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Mary Robinette Kowal

メアリー・ロビネット・コーワル

Mary Robinette Kowal

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1969-02-08 （Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
puppeteer, author, voice actor, translator, art director
Active Years
1989-2025

Education

East Carolina University
Art Education
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Country: United States
Minor in theater

Awards

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
2008
Organization: The Hugo Awards / World Science Fiction Society
Result: Won
Hugo Award for Best Short Story
2011
Work: For Want of a Nail
Category: Short Story
Organization: The Hugo Awards / World Science Fiction Society
Result: Won
Hugo Award for Best Novelette
2014
Work: The Lady Astronaut of Mars
Category: Novelette
Organization: The Hugo Awards / World Science Fiction Society
Result: Won
Hugo Award for Best Related Work
2013
Work: Writing Excuses (Season 7)
Category: Related Work
Organization: The Hugo Awards / World Science Fiction Society
Result: Won
Nebula Award for Best Novel
2018
Work: The Calculating Stars
Category: Novel
Organization: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA)
Result: Won
Hugo Award for Best Novel
2019
Work: The Calculating Stars
Category: Novel
Organization: The Hugo Awards / World Science Fiction Society
Result: Won
Sidewise Award for Alternate History
2018
Work: The Calculating Stars
Organization: Sidewise Award Committee
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Calculating Stars

2018 Science fiction / Alternate history

In an alternate near-future, a meteor strike triggers a climate crisis and accelerates space colonization, focusing on the role of female astronauts in the Lady Astronaut series.

climate changewomen in sciencespace explorationalternate history

Shades of Milk and Honey

2010 Fantasy / Fantasy of manners

A regency-flavored fantasy focusing on manners and 'glamour' magic, blending social detail with romantic plotlines.

mannerssocial ritualsmagic and art

The Lady Astronaut of Mars

2012 Science fiction / Novelette

A personal story within the Lady Astronaut universe, focusing on a female astronaut and the emotional landscape of spaceflight.

gender and professionaspirations for spacepersonal sacrifice

Bibliography

  • Shades of Milk and Honey (2010)
  • Glamour in Glass (2012)
  • Without a Summer (2013)
  • The Calculating Stars (2018)
  • The Relentless Moon (2020)
  • The Spare Man (2022)

Translations by Author

  • The Night Guest (translated from Icelandic to English, 2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
detailed worldbuildingregency/retro-futuristic tonesfocus on interior character development
Recurring Motifs
women in professional rolestension between technology and humanitymanners and social conventions

Legacy

An American SF/fantasy writer known for works that intertwine technology and gender. Multiple winner of major awards (Hugo, Nebula) and recognized for organizational contributions to the SF community (SFWA leadership, Worldcon involvement).

Trivia

  • Her given name 'Mary Robinette' is a double first name, named after both grandmothers.
  • She began as a puppeteer before becoming a writer.
  • Her Lady Astronaut series has won multiple major awards.