World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Martha Wells

マーサ・ウェルズ

Martha Wells

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1964-09-01 （Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Fort Worth, Texas (born) → College Station, Texas (resident)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Author
Active Years
1993-
Influenced By
Bruce Sterling (mentor at workshops)

Education

Texas A&M University
Anthropology
Degree: BA
Country: United States
B.A. in Anthropology

Awards

Nebula Award (Novella)
2017
Work: All Systems Red
Category: Novella
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: Won
Hugo Award (Novella)
2018
Work: All Systems Red
Category: Novella
Organization: Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result: Won
Locus Award (Best Novella)
2018
Work: All Systems Red
Category: Novella
Organization: Locus
Result: Won
Alex Award
2018
Work: All Systems Red
Organization: American Library Association
Result: Won
Hugo Award (Novella)
2019
Work: Artificial Condition
Category: Novella
Organization: Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result: Won
Locus Award (Best Novella)
2019
Work: Artificial Condition
Category: Novella
Organization: Locus
Result: Won
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
2021
Work: Network Effect
Category: Novel
Organization: Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result: Won
Nebula Award (Novel)
2021
Work: Network Effect
Category: Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: Won
Locus Award (Science Fiction Novel)
2021
Work: Network Effect
Category: Science Fiction Novel
Organization: Locus
Result: Won
Hugo Award (Best Series)
2021
Work: The Murderbot Diaries
Category: Series
Organization: Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result: Won
Dragon Awards (Fantasy Novel)
2023
Work: Witch King
Category: Fantasy Novel
Organization: Dragon Awards
Result: Won
Locus Award (Fantasy Novel)
2024
Work: Witch King
Category: Fantasy Novel
Organization: Locus
Result: Won
Locus Award (Science Fiction Novel)
2024
Work: System Collapse
Category: Science Fiction Novel
Organization: Locus
Result: Won
Compton Crook Award
1994
Work: The Element of Fire
Organization: Baltimore Science Fiction Society
Result: Shortlisted
Crawford Award
1994
Work: The Element of Fire
Organization: William L. Crawford Award Committee
Result: Runner-up
Nebula Award (Novel)
1998
Work: The Death of the Necromancer
Category: Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: Shortlisted
Texas Literary Hall of Fame (Inductee)
2022
Organization: TCU Library (Texas Christian University)
Result: Inducted
Nebula Award (Novel)
2024
Work: System Collapse
Category: Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: Shortlisted (declined)
Hugo Award (Best Novel)
2024
Work: System Collapse
Category: Novel
Organization: Worldcon (Hugo Awards)
Result: Shortlisted (declined)
World Fantasy Award (Novel)
2024
Work: System Collapse
Category: Novel
Organization: World Fantasy Convention
Result: Shortlisted (declined)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

All Systems Red

2017 Science fiction (Novella)

A novella introducing 'Murderbot', a self-aware security android who navigates duty and autonomy while protecting humans. Noted for its dry humor and incisive social observations.

Self and identityHumanity vs. machineFree will

Network Effect

2020 Science fiction (Novel)

The first full-length novel in The Murderbot Diaries, where Murderbot and its companions confront a large-scale conspiracy while deepening interpersonal relationships and exploring its own role.

Community and trustSelf-growthEthics of technology

The Cloud Roads

2011 Fantasy

First book of The Books of the Raksura series. Follows a member of the Raksura species as they search for belonging and explore species ecology; notable for rich worldbuilding and social detail.

Species and societyBelongingEcology and culture

The Element of Fire

1993 Fantasy

A standalone fantasy set in Ile-Rien, focusing on a city where politics and magic intertwine—an epic tale of intrigue and sorcery.

Politics and magicPower struggles

Witch King

2023 Fantasy

An epic fantasy about power, friendship, trust and betrayal; explores chosen families and the meaning of trust.

Power and friendshipBetrayal and redemption

System Collapse

2023 Science fiction (Novel)

A subsequent novel in The Murderbot Diaries universe expanding on series themes of machine consciousness and societal impact.

Machine consciousnessSocietal impact

Bibliography

  • The Element of Fire
  • City of Bones
  • The Death of the Necromancer
  • The Cloud Roads
  • All Systems Red
  • Network Effect
  • Witch King
  • System Collapse

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Detailed worldbuildingCharacter-focused proseDry humor in narration
Recurring Motifs
Social structures and hierarchiesNon-human perspectives (robots, other species)Identity and belonging

Health

  • Breast cancer
    2023-05-01〜
    Diagnosed in May 2023; treatment and diagnosis have affected public appearances and schedule, though she has continued writing.

Legacy

Martha Wells is acclaimed for detailed worldbuilding and wry narration. The Murderbot Diaries has become a landmark contemporary SF series. She has won multiple major awards (Hugo, Nebula, Locus) and influenced emerging writers and conversations about diverse voices in genre fiction.

Academic Societies

  • Texas Literary Hall of Fame (member)

Archives

  • Library of Congress (catalogued holdings)

In Popular Culture

  • The Murderbot series achieved wide attention and success in audio and bestseller lists.

Quotes

  • Unburying creators buried by history is an act that enriches our future.
    Source: World Fantasy Convention speech "Unbury the Future" (2017)

Trivia

  • Has won multiple Hugos, Nebulas and Locus Awards for The Murderbot Diaries.
  • Won the 2023 Dragon Award for Fantasy Novel with Witch King.
  • Announced a breast cancer diagnosis in May 2023.
  • Served as story team leader and lead writer for the Dominaria expansion of Magic: The Gathering.
  • Has declined award finalist slots (e.g., Fugitive Telemetry in 2021; System Collapse in 2024).