Liz Williams
Encyclopedia
Dr Liz Williams is a British science fiction
writer. The Ghost Sister, her first novel, was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
Williams is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge
(for which her supervisor was Peter Lipton
). She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone
, The Third Alternative
and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan
. Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. This novel brings into the modern era the Bogatyr
Ilya Muromets
and Manas the hero of the Epic of Manas
. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch
.
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...
writer. The Ghost Sister, her first novel, was published in 2001. Both this novel and her next, Empire of Bones (2002) were nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award. She is also the author of the Inspector Chen series.
Williams is the daughter of a stage magician and a Gothic novelist. She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Science from Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
(for which her supervisor was Peter Lipton
Peter Lipton
Peter Lipton was the Hans Rausing Professor and Head of the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University, and a fellow of King's College, until his unexpected death in November 2007...
). She has had short stories published in Asimov's, Interzone
Interzone (magazine)
Interzone is an award-winning British fantasy and science fiction magazine. Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth longest-running science fiction magazine in history and the longest-running British SF magazine...
, The Third Alternative
The Third Alternative
Black Static, formerly The 3rd Alternative, is an award-winning British horror magazine edited by Andy Cox. The magazine has won the British Fantasy Award for "Best Magazine" while individual stories have won other awards...
and Visionary Tongue. From the mid-nineties until 2000, she lived and worked in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
. Her experiences there are reflected in her 2003 novel Nine Layers of Sky. This novel brings into the modern era the Bogatyr
Bogatyr
The bogatyr was a medieval heroic warrior of Kievan Rus' and the Novgorodian Republic, akin to a Western European knight errant.- Kievan Rus' :...
Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets
Ilya Muromets is a Kievan Rus' epic hero. He is celebrated in numerous byliny . Along with Dobrynya Nikitich and Alyosha Popovich he is regarded as the greatest of all the legendary bogatyrs...
and Manas the hero of the Epic of Manas
Epic of Manas
The Epic of Manas is a traditional epic poem claimed by the Kyrgyz people dating to the 18th century, though it is possibly much older. In some earlier versions, however, Manas is identified as Nogay. This opens the possibility of Manas having spoken a dialect of Turki similar to that of the...
. Her novels have been published in the US and the UK, while her third novel The Poison Master (2003) has been translated into Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
.
Novels
- The Ghost Sister (June 2001) - Philip K. Dick Award nominee
- Empire of Bones (March 2002) - Philip K. Dick Award nominee
- The Poison Master (January 2003)
- Nine Layers of Sky (August 2003)
- Banner of Souls (September 2004) - Shortlisted for the 20th Arthur C. Clarke Award, Philip K. Dick Award nominee
Detective Inspector Chen
- Snake Agent (September 2005)
- The Demon and the City (August 2006)
- Precious Dragon (June 2007)
- The Shadow Pavilion (August 2009)
- The Iron Khan (December 2010)
- Morningstar (Forthcoming 2011)
Winterstrike
- Winterstrike (September 2008)
- Winterstrike sequel (Forthcoming)
- Winterstrike conclusion Forthcoming
External links
- Liz Williams's LiveJournal
- Night Shade Books publisher of the Detective Inspector Chen series and The Banquet of the Lords of Night and Other Stories
- 2006 interview at SFF Chronicles (UK)