Japanese Literary Awards

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Hiroyuki Morioka

もりおか ひろゆき

Morioka Hiroyuki

Pen Names: Hiroyuki Morioka（Used as his pen name in literary activities (same as legal name)）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1962-03-02 （Hyogo Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
1992-
Memberships
Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)

Education

Kyoto Prefectural University
Faculty of Letters / Japanese Linguistics (major)
Degree: 文学士
Country: Japan
Graduation thesis focused on Japanese aspect; linguistic interests are reflected in his fiction

Awards

Hayakawa SF Contest (17th)
1991
Work: If the Dream Tree Could Be Grafted
Organization: Hayakawa Publishing (Hayakawa SF Contest)
Result: 第2席 入選
SF Magazine Readers' Award (5th)
1993
Work: Spice
Category: 日本部門
Organization: Hayakawa Publishing (SF Magazine editorial)
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Long-form)
1997
Work: Crest of the Star World
Category: 日本長編部門
Organization: Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan (Seiun Award)
Result: 受賞
Seiun Award (Japanese Short Story)
1999
Work: The Terrorist at Dawn
Category: 日本短編部門
Organization: Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan (Seiun Award)
Result: 受賞
Japan SF Grand Prize (36th)
2016
Work: Sudden Change
Category: 大賞
Organization: Science Fiction Writers of Japan (Japan SF Grand Prize)
Result: 受賞（大賞）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Crest of the Star World

1996 Science Fiction (Star World series)

The first major entry in the Star World series. Combines hard-SF concerns (including constructed languages) with elements often associated with light novels.

Constructed languagesInterstellar politicsLanguage and culture

If the Dream Tree Could Be Grafted

1992 Science Fiction (short/novella)

Debut work. A novella/short story that features invented languages (e.g. a language with only nouns) and explores linguistic ideas.

Constructed languagesLinguistic theoryPerception and expression

Sudden Change

2014 Science Fiction (novel)

A 2014 novel about societal upheaval and technological impact; winner of the Japan SF Grand Prize.

Social upheavalTechnology and humanity

Bibliography

  • If the Dream Tree Could Be Grafted
  • Infinite Coin
  • The Magistrate
  • Dream and Again Dream: Decisive Battle! The Siege of Osaka
  • The Wastes of Machines (Metaldam)
  • Spice
  • The Terrorist at Dawn
  • Gentle Purgatory
  • Sudden Change
  • Strange Water City: Sudden Change World
  • Wind and Dandelion ~ Planetary Ring Story ~
  • Private Interstellar War

Adaptations

  • Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters (appearance)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Primarily hard SF with detailed worldbuildingOccasional incorporation of light-novel-style narration and character focusStrong preoccupation with language
Recurring Motifs
Constructed languagesRelation between language and society/cultureInterstellar politics and warfare

Health

  • Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
    2011年頃（倒れる） - 2013年（療養後活動再開）
    Collapsed from a myocardial infarction around 2011 and underwent convalescence; resumed publishing and activities in 2013.

Legacy

A writer known for his linguistic concerns and hard-SF worldbuilding. Through works such as the Star World series he has influenced subsequent Japanese SF authors and readers and is regarded as an important figure in contemporary Japanese SF.

Academic Societies

  • Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ)

Trivia

  • Constructed an original artificial language called "Aav" (アーヴ語) for the Star World series.
  • Appeared in Mamoru Oshii's film Tachigui: The Amazing Lives of the Fast Food Grifters.
  • Suffered a myocardial infarction in 2011 and convalesced; resumed activities in 2013.
  • Served as secretary-general of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of Japan (SFWJ) from 2014 to 2015.