Michael Swanwick
Encyclopedia
Michael Swanwick is an American
science fiction
author. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, he began publishing in the early 1980s.
(1987), an adventurous tour of an inhabited Solar System, where the people of Earth have been subsumed by a cybernetic mass-mind; Stations of the Tide
(1991), the story of a bureaucrat's pursuit of a magician on a world soon to be altered by its 50 year tide swell; The Iron Dragon's Daughter
(1993), a fantasy with elves in Armani suits and dragons as jet fighters; Jack Faust (1997), a retelling of the Faust
legend with modern science and technology; Bones of the Earth
(2002), a time-travel
story involving dinosaur
s; and The Dragons of Babel
(2008), which is set in the same fantasy world as The Iron Dragon's Daughter.
His short fiction has been collected in Gravity's Angels
(1991), Moon Dogs
(2000), Tales of Old Earth (2000), Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures (2003), The Dog Said Bow-Wow
(2007), and The Best of Michael Swanwick (2008). A novella, Griffin's Egg, was published in book form in 1991 and is also collected in Moon Dogs. He has collaborated with other authors on several short works, including Gardner Dozois
("Ancestral Voices", "City of God", "Snow Job") and William Gibson
("Dogfight
").
Stations of the Tide won the Nebula
for best novel
in 1991, and several of his shorter works have won awards as well: the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for "The Edge of the World" in 1989, the World Fantasy Award for "Radio Waves" in 1996, and Hugos
for "The Very Pulse of the Machine
" in 1999, "Scherzo with Tyrannosaur
" in 2000, "The Dog Said Bow-Wow
" in 2002, "Slow Life
" in 2003, and "Legions in Time" in 2004.
Swanwick has written about the field as well. He published two long essays on the state of the science fiction (The User's Guide to the Postmoderns, 1986) and fantasy ("In the Tradition...", 1994), the former of which was controversial for its categorization of new SF writers into "cyberpunk" and "literary humanist" camps. Both essays were collected together in The Postmodern Archipelago 1997. A book-length interview with Gardner Dozois, Being Gardner Dozois, was published in 2001. He is a prolific contributor to the New York Review of Science Fiction. Swanwick wrote a monograph on James Branch Cabell, "What Can Be Saved From the Wreckage?" which was published in 2007, and a short literary biography of Hope Mirrlees
, Hope-in-the-Mist, which was published in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science fiction
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...
author. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, he began publishing in the early 1980s.
Biography
His published novels are In the Drift (an Ace Special, 1985), a look at the results of a more catastrophic Three Mile Island incident; Vacuum FlowersVacuum Flowers
Vacuum Flowers is a science fiction novel by Michael Swanwick, published in 1987. It is an early example of the cyberpunk genre, and features one of the earliest uses of the concept wetware....
(1987), an adventurous tour of an inhabited Solar System, where the people of Earth have been subsumed by a cybernetic mass-mind; Stations of the Tide
Stations of the Tide
Stations of the Tide is a science fiction novel by American author Michael Swanwick. Prior to being published in book form in 1991, it was serialized in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in two parts, starting in mid-December 1990....
(1991), the story of a bureaucrat's pursuit of a magician on a world soon to be altered by its 50 year tide swell; The Iron Dragon's Daughter
The Iron Dragon's Daughter
The Iron Dragon's Daughter is a 1993 novel by writer Michael Swanwick that combines fantasy and science fiction. The dark and nihilistic tale follows Jane, a changeling girl who slaves at a dragon factory, building part-magical, part-cybernetic monsters that are used as jet fighters; until she...
(1993), a fantasy with elves in Armani suits and dragons as jet fighters; Jack Faust (1997), a retelling of the Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
legend with modern science and technology; Bones of the Earth
Bones of the Earth
Bones of the Earth is a 2002 science fiction novel by Michael Swanwick. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2002, and the Hugo, Campbell, and Locus Awards in 2003.- Plot introduction :...
(2002), a time-travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
story involving dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
s; and The Dragons of Babel
The Dragons of Babel
The Dragons of Babel is a 2008 novel by American author Michael Swanwick, set in the same world as his earlier work The Iron Dragon's Daughter . It follows the plight of a young man named Will Le Fey after a crippled dragon takes up residence in his town and inside his mind...
(2008), which is set in the same fantasy world as The Iron Dragon's Daughter.
His short fiction has been collected in Gravity's Angels
Gravity's Angels
Gravity's Angels is a collection of science fiction stories by author Michael Swanwick. It was released in 1991 and was the author's first book published by Arkham House. It was published in an edition of 4,119 copies...
(1991), Moon Dogs
Moon Dogs
Moon Dogs is a collection of science fiction short stories and essays by Michael Swanwick. It was published in 2000 to commemorate his appearance as Guest of Honor at Boskone 37. It includes collaborations with Gardner Dozois and Jack Dann....
(2000), Tales of Old Earth (2000), Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures (2003), The Dog Said Bow-Wow
The Dog Said Bow-Wow
"The Dog Said Bow-Wow" is a science fiction short story by American writer Michael Swanwick, published in 2001. It won the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2002 Nebula Award for Best Short Story...
(2007), and The Best of Michael Swanwick (2008). A novella, Griffin's Egg, was published in book form in 1991 and is also collected in Moon Dogs. He has collaborated with other authors on several short works, including Gardner Dozois
Gardner Dozois
Gardner Raymond Dozois is an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004...
("Ancestral Voices", "City of God", "Snow Job") and William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
("Dogfight
Dogfight (short story)
"Dogfight" is a short story written by Michael Swanwick and William Gibson, and first published in Omni in July 1985.-Plot:A lonely ex-shoplifter who suffers from a neural block preventing him from returning to his hometown of Washington, D.C., finds a female friend, whose parents have set a neural...
").
Stations of the Tide won the Nebula
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
for best novel
Nebula Award for Best Novel
Winners of the Nebula Award for Best Novel, awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year.- Winners and other nominees :...
in 1991, and several of his shorter works have won awards as well: the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for "The Edge of the World" in 1989, the World Fantasy Award for "Radio Waves" in 1996, and Hugos
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for "The Very Pulse of the Machine
The Very Pulse of the Machine
"The Very Pulse of the Machine" is a science fiction short story published in 1998 by Michael Swanwick. It was the winner of the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. It was also nominated for the 1999 Locus award and Asimov's Reader Poll.-Plot summary:...
" in 1999, "Scherzo with Tyrannosaur
Scherzo with Tyrannosaur
"Scherzo with Tyrannosaur" is a science fiction short story published in 1999 by Michael Swanwick. It won the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2000 Locus Poll, Asimov's Reader Poll and Nebula Award.-Plot summary:...
" in 2000, "The Dog Said Bow-Wow
The Dog Said Bow-Wow
"The Dog Said Bow-Wow" is a science fiction short story by American writer Michael Swanwick, published in 2001. It won the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2002 Nebula Award for Best Short Story...
" in 2002, "Slow Life
Slow Life (novelette)
"Slow Life" is a science fiction novelette by Michael Swanwick. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2003.-Plot summary:The first explorers on Titan find that the ocean is a weird chemical soup...
" in 2003, and "Legions in Time" in 2004.
Swanwick has written about the field as well. He published two long essays on the state of the science fiction (The User's Guide to the Postmoderns, 1986) and fantasy ("In the Tradition...", 1994), the former of which was controversial for its categorization of new SF writers into "cyberpunk" and "literary humanist" camps. Both essays were collected together in The Postmodern Archipelago 1997. A book-length interview with Gardner Dozois, Being Gardner Dozois, was published in 2001. He is a prolific contributor to the New York Review of Science Fiction. Swanwick wrote a monograph on James Branch Cabell, "What Can Be Saved From the Wreckage?" which was published in 2007, and a short literary biography of Hope Mirrlees
Hope Mirrlees
Hope Mirrlees was a British translator, poet and novelist. She is best known for the 1926 Lud-in-the-Mist, a fantasy novel and influential classic, and for Paris: A Poem, a modernist poem which critic Julia Briggs deemed "modernism's lost masterpiece, a work of extraordinary energy and intensity,...
, Hope-in-the-Mist, which was published in 2009.
Novels
- In the Drift (1984)
- Vacuum FlowersVacuum FlowersVacuum Flowers is a science fiction novel by Michael Swanwick, published in 1987. It is an early example of the cyberpunk genre, and features one of the earliest uses of the concept wetware....
(1987) - Stations of the TideStations of the TideStations of the Tide is a science fiction novel by American author Michael Swanwick. Prior to being published in book form in 1991, it was serialized in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine in two parts, starting in mid-December 1990....
(1991), Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
winner, 1991; Hugo and Campbell Awards nominee, 1992; Clarke Award nominee, 1993 - The Iron Dragon's DaughterThe Iron Dragon's DaughterThe Iron Dragon's Daughter is a 1993 novel by writer Michael Swanwick that combines fantasy and science fiction. The dark and nihilistic tale follows Jane, a changeling girl who slaves at a dragon factory, building part-magical, part-cybernetic monsters that are used as jet fighters; until she...
(1993), Clarke, Locus Fantasy, and World Fantasy Awards nominee, 1994 - Jack Faust (1997), BSFA nominee, 1997; Hugo and Locus Fantasy Awards nominee, 1998
- Bones of the EarthBones of the EarthBones of the Earth is a 2002 science fiction novel by Michael Swanwick. It was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2002, and the Hugo, Campbell, and Locus Awards in 2003.- Plot introduction :...
(2002), Nebula Award nominee, 2002; Hugo, Locus SF, and Campbell Awards nominee, 2003 - The Dragons of BabelThe Dragons of BabelThe Dragons of Babel is a 2008 novel by American author Michael Swanwick, set in the same world as his earlier work The Iron Dragon's Daughter . It follows the plight of a young man named Will Le Fey after a crippled dragon takes up residence in his town and inside his mind...
(2008), Locus Fantasy Award nominee, 2009 - Dancing With Bears (published by Night Shade Books in May 2011). Continues the adventures of the far-future confidence tricksters, Darger and Surplus.
Collections
- Gravity's AngelsGravity's AngelsGravity's Angels is a collection of science fiction stories by author Michael Swanwick. It was released in 1991 and was the author's first book published by Arkham House. It was published in an edition of 4,119 copies...
(1991) - A Geography of Unknown Lands (1997)
- Moon DogsMoon DogsMoon Dogs is a collection of science fiction short stories and essays by Michael Swanwick. It was published in 2000 to commemorate his appearance as Guest of Honor at Boskone 37. It includes collaborations with Gardner Dozois and Jack Dann....
(2000) - Puck Aleshire's AbecedaryPuck Aleshire's AbecedaryPuck Aleshire’s Abecedary by Michael Swanwick, a collection of short-short stories , initially ran in The New York Review of Science Fiction at a rate of one per month for 26 months starting with Issue 111, November 1997. Each story was accompanied by a collage illustration by the journal's editor...
(2000) - Tales of Old Earth (2000)
- Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures (2003)
- Michael Swanwick's Field Guide to the Mesozoic Megafauna (2004)
- The Periodic Table of Science FictionThe Periodic Table of Science FictionThe Periodic Table of Science Fiction is a collection of 118 very short stories by science fiction author Michael Swanwick. Each story is named after an element in the periodic table, including the then-undiscovered Ununseptium....
(2005) - The Dog Said Bow-WowThe Dog Said Bow-Wow"The Dog Said Bow-Wow" is a science fiction short story by American writer Michael Swanwick, published in 2001. It won the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2002 Nebula Award for Best Short Story...
(2007) - The Best of Michael Swanwick (2008)
Selected short stories
- "Ginungagap" (1980)
- "The Gods of Mars" (1985) (with Gardner DozoisGardner DozoisGardner Raymond Dozois is an American science fiction author and editor. He was editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine from 1984 to 2004...
and Jack DannJack DannJack Dann is an American writer best known for his science fiction, an editor and a writing teacher, who has lived in Australia since 1994. He has published over seventy books, in the majority of cases as editor or co-editor of story anthologies in the science fiction, fantasy and horror genres...
) - "DogfightDogfight (short story)"Dogfight" is a short story written by Michael Swanwick and William Gibson, and first published in Omni in July 1985.-Plot:A lonely ex-shoplifter who suffers from a neural block preventing him from returning to his hometown of Washington, D.C., finds a female friend, whose parents have set a neural...
" (1985) (with William GibsonWilliam GibsonWilliam Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
) - "The Edge of the World" (1989) (Sturgeon Award winner)
- "Griffin's Egg" (1991)
- "The DeadThe Dead (story)"The Dead" is a science fiction short story published in 1996 by Michael Swanwick. It was nominated for the 1997 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and for the 1997 Nebula Award for Best Short Story.-Plot summary:...
" (1996) - "The Very Pulse of the MachineThe Very Pulse of the Machine"The Very Pulse of the Machine" is a science fiction short story published in 1998 by Michael Swanwick. It was the winner of the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. It was also nominated for the 1999 Locus award and Asimov's Reader Poll.-Plot summary:...
" (1998) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
winner) - "Radiant DoorsRadiant Doors"Radiant Doors" is a science fiction short story published in 1998 by Michael Swanwick. It was the winner of the 1999 Asimov’s Reader Poll, and was nominated for the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Short Story as well as the 2000 Nebula Award for Best Short Story....
" (1999) (Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
nominee) - "Ancient EnginesAncient Engines"Ancient Engines" is a science fiction short story published in 1999 by Michael Swanwick. It was nominated for the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Short Story as well as the 1999 Nebula Award for Best Short Story.-Plot summary:...
" (1999) (Nebula AwardNebula AwardThe Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
nominee) - "Scherzo with TyrannosaurScherzo with Tyrannosaur"Scherzo with Tyrannosaur" is a science fiction short story published in 1999 by Michael Swanwick. It won the 2000 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2000 Locus Poll, Asimov's Reader Poll and Nebula Award.-Plot summary:...
" (1999) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
winner) - "The Dog Said Bow-WowThe Dog Said Bow-Wow"The Dog Said Bow-Wow" is a science fiction short story by American writer Michael Swanwick, published in 2001. It won the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Short Story and was nominated for the 2002 Nebula Award for Best Short Story...
" (2001) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
winner) - introduces Darger and Surplus, the rogues further chronicled in the novel Dancing with Bears. - "Slow LifeSlow Life (novelette)"Slow Life" is a science fiction novelette by Michael Swanwick. It won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2003.-Plot summary:The first explorers on Titan find that the ocean is a weird chemical soup...
" (2002) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
winner) - "'Hello,' Said the Stick'Hello,' Said the Stick‘Hello,’ Said the Stick is a science fiction short story published in 2002 by Michael Swanwick. It was nominated for the 2003 Hugo Award for Best Short Story as well as the 2003 Locus Award.-Plot summary:...
" (2002) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
nominee) - "Legions in Time" (2003) (Hugo AwardHugo AwardThe Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
winner) - "Tin Marsh" (2006)
- "Urdumheim" (2007)
Essays
- "User's Guide to the Postmoderns", Asimov's, 1986
- "The Postmodern Archipelago" (1997)
External links
- Michael Swanwick Online (official home page)
- Michael Swanwick's online fiction at Free Speculative Fiction Online
- "October Leaves", a photo-story at FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...