Paolo Bacigalupi
Encyclopedia
Paolo Tadini Bacigalupi is an American science fiction
and fantasy
writer.
He has won the Hugo
, Nebula
, Compton Crook
, Theodore Sturgeon
, and Michael L. Printz
awards, and was nominated for the National Book Award
. His fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Asimov's Science Fiction
, and the environmental journal High Country News
. His non-fiction essays have appeared in Salon.com and High Country News
, and have been syndicated in newspapers including the Idaho Statesman
, the Albuquerque Journal
, and the Salt Lake Tribune. He was a webmaster for High Country News starting in 2003.
His short fiction has been collected in Pump Six and Other Stories (Night Shade Books
, 2008). His debut novel The Windup Girl
, published by Night Shade Books in September 2009, won the Hugo
, Nebula
, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards in 2010. The Windup Girl was also named by Time Magazine as one of the Top 10 Books of 2009. Ship Breaker
, published by Little, Brown in 2010, was awarded the Michael L. Printz Award
for best young adult novel and was nominated for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
, along with many of his short stories, explores the effects of bioengineering and a world in which fossil fuels are no longer viable. Bioengineering has ravaged the world with food-borne plagues, produced tailored organisms as mimics to both cats and humans, and replaced today's fossil-fuel reliant engines with megodonts (an elephant-like beast), which convert food energy into work. Energy storage is accomplished through the use of high-capacity springs, as well as simply transporting food to feed either megodonts or human labourers. His writing deals with the ethics and possible ramifications of genetic engineering and western dominance, as well as the nature of humanity and a world in which, despite drastic changes, people remain essentially the same.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
writer.
He has won 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...
, 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...
, Compton Crook
Compton Crook Award
The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best first novel of the year in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc, at their annual Baltimore-area science fiction convention, Balticon, held on Memorial Day weekend in the...
, Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon Award
The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is given each year for the best science fiction short story of the year and is the short fiction counterpart of the Campbell award , published in English....
, and Michael L. Printz
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
awards, and was nominated for the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
. His fiction has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, and the environmental journal High Country News
High Country News
High Country News is a twice-monthly magazine published in Paonia, Colorado that primarily focuses on public policy, environmental issues, and culture in the Western United States. Founded in 1970 in Wyoming by rancher and environmentalist, Tom Bell, High Country News is a non-profit 501 corporation...
. His non-fiction essays have appeared in Salon.com and High Country News
High Country News
High Country News is a twice-monthly magazine published in Paonia, Colorado that primarily focuses on public policy, environmental issues, and culture in the Western United States. Founded in 1970 in Wyoming by rancher and environmentalist, Tom Bell, High Country News is a non-profit 501 corporation...
, and have been syndicated in newspapers including the Idaho Statesman
Idaho Statesman
The Idaho Statesman is a U.S. daily newspaper serving the Boise, Idaho metropolitan area. The paper has a circulation of 61,000 daily, 83,038 Sunday, and employs about 300 people. It is owned by The McClatchy Company....
, the Albuquerque Journal
Albuquerque Journal
-History:Its earliest predecessor, the Albuquerque Daily Journal, was first published on October 14, 1880. The newspaper is owned by the Journal Publishing Company, a family-owned business headed by president/publisher T.H. Lang; it is operated by the Albuquerque Publishing Company...
, and the Salt Lake Tribune. He was a webmaster for High Country News starting in 2003.
His short fiction has been collected in Pump Six and Other Stories (Night Shade Books
Night Shade Books
Night Shade Books is an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding...
, 2008). His debut novel The Windup Girl
The Windup Girl
The Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published in September 2009. It was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine, and as the best science fiction book of the year in the Reference and User Services Association's 2010 Reading List...
, published by Night Shade Books in September 2009, won 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...
, 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...
, and John W. Campbell Memorial Awards in 2010. The Windup Girl was also named by Time Magazine as one of the Top 10 Books of 2009. Ship Breaker
Ship Breaker
Ship Breaker is a 2010 young adult novel by Paolo Bacigalupi set in a postapocalyptic future. It was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and won the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award and the Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book...
, published by Little, Brown in 2010, was awarded the Michael L. Printz Award
Michael L. Printz Award
The Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
for best young adult novel and was nominated for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature.
Themes
The Windup GirlThe Windup Girl
The Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published in September 2009. It was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine, and as the best science fiction book of the year in the Reference and User Services Association's 2010 Reading List...
, along with many of his short stories, explores the effects of bioengineering and a world in which fossil fuels are no longer viable. Bioengineering has ravaged the world with food-borne plagues, produced tailored organisms as mimics to both cats and humans, and replaced today's fossil-fuel reliant engines with megodonts (an elephant-like beast), which convert food energy into work. Energy storage is accomplished through the use of high-capacity springs, as well as simply transporting food to feed either megodonts or human labourers. His writing deals with the ethics and possible ramifications of genetic engineering and western dominance, as well as the nature of humanity and a world in which, despite drastic changes, people remain essentially the same.
Awards and nominations
- 2011: Nominated for the Andre Norton AwardAndre Norton AwardThe Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, named to honor prolific science fiction and fantasy author Andre Norton , is a yearly juried award presented by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America to the author of an outstanding young adult science fiction or...
for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy for Ship BreakerShip BreakerShip Breaker is a 2010 young adult novel by Paolo Bacigalupi set in a postapocalyptic future. It was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and won the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award and the Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book...
, Little, Brown 2010. - 2011: Nominated for the Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe 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...
for Best Novella for The Alchemist, Subterranean Press, 2010. - 2011: Won the Michael L. Printz AwardMichael L. Printz AwardThe Michael L. Printz Award is an annual award in the United States for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature. It is named for a school librarian from Topeka, Kansas, who was a long-time active member of the Young Adult Library Services Association...
for Best Young Adult Novel for Ship Breaker, Little, Brown 2010. - 2010: Nominated for the National Book AwardNational Book AwardThe National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
for Young People's Literature for Ship Breaker, Little, Brown 2010. - 2010: Won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Novel for The Windup GirlThe Windup GirlThe Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published in September 2009. It was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine, and as the best science fiction book of the year in the Reference and User Services Association's 2010 Reading List...
, Night Shade BooksNight Shade BooksNight Shade Books is an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding...
, 2009 - 2010: Won the Locus AwardLocus AwardThe Locus Award is a literary award established in 1971 and presented to winners of Locus magazine's annual readers' poll. Currently, the Locus Awards are presented at an annual banquet...
for Best First Novel for The Windup Girl, Night Shade Books, 2009 - 2010: Won the Compton Crook AwardCompton Crook AwardThe Compton Crook Award is presented to the best first novel of the year in the field of Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, Inc, at their annual Baltimore-area science fiction convention, Balticon, held on Memorial Day weekend in the...
for Best First Novel for The Windup Girl, Night Shade Books, 2009 - 2010: Won the Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe 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...
for Best NovelHugo Award for Best NovelThe 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...
for The Windup Girl, Night Shade Books, 2009 (tied with China MievilleChina MiévilleChina Tom Miéville is an award-winning English fantasy fiction writer. He is fond of describing his work as "weird fiction" , and belongs to a loose group of writers sometimes called New Weird. He is also active in left-wing politics as a member of the Socialist Workers Party...
's The City & The CityThe City & the CityThe City & the City is a fantasy/weird fiction novel by British author China Miéville. It was published by Macmillan on 15 May 2009. In the US it was published by Del Rey Books on 26 May 2009. Also in 2009, a signed, limited edition of 500 numbered and 26 lettered copies was published in the US by...
) - 2010: Won the Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe 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...
for Best NovelNebula Award for Best NovelWinners of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.- Winners and other nominees :...
for The Windup Girl, Night Shade Books, 2009 - 2010: Nominated for Nebula Award for Best NoveletteNebula Award for Best NoveletteWinners of the Nebula Award for best Novelette. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-External links:* * *...
for "The GamblerThe Gambler (story)"The Gambler" is a science fiction novelette published in 2008 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.-Plot summary:...
" (Fast Forward 2, Pyr Books), Oct 2008 - 2009: Won the Locus Award for Best Collection, for Pump Six and Other Stories (Night Shade Books, 2008)
- 2009: Won the Locus Award for Best Novelette, for "Pump Six" (Pump Six and Other Stories, Night Shade Books, 2008)
- 2009: Nominated for Hugo Award for Best NoveletteHugo Award for Best NoveletteThe 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...
, for "The GamblerThe Gambler (story)"The Gambler" is a science fiction novelette published in 2008 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.-Plot summary:...
" (Fast Forward 2) - 2007: Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novelette, for "Yellow Card ManYellow Card Man"Yellow Card Man" is a science fiction novelette published in 2006 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Novelette...
" (Asimov's Science FictionAsimov's Science FictionAsimov's Science Fiction is an American science fiction magazine which publishes science fiction and fantasy and perpetuates the name of author and biochemist Isaac Asimov...
, December 2006) - 2006: Won the Theodore Sturgeon AwardTheodore Sturgeon AwardThe Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is given each year for the best science fiction short story of the year and is the short fiction counterpart of the Campbell award , published in English....
for "The Calorie Man" (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Oct/Nov 2005) - 2006: Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novelette for "The Calorie Man" (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Oct/Nov 2005)
- 2006: Nominated for Nebula Award for Best Novelette for "The People of Sand and SlagThe People of Sand and Slag"The People of Sand and Slag" is a science fiction novelette published in 2004 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2005 Hugo Award for Best Novelette, the 2006 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 2005 Locus Poll.-Plot summary:...
" (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February 2004) - 2005: Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Novelette for "The People of Sand and Slag" (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, February 2004)
Novels
- The Windup GirlThe Windup GirlThe Windup Girl is a biopunk science fiction novel written by Paolo Bacigalupi and published in September 2009. It was named as the ninth best fiction book of 2009 by TIME magazine, and as the best science fiction book of the year in the Reference and User Services Association's 2010 Reading List...
(Night Shade BooksNight Shade BooksNight Shade Books is an independent publishing company based in San Francisco, specializing in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. It was started in 1997 by Jason Williams, with Jeremy Lassen coming on board as a partner shortly after the company's founding...
, 2009) - Ship BreakerShip BreakerShip Breaker is a 2010 young adult novel by Paolo Bacigalupi set in a postapocalyptic future. It was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award for Young People's Literature and won the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award and the Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book...
(Little, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
, 2010) - The Drowned Cities (Little, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and CompanyLittle, Brown and Company is a publishing house established by Charles Coffin Little and his partner, James Brown. Since 2006 it has been a constituent unit of Hachette Book Group USA.-19th century:...
, 2012)
Short stories
- "Pocketful of Dharma" (1999)
- "The Fluted Girl" (2003)
- "The People of Sand and Slag" (2004)
- "The Pasho" (2004)
- "The Calorie Man" (2005)
- "The Tamarisk Hunter" (2006)
- "Pop Squad" (2006)
- "Yellow Card Man" (2006)
- "Softer" (2007)
- "Small Offerings" (2007)
- "Pump Six" (2008)
- "The Gambler"The Gambler (story)"The Gambler" is a science fiction novelette published in 2008 by Paolo Bacigalupi. It was nominated for the 2009 Nebula Award for Best Novelette and the 2009 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.-Plot summary:...
(2008)