Kathe Koja

Kathe Koja
Kathe Koja with Walter Jon Williams in 2005 (photo by Cory Doctorow)
Kathe Koja with Walter Jon Williams in 2005 (photo by Cory Doctorow)
Born1960 (age 63–64)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
GenreSpeculative fiction
Notable worksThe Cipher, Strange Angels, Straydog
Notable awardsBram Stoker Award, Locus Award

Kathe Koja (born 1960) is an American writer. She was initially known for her intense speculative fiction for adults,[1] but has written young adult novels, the historical fiction Under the Poppy trilogy, and a fictional biography of Christopher Marlowe.[2]

Koja is also a prolific author of short stories, including many in collaboration with Barry N. Malzberg. Koja has also collaborated with Carter Scholz.[3] Most of her short fiction remains uncollected. Koja's novels and short stories frequently concern characters who have been in some way marginalized by society, often focusing on the transcendence and/or disintegration which proceeds from this social isolation (as in The Cipher, Bad Brains, "Teratisms," The Blue Mirror, etc.). Koja won the Bram Stoker Award and the Locus Award for her first novel The Cipher, and a Deathrealm Award for Strange Angels.[4] Her prose has been described as "stunning".[4] Author Mike Thorn described her novel Dark Factory as "a daring work of multisensory immersion."[5]

Koja was born in Detroit, Michigan,[6] the second of two sisters.[7] She began writing when very young, but only became serious about it after attending a Clarion workshop.[8]

Koja's literary works have been recognized and highlighted at Michigan State University in their Michigan Writers Series.[9]

  1. ^ Steffen Hantke, "Kathe Koja" in: Richard Bleiler, Ed. Supernatural Fiction Writers: Contemporary Fantasy and Horror. New York: Thomson/Gale, 2003. p. 541-550. ISBN 9780684312507
  2. ^ "Novels & Stories | Writing about writing". Kathe Koja. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  3. ^ "DarkEcho Interview: KATHE KOJA (1998)". www.darkecho.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  4. ^ a b S. Kay Elmore (1998). "The SF Site Featured Review: Extremities". Sfsite.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  5. ^ "A Daring Work of Multisensory and Multimedia Immersion says Author Mike Thorn". Dark Factory. 2022-02-08. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  6. ^ "Kathe Koja | Authors | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
  7. ^ Koja, Kathe. "Kathe Koja | Authors | Macmillan". Us.macmillan.com. Retrieved 2013-05-21.
  8. ^ [1] Archived December 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Michigan Writers Series". Michigan State University Libraries. Retrieved 2012-07-15.