Saladin Ahmed
Encyclopedia
Saladin Ahmed is an Arab-American science fiction
and fantasy
writer and poet. He has been a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award and the Nebula Award for Best Short Story
. His fiction has been published in book anthologies and magazines such as Strange Horizons
, Orson Scott Card
's InterGalactic Medicine Show
, Clockwork Phoenix 2, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies
. His novel trilogy The Crescent Moon Kingdoms will be published shortly by DAW Books
.
to parents of Lebanese/Egyptian/Irish/Polish descent. His father, formerly in the merchant marine, worked both in a factory and as a community organizer. His mother was a political activist.
After graduating high school Ahmed attended Henry Ford Community College
before transferring to the University of Michigan
in Ann Arbor. After receiving his B.A. in American Studies, Ahmed earned an MFA at Brooklyn College
and an MA in English from Rutgers University
.
In 2007 Ahmed married songwriter/research psychologist Hayley Thompson. They have twins, and live in a suburb of Detroit.
, Orson Scott Card
's InterGalactic Medicine Show
, Clockwork Phoenix 2, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies
. In 2010, he was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
Ahmed's story "Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela," originally published in Clockwork Phoenix 2, was a finalist for the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Short Story
. His story "Where Virtue Lives," originally published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies
, was a finalist for the 2009 Harper’s Pen Award.
His novel trilogy The Crescent Moon Kingdoms will be published by DAW Books
. The novels are fantasies inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. The first book in the series, Throne of the Crescent Moon, is forthcoming from DAW Books in February 2012.
Ahmed's poetry has been published in various literary journals and books and has been awarded fellowships from the University of Michigan, Brooklyn College, and the Bronx Council on the Arts.
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...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
writer and poet. He has been a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award and the Nebula Award for Best Short Story
Nebula Award for Best Short Story
Winners of the '“Nebula Award for Best Short Story”'. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-Winners and nominees:-External links:* *...
. His fiction has been published in book anthologies and magazines such as Strange Horizons
Strange Horizons
Strange Horizons is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry in every issue....
, Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
's InterGalactic Medicine Show
Intergalactic Medicine Show
InterGalactic Medicine Show is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. It was founded by multiple award-winning author Orson Scott Card. An anthology also called Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show was published by Tor in August, 2008, featuring selected stories from...
, Clockwork Phoenix 2, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a fantasy adventure online magazine published in the United States by Firkin Press.-History:Beneath Ceaseless Skies first issue was released on October 9, 2008 featuring stories by Chris Willrich and David D. Levine. It was the runner-up for the 2008 Million Writers Award...
. His novel trilogy The Crescent Moon Kingdoms will be published shortly by DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
.
Life
Ahmed was born in 1975 in Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to parents of Lebanese/Egyptian/Irish/Polish descent. His father, formerly in the merchant marine, worked both in a factory and as a community organizer. His mother was a political activist.
After graduating high school Ahmed attended Henry Ford Community College
Henry Ford Community College
Henry Ford Community College is a public two-year college located in Dearborn, Michigan. The school, established in 1938, is accredited by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Michigan Commission on College Accreditation. The school was originally named Fordson Junior College...
before transferring to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in Ann Arbor. After receiving his B.A. in American Studies, Ahmed earned an MFA at Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
and an MA in English from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
In 2007 Ahmed married songwriter/research psychologist Hayley Thompson. They have twins, and live in a suburb of Detroit.
Writings
Ahmed's science fiction and fantasy stories have been published in a number of magazines and book anthologies, including Strange HorizonsStrange Horizons
Strange Horizons is an online speculative fiction magazine. It also features speculative poetry in every issue....
, Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
's InterGalactic Medicine Show
Intergalactic Medicine Show
InterGalactic Medicine Show is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. It was founded by multiple award-winning author Orson Scott Card. An anthology also called Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show was published by Tor in August, 2008, featuring selected stories from...
, Clockwork Phoenix 2, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a fantasy adventure online magazine published in the United States by Firkin Press.-History:Beneath Ceaseless Skies first issue was released on October 9, 2008 featuring stories by Chris Willrich and David D. Levine. It was the runner-up for the 2008 Million Writers Award...
. In 2010, he was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
Ahmed's story "Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela," originally published in Clockwork Phoenix 2, was a finalist for the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Short Story
Nebula Award for Best Short Story
Winners of the '“Nebula Award for Best Short Story”'. The stated year is that of publication; awards are given in the following year. Winning titles are listed first, with other nominees listed below.-Winners and nominees:-External links:* *...
. His story "Where Virtue Lives," originally published in Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies is a fantasy adventure online magazine published in the United States by Firkin Press.-History:Beneath Ceaseless Skies first issue was released on October 9, 2008 featuring stories by Chris Willrich and David D. Levine. It was the runner-up for the 2008 Million Writers Award...
, was a finalist for the 2009 Harper’s Pen Award.
His novel trilogy The Crescent Moon Kingdoms will be published by DAW Books
DAW Books
DAW Books is an American science fiction and fantasy publisher, founded by Donald A. Wollheim following his departure from Ace Books in 1971. The company therefore claims to be "the first publishing company ever devoted exclusively to science fiction and fantasy." The first DAW Book published was...
. The novels are fantasies inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. The first book in the series, Throne of the Crescent Moon, is forthcoming from DAW Books in February 2012.
Ahmed's poetry has been published in various literary journals and books and has been awarded fellowships from the University of Michigan, Brooklyn College, and the Bronx Council on the Arts.
Short stories
- "The Faithful Soldier, Prompted" - Apex Magazine 18, Nov 2010
-
- podcast by StarShipSofaStarShipSofaStarShipSofa is a Hugo-Award-winning science fiction podcast from the UK hosted and edited by Tony C. Smith. It was the first ever podcast to be both nominated for and win a Hugo Award. StarShipSofa was also nominated for Best Fan Podcast in the 2007 Parsec Awards...
- "Mister Hadj's Sunset Ride” - Beneath Ceaseless Skies, May 2010
- "General Akmed's Revenge?" - Expanded Horizons 16, Mar 2010
- "Doctor Diablo Goes Through The Motions" - Strange Horizons, Feb 2010
- podcast by StarShipSofa
- podcast by DrabbleCast
- "Judgment of Swords and Souls" - Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine ShowIntergalactic Medicine ShowInterGalactic Medicine Show is an American online fantasy and science fiction magazine. It was founded by multiple award-winning author Orson Scott Card. An anthology also called Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show was published by Tor in August, 2008, featuring selected stories from...
- "Hooves and the Hovel of Abdel Jameela" - Clockwork Phoenix 2, ed. by Mike Allen (Norilana Books, Jul 2009)
- Finalist for the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Short Story
- podcast by PodCastle
- "Where Virtue Lives - Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apr 2009
- Finalist for the 2009 Harper’s Pen Award.
- "Judgment of Swords and Souls" - Orson Scott Card's InterGalactic Medicine Show
Poetry
Ahmed's poetry has appeared in the following journals and anthologies:- Callaloo Volume 32, Issue 4 (2009)
- Against Agamemnon: War Poetry (WaterWood Press 2009)
- Inclined to Speak: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Poetry (University of Arkansas Press 2008)
- Margie: The American Journal of Poetry Volume 6 (2007)
- We Begin Here: Poems for Palestine and Lebanon (Interlink Books 2007)
- The Brooklyn Review #19 (2002)
- The Brooklyn Review #18 (2001)
- Big City Lit (2001)
- Mizna Volume 3, Issue 1 (2001)
- Abandon Automobile: Detroit City Poetry (Wayne State University Press 2001)
- Post Gibran: Anthology of New Arab American Writing' (Kitab/Syracuse University Press 2000)
- Arab Detroit: From Margin to Mainstream (Wayne State University Press 2000)