It was nominated for the 1979 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 1979 BSFA Award for Best Novel, the 1980 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 1980 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, the 1981 Balrog Award, the 1982 Prometheus Award, and was runner-up for the 2004 Premio Ignotus for Best Foreign Novel for the Spanish translation, En alas de la canción.
It garnered recognition for being nominated for the 1979 Nebula Award for Best Novel, the 1979 BSFA Award for Best Novel, the 1980 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 1980 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, the 1981 Balrog Award, the 1982 Prometheus Award, and it was a close second in the 2004 Premio Ignotus for Best Foreign Novel for its Spanish translation, En alas de la canción.