Most Americans only recently started thinking about the 21st century. They are far behind the writers, editors and panelists attending the last Nebula Awards conference of the 1900s, who for decades have been contemplating, writing about and correctly predicting what the new millennium will be like.

The 33rd annual Nebula Awards, given for the best science-fiction writing of the year, will be presented Saturday in Pittsburgh by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The awards are decided by science-fiction writers and are considered the equivalent of the Oscars.

"This one really matters," says Connie Willis, who's been nominated for 10 Nebulas during her career. She has won six and is nominated this year for the novel To Say Nothing of the Dog. "It is your fellow writers who judge your work, who really know the field inside and out and can judge your place in it."