Sarah Pinsker

Last updated

Sarah Pinsker
OccupationWriter
LanguageEnglish
NationalityAmerican
GenreScience fiction, fantasy
Years active2012–present
Website
sarahpinsker.com

Sarah Pinsker is an American science fiction and fantasy author. She is a nine-time finalist for the Nebula Award, and her debut novel A Song for a New Day won the 2019 Nebula for Best Novel while her story "Our Lady of the Open Road" won the 2016 Nebula Award for Best Novelette. Her novelette "Two Truths and a Lie" received both the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. Her fiction has also won the Philip K. Dick Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award and been a finalist for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and Tiptree Awards.

Contents

Life

Pinsker was born in New York and lived in several places of the United States including Illinois and Texas. [1] When she was 14, her family settled in Toronto, Canada. [1] She returned to the US to attend Goucher College where she studied history.

In addition to writing fiction she is a singer-songwriter with the band Stalking Horses [2] and has had multiple albums released through independent labels. [3] She also volunteers as director at large for the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and hosts the Baltimore Science Fiction Society's Dangerous Voices Variety Hour reading series. [4]

Writing

Pinsker says her writing is heavily influenced by the science fiction and literary fiction which filled her parents' home, [3] adding she is one of the rare authors who read "short stories as much as novels" when she was young. [2] Among her early influences as an author were the works of Ursula K. Le Guin [3] and Kate Wilhelm. [4] Later influences on her fiction include Octavia Butler, Karen Joy Fowler, Kij Johnson, and Kelly Link. [4]

Pinsker started out publishing her short fiction in magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction , Fantasy & Science Fiction , Lightspeed, Strange Horizons , Daily Science Fiction, the Journal of Unlikely Cartography, and Fireside. Anthologies containing her stories include Long Hidden, How to Live on Other Planets, Queers Destroy Science Fiction, [5] and Whose Future Is It?. [6] Among the collections of the "year's best" stories which include her stories are The Best Science Fiction of the Year Volume 2, Year's Best Weird Fiction Vol 2, Year's Best Young Adult Speculative Fiction 2015, The Year's Best YA Speculative Fiction and The Year's Best Military and Adventure Fiction 2015. [5]

In 2019, her debut novel A Song for a New Day was published. The novel follows the life of a musician in a future where pandemics and terrorism makes public events such as concerts illegal. In 2020, it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel of 2019. [7]

Pinsker's fiction has been called "thoughtful, subtle", [8] "creepy" [9] and "dreamlike". [10] Speaking of her fiction, Pinsker says "It is a good time to be someone who has something to say about a group or a personal experience that hasn't been touched on before. Science fiction looks at the world through a slightly different lens, so it's fun to put that lens onto new experiences." [11]

Awards

YearWorkAwardCategoryResultRef.
2013"In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind" Nebula Award Novelette Finalist [12]
2014 Theodore Sturgeon Award —Won [13]
"A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes Wide" Nebula Award Short Story Finalist [14]
2015"Our Lady of the Open Road" Nebula Award Novelette Won [15]
2016 Theodore Sturgeon Award —Finalist [16]
"Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea" Nebula Award Novelette Finalist [17]
2017 And Then There Were (N-One) Nebula Award Novella Finalist [18]
"Wind Will Rove" Nebula Award Novelette Finalist [18]
2018"And Then There Were (N-One)" Eugie Award —Finalist [19]
Hugo Award Novella Finalist [20]
Locus Award Novella Finalist [21]
Theodore Sturgeon Award —Finalist [22]
"The Court Magician" Nebula Award Short Story Finalist [23]
"Wind Will Rove" Hugo Award Novelette Finalist [20]
Locus Award Novelette Finalist [21]
2019"The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye" Nebula Award Novelette Finalist [7]
"The Court Magician" Hugo Award Short Story Finalist [24]
Locus Award Short Story Finalist [25]
World Fantasy Award Short Fiction Finalist [26]
A Song for a New Day Nebula Award Novel Won [7]
2020"The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye" Hugo Award Novelette Finalist [27]
Locus Award Novelette Finalist [28]
World Fantasy Award Short Fiction Finalist [29]
A Song for a New Day Compton Crook Award —Finalist [30]
Locus Award First Novel Finalist [28]
Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea Locus Award CollectionFinalist [28]
Philip K. Dick Award —Won [31]
World Fantasy Award Collection Finalist [29]
"Two Truths and a Lie" Bram Stoker Award Long Fiction Finalist [32]
Nebula Award Novelette Won [33]
2021 Hugo Award Novelette Won [34]
Locus Award Novelette Finalist [35]
"Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather" Nebula Award Short Story Won [36]
2022We Are Satellites Locus Award Science Fiction Novel Finalist [37]
"Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather" Eugie Award —Won [38]
Hugo Award Short Story Won [39]
Locus Award Short Story Won [37]
World Fantasy Award Short Fiction Finalist [40]
2023"Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea" Seiun Award Translated Short StoryWon [41]
2024Lost Places Locus Award Collection Finalist [42]
"One Man's Treasure" Hugo Award Novelette Finalist [43]
Locus Award Novelette Finalist [42]
"There's a Door to the Land of the Dead in the Land of the Dead" Locus Award Short Story Finalist [42]
2025Haunt Sweet Home Locus Award Novella Finalist [44]
Signs of Life Hugo Award Novelette Finalist [45]

Bibliography

Novels

Chapbooks

Collections

Short fiction

Note: [a]

YearTitleFirst publishedReprinted/collectedNotes
2012Queen for a DayPinsker, Sarah (2012). "Queen for a Day". City Paper.
Smashing BottlesPinsker, Sarah (2012). "Smashing Bottles". Emprise Review.
Broken StonesSarah, Pinsker (March 2012). "Broken Stones". Every Day Fiction.
Twenty Ways the Desert Could Kill YouPinsker, Sarah (July 2012). "Twenty Ways the Desert Could Kill You". Daily Science Fiction : 20–22.
The Ants Go MarchingPinsker, Sarah (November 2012). "The Ants Go Marching". Stupefying Stories. 2 (1).
2013A Beastly GamePinsker, Sarah (May 31, 2013). "A Beastly Game". Electric Spec. 8 (2).
In Joy, Knowing the Abyss BehindPinsker, Sarah (July 1–8, 2013). "In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind". Strange Horizons .
Join Our Team of Time Travel ProfessionalsPinsker, Sarah (July 2013). "Join Our Team of Time Travel Professionals". Daily Science Fiction : 18.
Excerpted Electronic Archives from the Founding of the Demon Pitted Track Roller Derby AssociationPinsker, Sarah (December 2013). "Excerpted Electronic Archives from the Founding of the Demon Pitted Track Roller Derby Association". Every Day Fiction.
2014Monsters, Beneath the Bed and OtherwisePinsker, Sarah (January 2014). "Monsters, Beneath the Bed and Otherwise". Fierce Family: 153–165.
The Transdimensional Horsemaster Rabbis of Mpumalanga ProvincePinsker, Sarah (February 2014). "The Transdimensional Horsemaster Rabbis of Mpumalanga Province". Asimov's Science Fiction. 38 (2): 68–79.
They Sent Runners OutPinsker, Sarah (February 2014). "They Sent Runners Out". Fireside Magazine (10).
A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes WidePinsker, Sarah (March–April 2014). "A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes Wide". F&SF . 126 (3&4): 110–120.
HeadlongPinsker, Sarah (March 20, 2014). "Headlong". The Future Embodied: Evolution of the Human Body.
There Will Be One Vacant ChairPinsker, Sarah (May 2014). "There Will Be One Vacant Chair". Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History: 259–267.
How a Map WorksPinsker, Sarah (June 2014). "How a Map Works". The Journal of Unlikely Cartography (9): 5–13.
The Sewell Home for the Temporally DisplacedPinsker, Sarah (June 2014). "The Sewell Home for the Temporally Displaced". Lightspeed (49).
The Low Hum of HerPinsker, Sarah (August 2014). "The low hum of her". Asimov's Science Fiction. 38 (8): 70–73.Merriam, Joanne, ed. (2015). How to live on other planets : a handbook for aspiring aliens. Upper Rubber Boot Books.
No Lonely SeafarerPinsker, Sarah (September 2014). "No Lonely Seafarer". Lightspeed (52).
Notes to My Past and/or Alternate SelvesPinsker, Sarah (November 2014). "Notes To My Past And/Or Alternate Selves". Unidentified Funny Objects 3.
2015Beauty & the Baby BeastPinsker, Sarah (January 2015). "Beauty & the Baby Beast". Daily Science Fiction : 9–11.
Songs in the Key of YouPinsker, Sarah (January 2015). "Songs in the Key of You". Asimov's Science Fiction. 39 (1): 65–68.
When the Circus Lights DownPinsker, Sarah (March–April 2015). "When the Circus Lights Down". Uncanny Magazine (3).
Last Thursday at Supervillain Supply DepotPinsker, Sarah (April 2015). "Last Thursday at Supervillain Supply Depot". Daily Science Fiction : 10–12.
Remembery DayPinsker, Sarah (May 2015). "Remembery Day". Apex (72).
Today's Smarthouse in LovePinsker, Sarah (May–June 2015). "Today's Smarthouse in Love". F&SF . 128 (5&6): 49–54.
Our Lady of the Open RoadPinsker, Sarah (June 2015). "Our Lady of the Open Road". Asimov's Science Fiction. 39 (6): 84–105.Novelette
In the Dawns Between HoursPinsker, Sarah (June 2015). "In the Dawns Between Hours". Lightspeed (61).
Pay AttentionPinsker, Sarah (July 2015). "Pay Attention". Accessing the Future.
And We Were Left DarklingPinsker, Sarah (August 2015). "And We Were Left Darkling". Lightspeed (63).
What Wags the WorldPinsker, Sarah (November 2015). "What Wags the World". Daily Science Fiction : 16.
2016Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the SeaPinsker, Sarah (February 2016). "Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea". Lightspeed (69).
The Mountains His CrownPinsker, Sarah (March 2016). "The Mountains His Crown". Beneath Ceaseless Skies (195).
Left the Century to Sit UnmovedPinsker, Sarah (May 16, 2016). "Left the Century to Sit Unmoved". Strange Horizons .
ClearancePinsker, Sarah (June 2016). "Clearance". Asimov's Science Fiction. 40 (6): 16–21.
Down Beneath the Bridge Yet UnbuiltPinsker, Sarah (August 2018). "Down Beneath the Bridge Yet Unbuilt". Shattered Prism (2).
Talking to Dead PeoplePinsker, Sarah (September–October 2016). "Talking to Dead People". F&SF . 131 (3&4): 7–18.
Under One RoofPinsker, Sarah (September–October 2016). "Under One Roof". Uncanny Magazine (12).
A Song TransmutedPinsker, Sarah (November 2016). "A Song Transmuted". Cyber World. Hex Publishers.
2017The Ones Who Know Where They Are GoingPinsker, Sarah (March 2017). "The Ones Who Know Where They Are Going". Asimov's Science Fiction. 41 (3&4): 67–69.
And Then There Were (N-One) Pinsker, Sarah (March–April 2017). "And Then There Were (N-One)". Uncanny Magazine (15): 49–97.
The Smoke Means It's WorkingPinsker, Sarah (May 2017). "The Smoke Means It's Working". Behind the Mask: An Anthology of Heroic Proportions. Meerkat Press.
Wind Will RovePinsker, Sarah (September–October 2017). "Wind will rove". Asimov's Science Fiction. 41 (9&10): 14–36. Link
Remember This for MePinsker, Sarah (November 2017). "Remember This for Me". Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction. Museum of Science Fiction.
2018The Court MagicianPinsker, Sarah (January 2018). "The Court Magician". Lightspeed .
Do As I Do, Sing As I SingPinsker, Sarah (March 2018). "Do As I Do, Sing As I Sing". Beneath Ceaseless Skies (246).
I Frequently Hear Music in the Very Heart of NoisePinsker, Sarah (March–April 2018). "I Frequently Hear Music in the Very Heart of Noise". Uncanny Magazine (21).
Escape from Caring SeasonsPinsker, Sarah (May 2018). "Escape from Caring Seasons". Twelve Tomorrows: 157–180.
Lost and FoundPinsker, Sarah (December 2018). "Lost and Found". Whose Future Is It?.
2019That Our Flag Was Still TherePinsker, Sarah (March 2019). "That Our Flag Was Still There". If This Goes On. Parvus Press.
The NarwhalPinsker, Sarah (March 2019). "The Narwhal". Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea.
Everything is Closed TodayPinsker, Sarah (May 21, 2019). "Everything is Closed Today". Do Not Go Quietly.
The Blur in the Corner of Your EyePinsker, Sarah (July–August 2019). "The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye". Uncanny Magazine (29).
2020La Mer DonnePinsker, Sarah (March 2020). "La Mer Donne". Avatars Inc.
Bigger FishPinsker, Sarah (March 2020). "Bigger Fish". Made to Order.
NoticePinsker, Sarah (June 2020). "Notice". Us in Flux.
Two Truths and a LiePinsker, Sarah (June 17, 2020). "Two Truths and a Lie". Tor.com .
Tru LuvPinsker, Sarah (December 2020). "Tru Love". Escape Pod (765).
2021 Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather Pinsker, Sarah (March–April 2021). "Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather". Uncanny Magazine (39).
A Better Way of SayingPinsker, Sarah (November 10, 2021). "A Better Way of Saying". Tor.com .

———————

Bibliography notes
  1. ↑ Short stories unless otherwise noted.

References

  1. 1 2 "Sarah Pinsker: Personal Collisions". Locus Online. October 21, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Sarah Pinsker Interview – Award Winning Short Story Author [ usurped ]" by Jean Marie Ward, Buzzy Mag, February 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Destroying Science Fiction: An Interview with Nebula Award Winning Writer, Sarah Pinsker Archived March 5, 2017, at the Wayback Machine " by Michael B. Tager, What Weekly, September 22, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Interview with Sarah Pinsker" by Andrea Johnson, Apex Magazine, May 5, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Summary Bibliography: Sarah Pinsker, ISFDB. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sarah Pinsker" in Cellarius Stories, Volume 1. Cellarius, Ed., New York: 2018, ISBN   9781949688023. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "2019 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 30, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  8. ↑ "2016 in Review" by Rachel Swirsky, Locus Magazine, February 2017, page 33.
  9. ↑ "Interview: Sarah Pinsker" by Deborah Stanish, Uncanny Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2016
  10. ↑ Gardnerspace: A Short Fiction Column" by Gardner Dozois, Locus Magazine, May 2016, page 12.
  11. ↑ "Changing the face of diversity in Canadian comics and sci-fi" by Samia Madwar, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, August 30, 2016.
  12. ↑ "2013 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 17, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  13. ↑ "2014 Campbell and Sturgeon Award Winners". Locus. June 10, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  14. ↑ "2014 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. June 6, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  15. ↑ "2015 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 14, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2016 Campbell and Sturgeon Awards Winners". Locus. August 22, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  17. ↑ "2016 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 20, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  18. 1 2 "2017 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 19, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  19. ↑ "2018 Eugie Award Finalists". Locus. May 22, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  20. 1 2 "2018 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus. August 19, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  21. 1 2 "2018 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 23, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  22. ↑ "2018 Campbell and Sturgeon Awards Winners". Locus. June 25, 2018. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2018 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 18, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  24. ↑ "2019 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locus. August 18, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  25. ↑ "2019 Locus Awards Finalists". Locus. May 7, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  26. ↑ "2019 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. May 3, 2019. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ "2020 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. July 31, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 "2020 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 27, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  29. 1 2 "2020 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. November 1, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Martine Wins Compton Crook Award". Locus. April 13, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  31. ↑ Mike Glyer (April 10, 2020). "2020 Philip K. Dick Award". File 770 . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  32. ↑ "2020 Soker Awards Winners". Locus. May 24, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  33. ↑ "2020 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. June 5, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  34. ↑ "2021 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. December 18, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  35. ↑ "2021 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 26, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  36. ↑ "2021 Nebula Awards Winners". Locus. May 21, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "2022 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 25, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  38. ↑ "2022 Eugie Award Winner". Locus. September 7, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  39. ↑ "2022 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. September 4, 2022. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  40. ↑ Molly Templeton (November 7, 2022). "Announcing the 2022 World Fantasy Awards Winners". Reactor . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  41. ↑ "2023 Seiun Awards Winners". Locus. August 7, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  42. 1 2 3 "2024 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  43. ↑ "2024 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. August 11, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  44. ↑ "2025 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. June 21, 2025. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  45. ↑ "2025 Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding Awards Winners". Locus. August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
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