John Wiswell (born September 4, 1981) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. His short fiction and novels have both been the recipient of major speculative fiction awards. His story "Open House on Haunted Hill" won the 2020 Nebula Award for Best Short Story. His debut fantasy novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, was released in April 2024. It went on to win the Nebula Award for Best Novel and Locus Award for Best First Novel.
Early life and education
Wiswell was born on September 4, 1981. He grew up in the area of Mount Kisco, New York. He attended Bennington College, graduating in 2005.
Career
Wiswell published his first science fiction story, "Alligators by Twitter", in 2010.
Wiswell's short fiction has been characterized as making outlandish and unsettling concepts feel familiar, often overlapping with metaphors for disability, while also frequently having a "lighthearted and clever" tone."Charles Payseur Reviews Short Fiction: Diabolical Plots, Lightspeed, Fantasy and F&SF" by Charles Payseur, Locus Magazine, July 19, 2022. He has written fiction for numerous venues including Nature, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Lightspeed, Tor.com,"2023 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Finalists," Locus Magazine, July 6, 2023. the NoSleep Podcast, and Uncanny Magazine.
In 2022, DAW Books acquired the rights to publish Wiswell's first two fantasy novels."Katie Hoffman at DAW Books Acquires World Rights to Two Fantasy Novels by John Wiswell," Astra Publishing House, October 13, 2022. The debut novel, Someone You Can Build a Nest In, is described as a "creepy, charming monster-slaying sapphic romance — from the perspective of the monster" and was released in spring 2024."Books Sold," Locus Magazine, November 2022, page 9.
Personal life
Wiswell is asexual and aromantic. In a 2024 interview with Polygon, Wiswell discussed his invisible disabilities and his desire to identify as an openly queer and disabled author. Wiswell lives with a neuromuscular syndrome, among other disabilities. He stated that his personal experiences with queerness, neurodivergence, and disability inspired the character of Shesheshen in Someone You Can Build a Nest In.
More broadly, Wiswell wrote that:
Works
Novels
Short Fiction
Awards
Year Work Award Category Result 2020 Nebula Award Short Story 2021 Hugo Award Short Story Locus Award Short Story World Fantasy Award Short Fiction British Fantasy Award Short Fiction Nebula Award Short Story Nebula Award Novelette 2022 Locus Award Short Story Hugo Award Novelette Locus Award Novelette Nebula Award Short Story 2023 Hugo Award Short Story Locus Award Short Story Nebula Award Short Story 2024 Someone You Can Build a Nest In Nebula Award Novel 2025 Compton Crook Award — Hugo Award Novel Locus Award First Novel Wearing the Lion Nebula Award Novel 2026 Locus Award Novelette
References
External links