Robert Charles Wilson
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles Wilson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.
Wilson was born in the United States
in California
, but grew up near Toronto, Ontario
. Apart from another short period in the early 1970s spent in Whittier
, California, he has lived most of his life in Canada
, and in 2007 he became a Canadian citizen. He resided for a while in Nanaimo
, British Columbia
, and briefly in Vancouver
. Currently he lives with his wife Sharry in Concord
, Ontario, just north of Toronto. He has two sons, Paul and Devon.
His work has won the Hugo Award
(for the novel Spin
), the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (for the novel The Chronoliths
), the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (for the novelette "The Cartesian Theater"), three Aurora Award
s (for the novels Blind Lake
and Darwinia
, and the short work "The Perseids"), and the Philip K. Dick Award (for the novel Mysterium). Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America is a 2010 Hugo Award
nominee in the Best Novel
category.
In addition to the novels listed below, he is the author of the short-story collection The Perseids and Other Stories, set in Toronto. His first publication appeared in the February 1975 issue of Analog Science Fiction, under the name Bob Chuck Wilson.
Author Stephen King
has called Wilson "probably the finest science-fiction author now writing".
Wilson's literary agent is Shawna McCarthy
, and his most recent books (including Blind Lake, Spin, and Axis) have been edited by Teresa Nielsen Hayden
of Tor Books
.
Spin is the first book of a trilogy that continues in Axis and finishes with Vortex. Spin won the Hugo Award for best novel
in 2006.
His novella Julian: A Christmas Story
(2006) was published by PS Publishing
in 2007 and was a finalist for the Hugo Award. A novel-length expansion, Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America was published by Tor in 2009.
Wilson was born in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but grew up near Toronto, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Apart from another short period in the early 1970s spent in Whittier
Whittier, California
Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities...
, California, he has lived most of his life in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and in 2007 he became a Canadian citizen. He resided for a while in Nanaimo
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, and briefly in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Currently he lives with his wife Sharry in Concord
Concord, Ontario
Concord is an unincorporated suburban industrial community in the City of Vaughan in York Region, located north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. According to the 2001 Census, the community has 8,255 residents ....
, Ontario, just north of Toronto. He has two sons, Paul and Devon.
His work has won the Hugo Award
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 novel Spin
Spin (novel)
Spin is a science fiction novel by author Robert Charles Wilson. It was published in 2005 and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2006. It is the first book in the Spin trilogy, with Axis published in 2007 and Vortex published in July 2011.-Plot:Set in the near future, Spin begins with the sudden...
), the John W. Campbell Memorial Award (for the novel The Chronoliths
The Chronoliths
The Chronoliths is a 2001 science fiction novel by Robert Charles Wilson. It was nominated for the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Novel and tied for the 2002 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.-Plot summary:...
), the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award (for the novelette "The Cartesian Theater"), three Aurora Award
Aurora Award
The Prix Aurora Awards are given out annually for the best Canadian science fiction and fantasy literary works, artworks, fan activities from that year, and are awarded in both English and French...
s (for the novels Blind Lake
Blind Lake
-Publication info:*Cassada, Jackie. "Blind Lake ." Library Journal 128.12 : 132.*Cannon, Peter, and Jeff Zaleski.. "BLIND LAKE ." Publishers Weekly 250.24 : 55....
and Darwinia
Darwinia (novel)
Darwinia is a 1998 science fiction, alternate history novel written by Robert Charles Wilson. It won an Aurora Award for Best Long Form in 1999, and was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel that same year....
, and the short work "The Perseids"), and the Philip K. Dick Award (for the novel Mysterium). Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America is a 2010 Hugo Award
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...
nominee in the Best Novel
Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society 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 once officially...
category.
In addition to the novels listed below, he is the author of the short-story collection The Perseids and Other Stories, set in Toronto. His first publication appeared in the February 1975 issue of Analog Science Fiction, under the name Bob Chuck Wilson.
Author Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
has called Wilson "probably the finest science-fiction author now writing".
Wilson's literary agent is Shawna McCarthy
Shawna McCarthy
Shawna Lee McCarthy is an American science fiction and fantasy editor and literary agent. She is married to science fiction artist Wayne Douglas Barlowe....
, and his most recent books (including Blind Lake, Spin, and Axis) have been edited by Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Teresa Nielsen Hayden
Teresa Nielsen Hayden is an American science fiction editor, fanzine writer, essayist, and teacher. She is a consulting editor for Tor Books. She has also worked for Federated Media Publishing, where in 2007 she revived the comment section for the blog Boing Boing...
of Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
.
Spin is the first book of a trilogy that continues in Axis and finishes with Vortex. Spin won the Hugo Award for best novel
Hugo Award for Best Novel
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society 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 once officially...
in 2006.
His novella Julian: A Christmas Story
Julian: A Christmas Story
Julian: A Christmas Story is a dystopian speculative fiction novella written by Robert Charles Wilson.-Synopsis:Julian is told from the perspective of teenager Adam Hazzard, who lives in the rural town of Williams Ford, in the state of Athabaska in 2172, at a time when technology has regressed to...
(2006) was published by PS Publishing
PS Publishing
PS Publishing is a Hornsea based publisher founded in 1999 by Peter Crowther. They specialise in novella length fiction from the fantasy, science fiction and horror genres. It has quickly become established as one of Britain's premier small presses...
in 2007 and was a finalist for the Hugo Award. A novel-length expansion, Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America was published by Tor in 2009.
Fiction
- Spin series
- SpinSpin (novel)Spin is a science fiction novel by author Robert Charles Wilson. It was published in 2005 and won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2006. It is the first book in the Spin trilogy, with Axis published in 2007 and Vortex published in July 2011.-Plot:Set in the near future, Spin begins with the sudden...
(2005)- Winner of the 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...
for Best Novel, Nominated for Campbell and Locus SF Awards, 2006. - On 2006-10-12 won the Geffen Award as the Best Translated SF Novel in Israel for 2006
- Winner of the Hugo Award
- AxisAxis (novel)Axis is a science fiction novel by author Robert Charles Wilson, published in 2007. It is a direct sequel to Wilson's Hugo Award-winning Spin, published two years earlier. The novel was a finalist for the 2008 John W...
(2007)- Nominated for the John W. Campbell Award, 2008.
- VortexVortex (Wilson novel)Vortex is a science fiction novel by author Robert Charles Wilson, published in July 2011. It is the third book in the Spin series, following Spin and Axis....
(2011)- A Spin and Axis sequel published on July 5, 2011
- Spin
- A Hidden Place (1986)
- Nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award for Best novel, 1986
- Memory Wire (1987)
- Gypsies (1988)
- The Divide (1990)
- A Bridge of Years (1991)
- Nominated for the Philip K. Dick Award for Best novel, 1991.
- The Harvest (1992)
- Mysterium (1994)
- Winner of the Philip K. Dick Award for Best novel, 1994.
- DarwiniaDarwinia (novel)Darwinia is a 1998 science fiction, alternate history novel written by Robert Charles Wilson. It won an Aurora Award for Best Long Form in 1999, and was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel that same year....
(1998)- Nominated for the Hugo and Locus SF Awards for Best novel, 1999.
- Bios (1999)
- The ChronolithsThe ChronolithsThe Chronoliths is a 2001 science fiction novel by Robert Charles Wilson. It was nominated for the 2002 Hugo Award for Best Novel and tied for the 2002 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel.-Plot summary:...
(2001)- Winner of the Campbell Award, nominated for the Hugo and Locus SF Awards for Best novel, 2001.
- Blind LakeBlind Lake-Publication info:*Cassada, Jackie. "Blind Lake ." Library Journal 128.12 : 132.*Cannon, Peter, and Jeff Zaleski.. "BLIND LAKE ." Publishers Weekly 250.24 : 55....
(2003)- Nominated for the Hugo Award for Best novel, 2004.
- Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America (2009)
- Nominated for the Hugo Award for Best novel, 2010.
External links
- Robert Charles Wilson, his personal web page.
- Actusf, a Robert Charles Wilson interview about Spin.