!
The Mercy Seat by Rilla Askew
The Hundred Brothers by Donald Antrim
Because They Wanted To by Mary Gaitskill
The Ordinary Seaman by Francisco Goldman

1997
Women in Their Beds by Gina Berriault

1996
Independence Day by Richard Ford

1995
Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

1994
Operation Shylock by Philip Roth

1993
Postcards by E. Annie Proulx

1992
Mao II by Don DeLillo

1991
Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman

1990
Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow

1989
Dusk and Other Stories by James Salter

1988
World's End by T.C. Boyle

1987
Soldiers in Hiding by Richard Wiley

1986
The Old Forest and Other Stories by Peter Taylor