Sarah Pinsker

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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[1][2] while her story Our Lady of the Open Road won 2016 award for Best Novelette.[3] 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 Memorial Award and been a finalist for the Hugo, World Fantasy, and Tiptree Awards.

Life[edit]

Pinsker was born in New York and lived in several places of the United States including Illinois and Texas.[4] When she was 14, her family settled in Toronto, Canada.[4] She returned to the US to attend college.[4] She currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has managed grants for a nonprofit.

In addition to writing fiction she is a singer-songwriter with the band Stalking Horses[5] and has had multiple albums released through independent labels.[6] 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.[7]

Writing[edit]

Pinsker says her writing is heavily influenced by the science fiction and literary fiction which filled her parents' home,[6] adding she is one of the rare authors who read "short stories as much as novels" when she was young.[5] Among her early influences as an author were the works of Ursula K. Le Guin[6] and Kate Wilhelm.[7] Later influences on her fiction include Octavia Butler, Karen Joy Fowler, Kij Johnson, and Kelly Link.[7]

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,[8] and Whose Future is It?.[9] 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.[8]

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.[1]

Pinsker's fiction has been called "thoughtful, subtle",[10] "creepy"[11] and "dreamlike".[12] 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."[13]

Awards[edit]

Pinsker has been nominated nine times for the Nebula Award, winning in the categories of Best Novel[1] and Best Novelette (twice)[3] as well as Best Short Story.[14] For "Two Truths and a Lie" she was awarded the Hugo Award in the category of Best Novelette in addition to the Nebula Award for the corresponding category, and in which she came 2nd place in the Locus Awards. She has also won the Philip K. Dick Award and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award along with being a five-time finalist for the Hugo through other works and a finalist for the World Fantasy and Otherwise Awards.

Source: [15]

Year Nominated Work Award Category Result Ref
2014 "In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind" Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Best Short Fiction Won [16]
Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Nominated
2015 "A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes Wide" Nebula Award Nebula–Short Story Nominated
Locus Award Locus–Short Story Nominated–29th
2016 "Our Lady of the Open Road" Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Won
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Best Short Fiction Nominated
Asimov's Reader Poll Novelette Nominated
2017 "Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea" Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Nominated [17][18]
2018 "And Then There Were (N-One)" Hugo Award Hugo–Novella Nominated [19]
Nebula Award Nebula–Novella Nominated [20]
Eugie Short Fiction Nominated
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Best Short Fiction Nominated
Locus Award Locus–Novella Nominated–7th
"Wind Will Rove" Hugo Award Hugo–Novelette Nominated
Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Nominated
Locus Award Locus–Novelette Nominated–5th
Asimov's Reader Poll Novelette Nominated
2019 "The Court Magician" Hugo Award Hugo–Short Story Nominated
Nebula Award Nebula–Short Story Nominated
World Fantasy Award WFA–Short Fiction Nominated [21]
Locus Award Locus–Short Story Nominated–9th
2020 Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea World Fantasy Award WFA–Collection Nominated
Philip K. Dick Award Paperback Won
Locus Award Locus–Collection Nominated–2nd
"The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye" Hugo Award Hugo–Novelette Nominated
Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Nominated
World Fantasy Award WFA–Short Fiction Nominated
Locus Award Locus–Novelette Nominated–8th
A Song for a New Day Nebula Award Nebula–Novel Won [22]
Locus Award Locus–First Novel Nominated–5th
Compton Crook Award First Novel Nominated
2021 "Two Truths and a Lie" Hugo Award Hugo–Novelette Won [23]
Nebula Award Nebula–Novelette Won [24]
Bram Stoker Award BSA–Long Fiction Nominated
Locus Award Locus–Novelette Nominated–2nd
2022 "Where Oaken Hearts Do Gather" Hugo Award Hugo–Short Story Won
Nebula Award Nebula–Short Story Won [14]
World Fantasy Award WFA–Short Fiction Nominated
Eugie Short Fiction Won
Locus Award Locus–Short Story Won
We Are Satellites Locus Award Locus–Scifi Novel Nominated–7th

Additionally,

Bibliography[edit]

Novels[edit]

  • Pinsker, Sarah (2019). A song for a new day. Berkley Books.
  • — (2021). We are satellites (paperback 1st ed.). Berkley Books. ISBN 978-1984802606.

Short fiction[edit]

Collections
Chapbooks
Stories[a]
Year Title First published Reprinted/collected Notes
2012 Queen for a Day Pinsker, Sarah (2012). "Queen for a Day". City Paper.
Smashing Bottles Pinsker, Sarah (2012). "Smashing Bottles". Emprise Review.
Broken Stones Sarah, Pinsker (March 2012). "Broken Stones". Every Day Fiction.
Twenty Ways the Desert Could Kill You Pinsker, Sarah (July 2012). "Twenty Ways the Desert Could Kill You". Daily Science Fiction: 20–22.
The Ants Go Marching Pinsker, Sarah (November 2012). "The Ants Go Marching". Stupefying Stories. 2 (1).
2013 A Beastly Game Pinsker, Sarah (May 31, 2013). "A Beastly Game". Electric Spec. 8 (2).
In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind Pinsker, Sarah (July 1–8, 2013). "In Joy, Knowing the Abyss Behind". Strange Horizons.
Join Our Team of Time Travel Professionals Pinsker, 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 Association Pinsker, Sarah (December 2013). "Excerpted Electronic Archives from the Founding of the Demon Pitted Track Roller Derby Association". Every Day Fiction.
2014 Monsters, Beneath the Bed and Otherwise Pinsker, Sarah (January 2014). "Monsters, Beneath the Bed and Otherwise". Fierce Family: 153–165.
The Transdimensional Horsemaster Rabbis of Mpumalanga Province Pinsker, Sarah (February 2014). "The Transdimensional Horsemaster Rabbis of Mpumalanga Province". Asimov's Science Fiction. 38 (2): 68–79.
They Sent Runners Out Pinsker, Sarah (February 2014). "They Sent Runners Out". Fireside Magazine (10).
A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes Wide Pinsker, Sarah (March–April 2014). "A Stretch of Highway Two Lanes Wide". F&SF. 126 (3&4): 110–120.
Headlong Pinsker, Sarah (March 20, 2014). "Headlong". The Future Embodied: Evolution of the Human Body.
There Will Be One Vacant Chair Pinsker, Sarah (May 2014). "There Will Be One Vacant Chair". Long Hidden: Speculative Fiction from the Margins of History: 259–267.
How a Map Works Pinsker, Sarah (June 2014). "How a Map Works". The Journal of Unlikely Cartography (9): 5–13.
The Sewell Home for the Temporally Displaced Pinsker, Sarah (June 2014). "The Sewell Home for the Temporally Displaced". Lightspeed (49).
The low hum of her Pinsker, 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 Seafarer Pinsker, Sarah (September 2014). "No Lonely Seafarer". Lightspeed (52).
Notes To My Past And/Or Alternate Selves Pinsker, Sarah (November 2014). "Notes To My Past And/Or Alternate Selves". Unidentified Funny Objects 3.
2015 Beauty & the Baby Beast Pinsker, Sarah (January 2015). "Beauty & the Baby Beast". Daily Science Fiction: 9–11.
Songs in the Key of You Pinsker, Sarah (January 2015). "Songs in the Key of You". Asimov's Science Fiction. 39 (1): 65–68.
When the Circus Lights Down Pinsker, Sarah (March–April 2015). "When the Circus Lights Down". Uncanny Magazine (3).
Last Thursday at Supervillain Supply Depot Pinsker, Sarah (April 2015). "Last Thursday at Supervillain Supply Depot". Daily Science Fiction: 10–12.
Remembery Day Pinsker, Sarah (May 2015). "Remembery Day". Apex (72).
Today's Smarthouse in Love Pinsker, Sarah (May–June 2015). "Today's Smarthouse in Love". F&SF. 128 (5&6): 49–54.
Our Lady of the Open Road Pinsker, Sarah (June 2015). "Our Lady of the Open Road". Asimov's Science Fiction. 39 (6): 84–105. Novelette
In the Dawns Between Hours Pinsker, Sarah (June 2015). "In the Dawns Between Hours". Lightspeed (61).
Pay Attention Pinsker, Sarah (July 2015). "Pay Attention". Accessing the Future.
And We Were Left Darkling Pinsker, Sarah (August 2015). "And We Were Left Darkling". Lightspeed (63).
What Wags the World Pinsker, Sarah (November 2015). "What Wags the World". Daily Science Fiction: 16.
2016 Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea Pinsker, Sarah (February 2016). "Sooner or Later Everything Falls Into the Sea". Lightspeed (69).
The Mountains His Crown Pinsker, Sarah (March 2016). "The Mountains His Crown". Beneath Ceaseless Skies (195).
Left the Century to Sit Unmoved Pinsker, Sarah (May 16, 2016). "Left the Century to Sit Unmoved". Strange Horizons.
Clearance Pinsker, Sarah (June 2016). "Clearance". Asimov's Science Fiction. 40 (6): 16–21.
Down Beneath the Bridge Yet Unbuilt Pinsker, Sarah (August 2018). "Down Beneath the Bridge Yet Unbuilt". Shattered Prism (2).
Talking to Dead People Pinsker, Sarah (September–October 2016). "Talking to Dead People". F&SF. 131 (3&4): 7–18.
Under One Roof Pinsker, Sarah (September–October 2016). "Under One Roof". Uncanny Magazine (12).
A Song Transmuted Pinsker, Sarah (November 2016). "A Song Transmuted". Cyber World. Hex Publishers.
2017 The Ones Who Know Where They Are Going Pinsker, 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 Working Pinsker, Sarah (May 2017). "The Smoke Means It's Working". Behind the Mask: An Anthology of Heroic Proportions. Meerkat Press.
Wind will rove Pinsker, Sarah (September–October 2017). "Wind will rove". Asimov's Science Fiction. 41 (9&10): 14–36. Link
Remember This for Me Pinsker, Sarah (November 2017). "Remember This for Me". Catalysts, Explorers & Secret Keepers: Women of Science Fiction. Museum of Science Fiction.
2018 The Court Magician Pinsker, Sarah (January 2018). "The Court Magician". Lightspeed.
Do As I Do, Sing As I Sing Pinsker, Sarah (March 2018). "Do As I Do, Sing As I Sing". Beneath Ceaseless Skies (246).
I Frequently Hear Music in the Very Heart of Noise Pinsker, Sarah (March–April 2018). "I Frequently Hear Music in the Very Heart of Noise". Uncanny Magazine (21).
Escape from Caring Seasons Pinsker, Sarah (May 2018). "Escape from Caring Seasons". Twelve Tomorrows: 157–180.
Lost and Found Pinsker, Sarah (December 2018). "Lost and Found". Whose Future Is It?.
2019 That Our Flag Was Still There Pinsker, Sarah (March 2019). "That Our Flag Was Still There". If This Goes On. Parvus Press.
The Narwhal Pinsker, Sarah (March 2019). "The Narwhal". Sooner or Later Everything Falls into the Sea.
Everything is Closed Today Pinsker, Sarah (May 21, 2019). "Everything is Closed Today". Do Not Go Quietly.
The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye Pinsker, Sarah (July–August 2019). "The Blur in the Corner of Your Eye". Uncanny Magazine (29).
2020 La Mer Donne Pinsker, Sarah (March 2020). "La Mer Donne". Avatars Inc.
Bigger Fish Pinsker, Sarah (March 2020). "Bigger Fish". Made to Order.
Notice Pinsker, Sarah (June 2020). "Notice". Us in Flux.
Two Truths and a Lie Pinsker, Sarah (June 17, 2020). "Two Truths and a Lie". Tor.com.
Tru Luv Pinsker, 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 Saying Pinsker, Sarah (November 10, 2021). "A Better Way of Saying". Tor.com.

———————

Bibliography notes
  1. ^ Short stories unless otherwise noted.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "2019 Nebula Awards Winners" Locus Magazine, May 30, 2020.
  2. ^ "Announcing the 2019 Nebula Awards Winners!". Tor.com. May 30, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "'People Want These Stories': Women Win Big At The Nebula Awards" by K. Tempest Bradford. NPR, May 16, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c "Sarah Pinsker: Personal Collisions". Locus Online. October 21, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Sarah Pinsker Interview – Award Winning Short Story Author" by Jean Marie Ward, Buzzy Mag, February 20, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c "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.
  7. ^ a b c "Interview with Sarah Pinsker" by Andrea Johnson, Apex Magazine, May 5, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Summary Bibliography: Sarah Pinsker, ISFDB. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "Sarah Pinsker" in Cellarius Stories, Volume 1. Cellarius, Ed., New York: 2018, ISBN 978-1-949688-02-3. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  10. ^ "2016 in Review" by Rachel Swirsky, Locus Magazine, February 2017, page 33.
  11. ^ "Interview: Sarah Pinsker" by Deborah Stanish, Uncanny Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2016
  12. ^ Gardnerspace: A Short Fiction Column" by Gardner Dozois, Locus Magazine, May 2016, page 12.
  13. ^ "Changing the face of diversity in Canadian comics and sci-fi" by Samia Madwar, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, August 30, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "SFWA Announces the Winners of the 57th Annual Nebula Awards" (Press release). Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "sfadb : Sarah Pinsker Awards". www.sfadb.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  16. ^ "2014 Campbell and Sturgeon Award Winners" Locus Magazine, June 10, 2014.
  17. ^ Award summary for Sarah Pinsker, ISFDB. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  18. ^ "SFWA Announces 2016 Nebula, Norton, and Bradbury Award Nominees! – The Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. February 20, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  19. ^ 2018 Hugo Award Finalists Announced, at Tor.com; published March 31, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018
  20. ^ 2017 Nebula Award Finalists Announced!, at Science Fiction Writers of America; published February 20, 2018. Retrieved March 31, 2018
  21. ^ "World Fantasy Awards 2019 | World Fantasy Convention". Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  22. ^ "Announcing the 2019 Nebula Awards Winners!". TOR.COM. May 30, 2020.
  23. ^ "2021 Hugo Awards". Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "SFWA Announces 56th Annual Nebula Award Winners". The Nebula Awards. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.

External links[edit]