What can readers expect next from the winners of the 2019 Locus Awards?
Since 1971, the Locus Awards have honored notable authors and their works, highlighting promising new voices in science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and commemorating authors whose legacies have defined the entire field of speculative fiction. Chosen by readers, the list of Locus nominees and winners also communicates the stories that excited us in the previous year, and it looks like there’s a lot yet to come from this year’s roster of Locus winners!
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal—Science Fiction Novel Winner
The first two novels in the alternate history Lady Astronaut series—The Calculating Stars and The Fated Sky—comprised a duology, but Mary Robinette Kowal isn’t done with the series yet. Books three and four—The Relentless Moon and The Derivative Base—are scheduled for publication in 2020 and 2022, respectively, with Tor Books. A chronological timeframe breakdown of all the Lady Astronaut stories is available on Kowal’s website.
Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik—Fantasy Novel Winner
With the Temaire series behind her, Novik has her attention turned towards anthologies. She has one short story published in Unfettered III, and will be a contributing author for The Mythic Dream, out in August 2019.
The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay— Horror Novel Winner
Tremblay’s novel about a family terrorized by strangers on vacation might make its way to the big screen, as FilmNation has acquired feature rights for the book.
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland—Young Adult Novel Winner
The YA and middle-grade SFF writer has a sequel to Dread Nation on its way, as well as a new Star Wars novel due out in October—Spark of Resistance, set prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. Ireland also has a short story in the anthology A Phoenix First Must Burn, a collection centered around black girl magic through the lens of sci-fi.
Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse—Winner of First Novel
Not only has Rebecca Roanhorse’s first novel won a Locus Award, it’s also being translated into Catalan. Roanhorse has been busy in 2019: Storm of Locusts, book two in her Sixth World series, published in April, and her Star Wars novel Resistance Reborn arrives in Novemeber.
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells—Novella Winner
After four novellas, Martha Wells continues the Murderbot series with Network Effect, a full novel slated for publication in May 2020 with Tor.com Publishing.
The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander— Novelette Winner
Bolander has an upcoming story, “A Bird, A Song, A Revolution”, publishing in Lightspeed Magazine. Bolander is also working on a full-length novel—in January she shared an excerpt on her website. This tidbit about the process is greath:
So I’m a firm believer in transparency of process. Stories and books can and do go through a million iterations before they hit the presses, and first drafts are most often garbage. That is, I am told, the purpose of first drafts, to be hot steaming August rat fuel.
“The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington” by Phenderson Djeli Clark—Short Story Winner
P. Djeli Clark wrote on his website that 2019 might be his best year as a science fiction fantasy writer. He’s not wrong—Clark published The Haunting of Tram Car 015 back in February with Tor.com Publishing, and both The Black God’s Drum and The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington have been making the rounds on the awards circuit. Additionally, Clark has announced a new novel in the works, set in the same historical fantasy universe as “A Dead Djinn in Cairo”. More on that announcement here!
The Book of Magic, Gardner Dozois, ed.—Anthology Winner
The Book of Magic anthology, edited by the late Gardner Dozois, is following the pattern of its anthology predecessor The Book of Swords. A part two is allegedly coming to print, although no date has been set.
How Long ’til Black Future Month? by N.K. Jemisin—Collection Winner
The Hugo-award winning author is expanding into other media! Jemisin’s The Fifth Season has been optioned for a drama series with TNT, and the author has been working on a Green Lantern comic series with DC Comics. Release dates are not yet known for either.
The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition by Charles Vess—Art Book and Artist Winner
Award-winning illustrator Charles Vess won two Locus Awards this year. His collaboration with Ursula K. LeGuin for the Earthsea series reprint was a four-year process. Vess will next be appearing as a guest at ReaderCon July 11-14, and at San Diego Comic-Con July 18-21.
Mary Anne Mohanraj—Community Outreach and Development Award
Mary Anne Mohanraj is the second winner of the Community Outreach and Development Award, which recognizes service to the field. Mohanraj has an extensive writing and editing career, serving on various literary journals and co-authoring a collection, Without a Map, with Nnedi Okorafor. Mohanraj reposted her acceptance speech for the Locus Awards on her website.
One of the best things I’ve done in my life was starting Strange Horizons, with a team of thirty hardy volunteers who made it so much better than I could have possibly done on my own. Every one of these projects was a group effort, and we’ve had so much fun, working together to improve this genre that we love so much, and geeking out intensely along the way.
