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Catherynne M. Valente

キャサリン・M・ヴァレンテ

Kyasarin M. Varente

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1979-05-05 （Seattle, Washington, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
novelist, poet, literary critic
Active Years
2004-

Education

University of California, San Diego
Classics
Country: United States
University of Edinburgh
Classics
Country: United Kingdom

Awards

James Tiptree Jr. Award
2006
Work: The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden
Category: 長編
Organization: James Tiptree Jr. Award Committee
Result: Winner
Mythopoeic Award (Adult Literature)
2008
Work: The Orphan's Tales
Category: 一般文芸
Organization: Mythopoeic Society
Result: Winner
Locus Award (Novella)
2012
Work: Silently and Very Fast
Category: ノヴェラ
Organization: Locus Magazine
Result: Winner
Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award
2017
Work: The Future Is Blue
Category: 短編
Organization: Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award Committee
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden

2006 Fantasy

A lyrical, nested tale combining many stories-within-stories; blends folktale motifs with a frame narrative.

stories within storiesfolktalesjourney
Translations
  • The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden

The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice

2007 Fantasy

Second volume continuing the nested storytelling, set among fantastic cities of coin and spice.

folktaleurban mythredemption and revenge
Translations
  • The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice

Palimpsest

2009 Postmodern / Fantasy

A novel exploring memory and the city with postmodern and fantastical elements.

memorycitydreams
Translations
  • Palimpsest

Deathless

2011 Fantasy / Myth retelling

An adult fantasy inspired by Russian fairy tales and mythic motifs.

myth retellinglove and sacrifice
Translations
  • Deathless

Silently and Very Fast

2011 Science fiction / Novella

A short science-fiction novella about technology and loneliness.

technologyidentity
Translations
  • Silently and Very Fast

The Future Is Blue

2016 Short fiction / Climate fiction

A short story addressing environment and loss.

environmentloss
Translations
  • The Future Is Blue

Bibliography

  • The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden — Japanese translation by Akemi Itsuji, Tokyo Sogensha, 2013
  • The Orphan's Tales: In the Cities of Coin and Spice — Japanese translation by Akemi Itsuji, Tokyo Sogensha, 2013
  • The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making — Japanese translation by Maasa Mizukoshi, Hayakawa Publishing, 2013
  • Palimpsest — Japanese translation by Akemi Itsuji, Tokyo Sogensha, 2019
  • Minecraft: The End Poem — Japanese translation by Mizuto Kanbara & Naomi Matsuura, Takarashobo, 2020
  • The Descent of Decibel Jones or: The Galaxy's Space Opera — Japanese translation by Kazuko Onoda, Hayakawa Publishing, 2024

Translations of Works

  • The Orphan's Tales (Japanese translations available)
  • Palimpsest (Japanese translation available)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
lyrical, ornate prosepostmodern narrative
Recurring Motifs
nested story structuresreworking of folktales and mythstransformation and journeys

Legacy

Known for blending postmodern techniques with folktale-inspired imagination, Valente has established a distinct position in contemporary Anglo-American speculative fiction. She is acclaimed for both short and long fiction and has won multiple major genre awards.

Trivia

  • Born in Seattle.
  • Studied classics at UC San Diego and the University of Edinburgh.
  • Official website: http://www.catherynnemvalente.com