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Brian Evenson

ブライアン・エヴェンソン

Buraian Evenson

Pen Names: B. K. EvensonUsed for some popular fiction works

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1966-08-12 (Ames, Iowa)
Nationality
United States
Languages
English, French
Religion
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (former)
Residence History
Ames, Iowa (birthplace) → Provo, Utah (BYU period) → Valencia, California (current)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Professor
Active Years
1994-2024
Affiliations
California Institute of the Arts, Brown University
Influenced By
J. G. Ballard, Jorge Luis Borges, Franz Kafka, Cormac McCarthy
Nominations
Edgar Award finalist (The Open Curtain, 2007), Shirley Jackson Award nominations (Last Days, 2007; The Warren, 2017)

Education

Brigham Young University
Literary Arts
Degree: BA
Year of Graduation: 1988
Country: United States
BA obtained
University of Washington
Literature
Degree: MA, PhD
Year of Graduation: 1994
Country: United States
MA and PhD obtained

Awards

Guggenheim Fellowship
2017
Organization: John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
Result: 受賞
O. Henry Award
1998
Work: Two Brothers
Result: 受賞
Shirley Jackson Award
2019
Work: Song for the Unraveling of the World
Result: 受賞
World Fantasy Award
2020
Work: Song for the Unraveling of the World
Category: コレクション部門
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Father of Lies

1998 Literary fiction

A novel exploring violence and Mormon themes

ViolenceLimits of knowledge

Last Days

2009 Horror

Story revolving around a brotherhood of mutilation

ReligionMadness

Song for the Unraveling of the World

2019 Weird fiction

Short story collection with dark humor and philosophical elements

Dark humorEpistemology

Bibliography

  • Altmann's Tongue (1994)
  • Father of Lies (1998)
  • The Open Curtain (2006)
  • Last Days (2009)
  • Song for the Unraveling of the World (2019)

Translations by Author

  • Translations from French authors like Christian Gailly

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Literary minimalismDark humor
Recurring Motifs
Limits and consequences of knowledgeHorror of violence

Legacy

Known as an American writer of literary horror and weird fiction, often drawing on Mormon background. Recipient of World Fantasy Award and others.

Archives

  • Yale Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

In Popular Culture

  • Also works in video games and TV scripts

Trivia

  • Resigned from BYU amid controversy over violent content in Altmann's Tongue (1995)
  • Former Mormon missionary in France and Switzerland
  • Formally left the LDS Church in 2000