Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Geoff Ryman

ジェフ・ライマン

Jefu Raiman

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1951-05-09 （Canada）
Nationality
Canada
Languages
English
Residence History
Canada (birth) → United States (moved at age 11) → United Kingdom (resident since 1973)

Career

Occupations
novelist, science fiction writer, fantasy writer
Active Years
1976-
Affiliations
University of Manchester (teaching/creative writing)
Nominations
2006 Hugo Award nominee (Novelette): "Pol Pot's Beautiful Daughter"

Education

University of California, Los Angeles
History and English (course credits)
Country: United States
Recorded as having earned credits in history and English

Awards

World Fantasy Award
1985
Work: The Unconquered Country
Organization: World Fantasy Award (organizers)
Result: winner
British Science Fiction Association Award (BSFA)
1985
Work: The Unconquered Country
Organization: British Science Fiction Association
Result: winner
John W. Campbell Memorial Award
1990
Work: The Child Garden
Organization: John W. Campbell Memorial Award committee
Result: winner
Philip K. Dick Award
1999
Work: 253, or Tube Theatre
Organization: Philip K. Dick Award (organizers)
Result: winner
Arthur C. Clarke Award
2006
Work: Air: Or, Have Not Have
Organization: Arthur C. Clarke Award committee
Result: winner
British Science Fiction Association Award (BSFA)
2006
Work: Air: Or, Have Not Have
Organization: British Science Fiction Association
Result: winner
James Tiptree Jr. Award (now Otherwise Award)
2006
Work: Air: Or, Have Not Have
Organization: James Tiptree Jr. Award committee
Result: winner
British Science Fiction Association Award (BSFA)
1988
Work: Love Sickness
Organization: British Science Fiction Association
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Unconquered Country

1984 novella/short fiction (fantasy)

One of Ryman's pieces based on travels in Cambodia; a novella exploring history and the aftermath of conflict.

Cambodiahistorymemory

The Warrior Who Carried Life

1985 fantasy

An early novel by Ryman, a fantasy with revisionist elements.

fantasyidentity

The Child Garden

1989 science fiction

A novel engaging social, linguistic and biological themes; winner of the 1990 John W. Campbell Memorial Award.

languagesocietybiology

Was...

1992 revisionist fantasy

A mature work often described as revisionist fantasy.

reconstructing historymemory

253, or Tube Theatre

1996 experimental SF / electronic literature

An experimental novel depicting passengers in a subway car; winner of the 1999 Philip K. Dick Award.

urban lifeinteractionform of narrative

Lust

2001 short/novella

A shorter work (novella/long short story) published in 2001.

desirehuman relationships

Air: Or, Have Not Have

2005 science fiction

A novel about communication, language and the effects of spreading technology; winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and other prizes.

technologylanguagecommunication

The King's Last Song

2006 historical novel / contemporary novel

A novel set around Angkor and Cambodian history, moving between the era of Jayavarman VII and the modern/post-Pol Pot period.

Cambodiahistorycultural memory

Bibliography

  • The Diary of Translator (debut, 1976)
  • The Unconquered Country (1984)
  • The Warrior Who Carried Life (1985)
  • The Child Garden (1989)
  • Was... (1992)
  • 253, or Tube Theatre (1996)
  • Lust (2001)
  • Air: Or, Have Not Have (2005)
  • The King's Last Song (2006)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Realism-oriented prose (proponent of Mundane SF)Occasionally employs experimental narrative forms
Recurring Motifs
Cambodia and memorylanguage and communicationsocietal impact of technology

Legacy

Geoff Ryman is known as a proponent of Mundane SF and has received international recognition and multiple awards for works such as Air and fiction inspired by Cambodia.

Trivia

  • He has said his first publication was in his mother's newspaper column when he was six.
  • Moved to the United States at age 11 and has lived primarily in the UK since 1973.
  • Has publicly come out as gay.