Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Last updated
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 5182908.jpg
Adjei-Brenyah in 2019
Bornc. 1991 (age 3233) [1] [2]
The Bronx, New York
LanguageEnglish
Alma mater University at Albany, SUNY, Syracuse University
GenreSpeculative fiction
Notable works

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is an American speculative fiction author who wrote the short story collection Friday Black (2018) and his debut novel Chain-Gang All-Stars (2023). He was named one of "5 under 35 Authors" by the National Book Foundation in 2018 and won the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award in 2019. [3] Chain-Gang All-Stars was shortlisted for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction and The New York Times named it one of the ten best books of 2023. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Adjei-Brenyah was born in the Bronx, New York but grew up in Spring Valley, New York. Both of his parents are from Ghana. [5] His father was a defense attorney and his mother was a kindergarten teacher. [1] Adjei-Brenyah started writing from a young age and wrote for his high school's literature magazine. [2]

Adjei-Brenyah went to University at Albany, SUNY for his undergraduate degree, where he learned from Lynne Tillman. [2] [5] He later attended the graduate writing program at Syracuse University with the goal to study with George Saunders in the creative writing program. Saunders later became his thesis adviser and mentor. [1] Adjei-Brenyah later went on to teach in the same program. [5]

After college, Adjei-Brenyah became interested in prison abolition and worked at the Rockland Coalition to End the New Jim Crow. [2]

Writing career

Adjei-Brenyah's published works are set in near-future dystopias. They often explore the topics of exploitation, capitalism, and the societal acceptance of violence. [1] His non-fiction writing includes a forward to How a Game Lives, a collection of critical essays by Jacob Geller. [6] [7]

Friday Black

Adjei-Brenyah's debut book is a collection of 12 satirical short stories exploring many topics, including racism in modern-day America, consumerism, school shootings, and generational violence. [5] Vulture described the book as "an irreverent, genre-bending approach to ripped-from-the-headlines subject matter". [2]

Chain-Gang All-Stars

Adjei-Brenyah's first novel is set in a dystopian America where imprisoned people have the choice to leave prison by joining a gladiatorial system called the "CAPE" or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment program where they take part in televised duels to the death as part of alliances called Chain Gangs. If they manage to survive three years of battles, then they are freed. [8] [9] The book has a large cast and is written from the perspective of multiple people participating in the program, as well as activists fighting against it, fans, and the people running it. [8]

The book is a fictional novel but features many footnotes citing current laws and factual statistics about the incarceration system in the United States. [2] [10]

Chain-Gang All-Stars started as a short story for inclusion in Friday Black but became too long. [2] Adjei-Brenyah has said that he developed it into a novel because he felt he needed to spend more time exploring the main character, Loretta Thurwar. [9]

Chain-Gang All-Stars was shortlisted for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction. [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Kirkus Reviews named it one of the best books of 2023. [16] The New York Times named it one of the 10 best books of 2023. [17]

Awards and nominations

Awards for Adjei-Brenyah's writing
YearWorkAwardResultRef.
2018 Friday Black National Book Foundation: 5 Under 35Won [18]
John Leonard Prize for Best First BookFinalist [19]
2019 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award Won [20] [21]
Aspen Words Literary Prize Shortlist [22]
Dylan Thomas Prize Shortlist [23]
2020 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing Won [24]
2023 Chain-Gang All-Stars Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize Shortlist [25]
National Book Award for Fiction Shortlist [26]
Goodreads Choice Award for Science FictionNominated [27]
Goodreads Choice Award for Debut NovelNominated [28]
2024 Aspen Words Literary Prize Finalist [29]

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamora Pierce</span> American writer

Tamora Pierce is an American writer of fantasy fiction for teenagers, known best for stories featuring young heroines. She made a name for herself with her first book series, The Song of the Lioness (1983–1988), which followed the main character Alanna through the trials and triumphs of training as a knight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Crumey</span> British writer

Andrew Crumey is a novelist and former literary editor of the Edinburgh newspaper Scotland on Sunday. His works of literary fiction incorporate elements of speculative fiction, historical fiction, philosophical fiction and Menippean satire. Brian Stableford has called them "philosophical fantasies". The Spanish newspaper El Mundo called Crumey "one of the most interesting and original European authors of recent years."

The Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), is a Division of the American Library Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katherine Vaz</span> American writer (born 1955)

Katherine Vaz is a Portuguese-American writer. A Briggs-Copeland Fellow in Fiction at Harvard University (2003–2009), a 2006–2007 Fellow of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and the Fall, 2012 Harman Fellow at Baruch College in New York, she is the author of the critically acclaimed novel Above the Salt, which was chosen as one of People Magazine's Best New Books to Read in November, 2023.

The William Saroyan International Prize for Writing is a biennial literary award for fiction and nonfiction in the spirit of William Saroyan by emerging writers. It was established by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation to "encourage new or emerging writers rather than recognize established literary figures;" the prize being $12,500.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tosca Lee</span> American author of Christian fiction

Tosca Lee is a bestselling American author known for her historical novels and thrillers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J.M. Frey</span> Canadian science fiction and fantasy author

Jessica Marie FreyFRY is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy author. While she is best known for her debut novel Triptych, Frey's work encompasses poetry, academic and magazine articles, screenplays, and short stories. Frey calls herself a "professional geek".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Beth Keane</span> American writer of Irish parentage (born 1979)

Mary Beth Keane is an American writer of Irish parentage. She is the author of The Walking People (2009),Fever (2013),Ask Again, Yes (2019), and The Half Moon (2023). In 2011 she was named one of the National Book Foundation's "5 under 35," and in 2015 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship for Fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kwame Alexander</span> American writer of poetry and childrens fiction (born 1968)

Kwame Alexander is American poet, educator, publisher, Emmy® Award-winning producer, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of 40 books, including poetry, memoir, and children's fiction. His mission is to change the world, one word at a time.

Amie Kaufman is an Australian author. She has authored New York Times bestselling and internationally bestselling science fiction and fantasy for young adults. She is known for the Starbound Trilogy and Unearthed, which she co-authored with Meagan Spooner; for her series The Illuminae Files, co-authored with Jay Kristoff; and for her solo series, Elementals. Her books have been published in over 35 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Lucas (publisher)</span> Publishing executive

Lisa Lucas is an American publishing executive. From 2020 to 2024 she was senior vice president at Knopf Doubleday and from 2016 to 2020 she was executive director of the National Book Foundation.

Laura Ruby is the author of twelve books, including Bone Gap, winner of the 2016 Printz Award and finalist for the 2015 National Book Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angie Thomas</span> American author (born 1988)

Angie Thomas is an American young adult author, best known for writing The Hate U Give (2017). Her second young adult novel, On the Come Up, was released on February 25, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Orange</span> American writer (born 1982)

Tommy Orange is an American novelist and writer from Oakland, California. His first book, There There (2018), was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize and received the 2019 American Book Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Acevedo</span> Dominican-American poet and author

Elizabeth Acevedo is a Dominican-American poet and author. In September 2022, the Poetry Foundation named her the year's Young People's Poet Laureate.

<i>Friday Black</i> Book by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Friday Black is the 2018 debut book by author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. The collection of short stories explores themes surrounding black identity as it relates to a range of contemporary social issues. The stories are set in a variety of twisted near-future and dystopian settings. The book received an overall positive reception, including the naming of Adjei-Brenyah as one of the "5 Under 35 Authors" for 2018 by the National Book Foundation.

<i>A Court of Thorns and Roses</i> Book series by Sarah J. Maas

A Court of Thorns and Roses is a series by American author Sarah J. Maas, which follows the journey of Feyre Archeron after she is brought into the faerie lands of Prythian. The first book of the series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, was released in May 2015. The series centers on Feyre's adventures across Prythian and the faerie courts, following the epic love story and fierce struggle that ensues after she enters the fae lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Ifueko</span> Nigerian American writer

Jordan Ifueko is a Nigerian American writer of fantasy and young adult fiction. She is best known for her novel Raybearer, which became a New York Times bestseller, and its sequel, Redemptor. Her third novel set in the world of Raybearer, The Maid and the Crocodile, is slated for release August 2024. She also writes short stories, which have been published in Strange Horizons.

Emily Henry is an American author who is best known for her New York Times bestselling romance novels Beach Read, People We Meet on Vacation, Book Lovers, and Happy Place.

<i>Chain-Gang All-Stars</i> 2023 novel by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Chain-Gang All-Stars is a 2023 novel by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. It was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction, as well as other awards.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Borrelli, Christopher (2023-05-24). "'Chain-Gang' author Adjei-Brenyah on writing about violence". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rao, Mallika (2023-04-25). "Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Is Asking the Hard Questions". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  3. "On protecting the magic of your creative work". thecreativeindependent.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  4. The New York Times Books Staff (November 28, 2023). "The 10 Best Books of 2023". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Alter, Alexandra (2018-10-19). "'Friday Black' Uses Fantasy and Blistering Satire to Skewer Racism and Consumer Culture". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  6. King, Andrew. "After Jacob Geller's Book, More YouTube Creators Should Release Their Work In Physical Form", The Gamer, 15 March 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024
  7. How a Game Lives, Lost in Cult. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  8. 1 2 Bellot, Gabrielle (2023-05-23). "Chain-Gang All-Stars Is Gladiator Meets the American Prison System". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  9. 1 2 Parham, Jason. "Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Is the New Maestro of the Genre Novel". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  10. Shariatmadari, David (2023-07-08). "Author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah on policing in America: 'It's a kind of poison'". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  11. Harris, Elizabeth A. (October 3, 2023). "Here Are the Finalists for the 2023 National Book Awards". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  12. "The 2023 National Book Awards Longlist: Fiction". The New Yorker. September 15, 2023. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  13. "Here's the longlist for the 2023 National Book Award for Fiction". Literary Hub. September 15, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  14. Nguyen, Sophia (October 3, 2023). "Here are the finalists for the 2023 National Book Awards". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  15. "The End of the World, According to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah". Esquire. 2023-10-05. Archived from the original on 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2023-11-19.
  16. "Best of 2023". Kirkus Reviews . Archived from the original on 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-11-21.
  17. Staff, The New York Times Books (November 28, 2023). "The 10 Best Books of 2023". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  18. "5 Under 35". National Book Foundation. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  19. Ciabattari, Jane (2019-01-22). "National Book Critics Circle Announces Finalists for 2018 Awards". National Book Critics Circle. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
  20. "Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2023-07-02. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
  21. Schaub, Michael (2019-02-27). "PEN America presents literary awards to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Nafissa Thompson-Spires". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  22. "2019 PRIZE". Aspen Words. Archived from the original on 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  23. Mem: 10071784. "2019 Dylan Thomas Prize shortlist announced | Books+Publishing". Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2023-07-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. University, © Stanford; Stanford; California 94305. "Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and Jennifer Croft awarded the 2020 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing by Stanford Libraries". Stanford Libraries. Archived from the original on 2023-07-10. Retrieved 2023-07-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. "Waterstones debut fiction prize shortlist announced". Books+Publishing. 2023-07-17. Archived from the original on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
  26. "The ten contenders for the National Book Award for Fiction". National Book Foundation. 2023-07-17. Archived from the original on 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  27. "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Science Fiction!". Goodreads . Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  28. "Announcing the Goodreads Choice Winner in Best Debut Novel!". Goodreads . Archived from the original on 2023-12-25. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  29. Schaub, Michael (2024-03-14). "Aspen Words Literary Prize 2024 Finalists Revealed". Kirkus Reviews . Archived from the original on 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2024-04-28.