N. K. Jemisin
Encyclopedia
N. K. Jemisin is an American
speculative fiction
writer and blogger. Her 2010 debut novel
, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
, was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award
, the 2011 Hugo Award
, and is nominated for the World Fantasy Award
and was ranked #5 on Amazon's "editors' pick" list of the year's best ten works of science fiction and fantasy. Also in 2010, her short story "Non-Zero Probabilities" was a finalist for the Hugo
and Nebula
Awards.
, and grew up in New York City
and Mobile
, Alabama
. She lived in Massachusetts for ten years and then moved to New York City.
She attended Tulane University
from 1990 to 1994, where she received a B.S.
in psychology
. She went on to earn her M. Ed
from the University of Maryland College Park.
She is a former member of the Boston-area writing group BRAWLers, as well as a current member of Altered Fluid. A graduate of the 2002 Viable Paradise
writing workshop, she published a number of short stories and completed several novels. In 2010, her short story "Non-Zero Probabilities" was a finalist for the Hugo
and Nebula
awards.
Currently, she lives in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to writing fiction, she works as a career counselor.
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award and the 2011 Hugo Award; it was also a finalist in the 2010 Goodreads Choice Awards.
and the second is The Shadowed Sun.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
writer and blogger. Her 2010 debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was N. K. Jemisin's debut novel, the first book of "The Inheritance Trilogy." The fantasy novel was published 2010 by Orbit. It is a winner of the 2011 Locus Award for Best First Novel , the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and it has been nominated for the...
, was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
, the 2011 Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
, and is nominated for the World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
and was ranked #5 on Amazon's "editors' pick" list of the year's best ten works of science fiction and fantasy. Also in 2010, her short story "Non-Zero Probabilities" was a finalist for the Hugo
Hugo Award for Best Short Story
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
and Nebula
Nebula Award for Best Short Story
Winners of the '“Nebula Award for Best Short Story”'. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-Winners and nominees:-External links:* *...
Awards.
Life
She was born in Iowa City, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and grew up in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. She lived in Massachusetts for ten years and then moved to New York City.
She attended Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
from 1990 to 1994, where she received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. She went on to earn her M. Ed
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
from the University of Maryland College Park.
She is a former member of the Boston-area writing group BRAWLers, as well as a current member of Altered Fluid. A graduate of the 2002 Viable Paradise
Viable Paradise
Viable Paradise is an annual one-week residential writing workshop held each autumn on the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. It is focused on speculative fiction....
writing workshop, she published a number of short stories and completed several novels. In 2010, her short story "Non-Zero Probabilities" was a finalist for the Hugo
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
and Nebula
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
awards.
Currently, she lives in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to writing fiction, she works as a career counselor.
Works
Her fiction explores a wide variety of themes, including but not limited to cultural conflict and oppression, via fantasy and science-fictional milieu.The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award and the 2011 Hugo Award; it was also a finalist in the 2010 Goodreads Choice Awards.
The Inheritance Trilogy
- The Hundred Thousand KingdomsThe Hundred Thousand KingdomsThe Hundred Thousand Kingdoms was N. K. Jemisin's debut novel, the first book of "The Inheritance Trilogy." The fantasy novel was published 2010 by Orbit. It is a winner of the 2011 Locus Award for Best First Novel , the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, and it has been nominated for the...
(2010) - The Broken KingdomsThe Broken KingdomsThe Broken Kingdoms is the second book of the Inheritance Trilogy written by N. K. Jemisin. It takes place ten years after the events of The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and centers around a young woman named Oree Shoth, who lives in the World Tree-shrouded, godling-inhabited city of...
(2010) - The Kingdom of Gods (2011)
The Dreamblood series
N.K. Jemisin was contracted by Orbit for two books in a series titled The Dreamblood, both of which are expected to be published in 2012. The first book is titled The Killing MoonThe Killing Moon
The Killing Moon is a single by the band Echo & the Bunnymen. It was released on their 1984 album, Ocean Rain. It is one of the band's highest-charting hits, reaching number nine in the UK Singles Chart.-Lyrics:...
and the second is The Shadowed Sun.
Short stories
- "On the Banks of the River Lex," Clarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld Magazine is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. The first issue was published October 1, 2006 and it has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as Sarah Monette, Catherynne Valente, Elizabeth Bear, Caitlin R...
, 11/2010 - "The Effluent Engine," 2010
- "Sinners, Saints, Dragons, and Haints in the City Beneath the Still Waters," PostscriptsPostscriptsPostscripts is a quarterly Britishmagazine of science fiction, fantasy, horror and crime fiction, first published in June 2004.Each issue is published in two editions: a regular newsstand-type edition and a signed, numbered, 150-copy hardcover edition. Beginning with Postscripts #14, it is a...
, 2010. - "Non-Zero Probabilities," Clarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld MagazineClarkesworld Magazine is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. The first issue was published October 1, 2006 and it has maintained a regular monthly schedule since, publishing fiction by authors such as Sarah Monette, Catherynne Valente, Elizabeth Bear, Caitlin R...
, 2009. - "Playing Nice With God's Bowling Ball," Baen's Universe, 2008.
- "The You Train," Strange HorizonsStrange HorizonsStrange Horizons is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry in every issue....
, 2007. - "Bittersweet," Abyss and Apex, 2007.
- "The Narcomancer," HelixHelixA helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
, reprinted in Transcriptase, 2007. - "The Brides of Heaven," HelixHelixA helix is a type of smooth space curve, i.e. a curve in three-dimensional space. It has the property that the tangent line at any point makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. Examples of helixes are coil springs and the handrails of spiral staircases. A "filled-in" helix – for...
, reprinted in Transcriptase, 2007. - "Dragon Cloud Skies," Strange HorizonsStrange HorizonsStrange Horizons is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry in every issue....
, 2005. Also an Escape Pod episode - "Red Riding-Hood's Child"" Fishnet, 2005.
- "L'Alchimista Scattered Covered Smothered" (out of print), 2004. Winner of an Honorable Mention from The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, 18th collection. Also available as an Escape Pod episode
- "Too Many Yesterdays, Not Enough Tomorrows," IdeomancerIdeomancerIdeomancer is a Canadian online speculative fiction magazine whose contents include science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, horror, flash fiction and speculative poetry, along with reviews and interviews. The first issue debuted in 1999, and in 2002 the magazine was "rebooted" with new numbering...
, 2004.