The PEN/Faulkner Award is a prestigious literary prize awarded annually to honor the best works of fiction by American authors. Established in 1980, the award is named after the renowned writer William Faulkner, who is celebrated for his contributions to American literature. The award aims to recognize the excellence of contemporary fiction and to promote the importance of literature in society. The PEN/Faulkner Award is open to novels, short story collections, and novellas published in the previous calendar year. A panel of judges, composed of writers and literary professionals, evaluates the submissions and selects the winner, who receives a cash prize and recognition in the literary community.