Mary Robinette Kowal

Mary Robinette Kowal
Born	Mary Robinette Harrison (1969-02-08) February 8, 1969 (age 55) Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation	puppeteer author voice actor
Nationality	American
Alma mater	East Carolina University
Genre	Science fiction, fantasy, fantasy of manners
Notable works	The Calculating Stars Shades of Milk and Honey "Evil Robot Monkey" "For Want of a Nail"
Notable awards	John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (2008) Hugo Award for Best Short Story (2011) Hugo Award for Best Related Work (2013) Hugo Award for Best Novelette (2014) Nebula Award for Best Novel (2018) Hugo Award for Best Novel (2019)
Signature
Website
www.maryrobinettekowal.com

Mary Robinette Kowal (née Harrison; born February 8, 1969)^[1] is an American author, translator, art director, and puppeteer.^[2] She has worked on puppetry for shows including Jim Henson Productions and the children's show LazyTown. As an author, she is a four-time Hugo Award winner, and served as the president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America from 2019-2021.

Early life

Mary Robinette Harrison was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. She was named after both of her grandmothers, and describes her given name, "Mary Robinette," as a double first name.^[3] She attended William G. Enloe High School,^[4][5] and studied at East Carolina University. She graduated with a degree in Art Education with a minor in theater and began work as a professional puppeteer in 1989.

Career

Puppetry and art direction

Kowal has performed for the Center for Puppetry Arts, Jim Henson Productions; and her own production company, Other Hand Productions.^[6] She also worked in Iceland on the children's television show LazyTown for two seasons.^[7] She was accepted as a participant in a Sesame Puppetry Workshop.^[8]

Kowal served as art director for Shimmer Magazine and in 2010 was named art director for Weird Tales.^[9]

Literary work

In 2008, Kowal won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.^[10]

Kowal's work as an author includes "For Solo Cello, op. 12",^[11] (originally published in Cosmos Magazine and reprinted in Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition,^[12]) which made the preliminary ballot for the 2007 Nebula Awards.^[13] Her fiction has also appeared in Talebones Magazine, Strange Horizons, and Apex Digest, among other venues.^[14] Her debut novel Shades of Milk and Honey was nominated for the 2010 Nebula Award for Best Novel.^[15] Two of her short fiction works have been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story: "Evil Robot Monkey" in 2009^[16] and "For Want of a Nail", which won the award in 2011.^[17] Her novelette "The Lady Astronaut of Mars" won the 2014 Hugo Award for Best Novelette.^[18] The Calculating Stars, the first novel in her Lady Astronaut series, won the 2019 Hugo Award for Best Novel, the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novel, and the 2018 Sidewise Award for Alternate History.^[19][20][21]

Kowal translated the 2021 novel The Night Guest, by Hildur Knútsdóttir, from Icelandic into English, which was published in 2024. Kowal studied Icelandic while living in Reykjavík and working for the show LazyTown. It is Kowal's first work of translation.^[22]

Kowal served as secretary of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America for two years. She was elected to the position of SFWA Vice President in 2010, and was elected SFWA President in 2019.^[23] In July 2018, after criticism^[24] that many authors who were Hugo award finalists at the August 2018 World Science Fiction Convention had not been selected to participate on that year's panels, Kowal took over as programming chair.^[25] She also served as chair of the DisCon III the 2021 Worldcon after the original chairs resigned.^[26]

Audio work

After appearing several times as a guest on the podcast Writing Excuses, Kowal became a full-time cast member at the start of the sixth season in 2011.^[27]

Kowal is a voice actor and has recorded audiobooks for authors including John Scalzi, Seanan McGuire, Cory Doctorow and Kage Baker.^[28]

Awards and nominations

Year[29]	Title	Award	Category	Result	Ref
2008	—	John W. Campbell Award	—	Won	[30]
	"Evil Robot Monkey"	Hugo Award	Hugo–Short Story	Shortlisted	[31]
2009	"First Flight"	Locus Award	Locus–Novelette	Nominated	[32]
2010	Shades of Milk and Honey	Nebula Award	Nebula–Novel	Shortlisted	[33]
		Locus Award	Locus–First Novel	Nominated	[34]
	"For Want of a Nail"	Hugo Award	Hugo–Short Story	Won	[35]
2011	"Kiss Me Twice"	Hugo Award	Hugo–Novella	Shortlisted	[36]
		Locus Award	Locus–Novella	Nominated	[37]
		Nebula Award	Nebula–Novella	Shortlisted	[38]
2012	Writing Excuses (Season 6)	Hugo Award	Hugo–Related Work	Shortlisted	[39]
	Glamour in Glass	Nebula Award	Nebula–Novel	Shortlisted	[40]
		Locus Award	Locus–Fantasy Novel	Nominated	[41]
	The Lady Astronaut of Mars	Hugo Award	Hugo–Novelette	Won	[42]
		Locus Award	Locus–Novelette	Nominated	[41]
2013	Writing Excuses (Season 7)	Hugo Award	Hugo–Related Work	Won	[43]
2014	Writing Excuses (Season 8)	Hugo Award	Hugo–Related Work	Shortlisted	[44]
2015	"For Want of a Nail"	Seiun Award	Translated Story	Shortlisted	[45]
2016	Ghost Talkers	Mythopoeic Award	Best Fantasy Novel	Shortlisted	[46]
2017	"The Worshipful Society of Glovers"	Locus Award	Locus–Novelette	Nominated	[47]
2018	The Calculating Stars	Hugo Award	Hugo–Novel	Won	[48]
		Nebula Award	Nebula–Novel	Won	[49]
		Locus Award	Locus–Scifi Novel	Won	[50]
		John W. Campbell Memorial Award	—	Shortlisted	[51]
2020	The Relentless Moon	Hugo Award	Hugo–Novel	Shortlisted	[52]
		Locus Award	Locus–Scifi Novel	Nominated	[53]
2021	The Lady Astronaut Universe	Hugo Award	Hugo–Series	Shortlisted	[52]
2023	The Spare Man	Hugo Award	Hugo–Novel	Nominated	[54]

Bibliography

Novels

• Ghost Talkers, Tor Books, 2016, ISBN 978-0-7653-7825-5
• The Spare Man, Tor Books, 2022

Glamourist Histories series

• Shades of Milk and Honey. Tor Books, 2010, ISBN 978-0-7653-2556-3
• Glamour in Glass, Tor Books, 2012, ISBN 978-0-7653-2557-0
• Without a Summer, Tor Books, 2013, ISBN 978-0-7653-3415-2
• Valour and Vanity, Tor Books, 2014, ISBN 9780765334169
• Of Noble Family, Tor Books, 2015, ISBN 978-0-7653-7836-1

Lady Astronaut Universe

• The Calculating Stars, Tor Books, 2018, ISBN 978-0-7653-7838-5
• The Fated Sky, Tor Books, 2018, ISBN 978-0-7653-9894-9
• The Relentless Moon, Tor Books, 2020, ISBN 978-1250236968^[55]
• The Martian Contingency, Tor Books, originally announced for 2022, but delayed 2025.^[55]
• Silent Spaces, Kickstarter, projected publishing date July 2025^[56]

Short fiction

Collections

• Scenting the Dark and Other Stories, Subterranean Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-59606-267-2
• Word Puppets, Prime Books, 2015, ISBN 978-1-60701-456-0

Stories^[57]

Title	Year	First published	Notes
"Kiss Me Twice"	2011	Asimov's Science Fiction	Finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Novella
"Forest of Memory"	2014	Tor.com	Novella
"A Fire in the Heavens"	2014	Shadows Beneath	Novelette
"Like Native Things"	2015	Kowal, Mary Robinette (July 2015). "Like Native Things". Asimov's Science Fiction. 39 (7): 10–21.	Novelette
"The Worshipful Society of Glovers"	2017	Kowal, Mary Robinette (Jul–Aug 2017). "The Worshipful Society of Glovers". Uncanny. 17.	Novelette

• "Just Right", The First Line, 2004
• "Rampion", The First Line, 2004
• "The Shocking Affair of the Dutch Steamship Friesland", The First Line, 2004
• "Portrait of Ari", Strange Horizons, 2006
• "Bound Man", Twenty Epics, 2006
• "Cerbo in Vitra ujo", Apex Digest, 2006
• "Locked In", Apex Digest, 2006
• "This Little Pig", Cicada, 2007
• "For Solo Cello, op. 12", Cosmos, 2007
• "Horizontal Rain", Apex Online, 2007
• "Death Comes But Twice", Talebones, 2007
• "Some Other Day", All Possible Worlds, 2007
• "Tomorrow and Tomorrow", Gratia Placenti, 2007
• "Suspension and Disbelief", Doctor Who: Short Trips: Destination Prague, 2007
• "Clockwork Chickadee", Clarkesworld Magazine, 2008
• "Scenting the Dark", Apex Online, 2008
• "Waiting for Rain", Subterranean Magazine, 2008
• "Chrysalis", Aoife's Kiss, 2008
• "Evil Robot Monkey", The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction, Vol. 2, 2008 (nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story)
• "At the Edge of Dying", Clockwork Phoenix 2: More Tales of Beauty and Strangeness, 2009
• "Body Language", InterGalactic Medicine Show, 2009
• "The Consciousness Problem", Asimov's Science Fiction, 2009
• "First Flight", Tor.com, 2009
• "Ginger Stuyvesant and the Case of the Haunted Nursery", Talebones, 2009
• "Jaiden's Weaver", Diamonds in the Sky: An Astronomical Anthology, 2009
• "Prayer at Dark River", Innsmouth Free Press, 2009
• "Ring Road", Dark Faith Anthology, 2010
• "The Bride Replete", Apex Online, 2010
• "Beyond the Garden Close", Apex Online, 2010
• "Typewriter Triptych", Sharable.net, 2010
• "For Want of a Nail", Asimov's Science Fiction, 2010 (winner of the Hugo Award for Best Short Story)
• "Salt of the Earth", Redstone Science Fiction, 2010
• "American Changeling", Daily Science Fiction, 2010
• "Changement d'itinéraire (Changed Itinerary)", Légendes, 2010
• "Birthright", 2020 Visions, 2010
• "Water to Wine", METAtropolis: Cascadia, 2010
• "Weaving Dreams", Apex, 2012
• "The White Phoenix Feather", Fireside Magazine, 2012
• "The Lady Astronaut of Mars", Audible, 2012, Tor.com, 2013 (winner of the Hugo Award for Best Novelette)
• "We Interrupt This Broadcast", The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination, 2013 - part of the Lady Astronaut Universe series
• "Midnight Hour", Uncanny Magazine, 2015
• "Grinding Time", Popular Science, 2015
• "Your Mama's Adventures in Parenting", Shimmer, 2017
• "Dust to Dust", Fireside Fiction, 2018
• "Amara's Giraffe", May 2018 - part of the Lady Astronaut Universe series
• "Rockets Red", July 2018 - part of the Lady Astronaut Universe series
• "The Phobos Experience" - in Fantasy & Science Fiction July 2018 - part of the Lady Astronaut Universe series
• "Articulated Restraint", Tor.com, 2019^[58] - part of the Lady Astronaut Universe series

Children's books

• Molly on the Moon, ill. Diana Mayo, Roaring Brook Press, 2022, ISBN 9781250259615^[59]

Audio books

• Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette Kowal. "The Original" (Recorded Books, 2020) ISBN 9781980062738

References

1. Biography for Mary Robinette Kowal at IMDb
2. "Mary Robinette Kowal - Hugo-Award Winning Author". Mary Robinette Kowal.
3. Kowal, Mary Robinette (2018-11-15). "On The Subject Of My Name". Mary Robinette Kowal. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
4. Kowal, Mary Robinette (2010-08-30). "Mary's Dragon*Con 2010 schedule". Mary Robinette Kowal. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
5. Kowal, Mary Robinette (2010-08-03). "Book Release Day for Shades of Milk and Honey". Mary Robinette Kowal. Retrieved 2019-12-23.
6. Mary Robinette Kowal (Web Lackey, Actor, Writer) (archive), Willamette Radio Workshop
7. "FAQ". Mary Robinette Kowal. 9 January 2006.
8. Kowal, Mary Robinette (January 3, 2014). "My audition for the Sesame Street puppetry workshop. Video and results". Mary Robinette Kowal.
9. VanderMeer promoted to editor in chief, CapClave.org, 2010-01-25.
10. "2008 Hugo Award Results Announced". August 10, 2008.
11. Kowal, Mary Robinette (April 13, 2015). "For Solo Cello, op. 12 by Mary Robinette Kowal". Mary Robinette Kowal.
12. Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, Rich Horton, Editor. ISBN 978-0809572502
13. Nebula Awards preliminary ballot released sfscope.com 2008-01-11
14. "Bibliography". Mary Robinette Kowal. 3 November 2005.
15. "SFWA announces the 2010 Nebula Award Nominees". SFWA. 2011-02-22. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
16. "The Locus Index to SF Awards: 2009 Hugo Awards". Locusmag.com. 2009-08-09. Archived from the original on 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
17. Locus Publications (21 August 2011). "Locus Online News » 2011 Hugo and Campbell Awards Winners". Locusmag.com. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
18. "2014 Hugo Award Winners". The Hugo Awards. August 17, 2014. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
19. Cheryl (2019-04-02). "2019 Hugo Award & 1944 Retro Hugo Award Finalists". The Hugo Awards. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
20. "Nebula Awards 2019". Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
21. "Sidewise Awards". Uchronia. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
22. "The Night Guest - Tor Nightfire". tornightfire.com.
23. An Interview With Mary Robinette Kowal patrickrothfuss.com
24. "HOW WORLDCON FAILED MARGINALIZED SF CREATORS WITH PROGRAMMING AND COMMUNICATION". 25 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-08-19.
25. "MRK's WorldCon 2018 Programming update". 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2019-08-18.
26. "DisCon III Committee and Staff". DisCon III. 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
27. "6.1: Can Creativity be Taught?". Writing Excuses. 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
28. "Audio Fiction". Mary Robinette Kowal. 12 June 2007.
29. based on when the work was published; exception: series, tv shows, related work, translated
30. "Campbell Award". The Hugo Awards. 2007-08-09. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
31. "2009 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2009-08-18. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
32. admin (2010-04-20). "2010 Locus Awards Finalists". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
33. "2010 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
34. admin (2011-06-26). "Locus Awards 2011 Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
35. "2011 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2011-04-25. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
36. "2012 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
37. admin (2012-06-16). "2012 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
38. "2011 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
39. "2012 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2012-04-07. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
40. "2012 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
41. "Announcing the 2013 Locus Award Winners!". Tor.com. 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
42. "2014 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
43. "2013 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
44. "2014 Hugo Awards". The Hugo Awards. 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
45. admin (2015-06-30). "2015 Seiun Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
46. "The Mythopoeic Society - Mythopoeic Awards 2017". www.mythsoc.org. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
47. locusmag (2018-06-23). "2018 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-04.
48. "2018 Nebula Awards". The Nebula Awards. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
49. Cheryl (2019-04-02). "2019 Hugo Award & 1944 Retro Hugo Award Finalists". The Hugo Awards. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
50. locusmag (2019-06-29). "2019 Locus Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
51. "Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction News and Events". Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction. Archived from the original on 2018-08-30. Retrieved 2019-07-03.
52. "2021 Hugo Awards". January 2021.
53. "2021 Locus Awards".
54. "2023 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. 2023-08-13. Retrieved 2023-07-06.
55. "Mary Robinette Kowal will Return to Space with Two New Lady Astronaut Novels!". Tor.com. 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
56. Sward, Sarah. "SILENT SPACES, tales from the Lady Astronauts on KICKSTARTER NOW". maryrobinettekowal.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
57. Short stories unless otherwise noted.
58. "Free Fiction". Mary Robinette Kowal. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
59. "Molly on the Moon". Macmillan. Retrieved 2022-02-18.

External links

• Official website
• Mary Robinette Kowal's Weekly Fantasy Column at AMCtv.com Archived 2011-04-12 at the Wayback Machine
• Mary Robinette Kowal at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database