Kathleen Ann Goonan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kathleen Ann Goonan
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Goonan at the World Science Fiction Convention in Helsinki, 2017
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| Born | May 14, 1952 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 28, 2021 (aged 68) |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Years active | 1994–2011 |
| Notable works | Queen City Jazz; In War Times |
Kathleen Ann Goonan (born May 14, 1952 – died January 28, 2021) was an American science fiction writer. Many of her books were nominated for important awards. Her first novel, Queen City Jazz, was named a "Notable Book" by New York Times.
Her novel In War Times was chosen by the American Library Association for their 2008 reading list. It also won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel in 2008. Her last novel, This Shared Dream, came out in 2011.
Contents
About Kathleen Goonan
Kathleen Goonan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. This city later became the setting for her first novel. When she was eight, her family moved to Hawaii for two years. Hawaii then became the setting for her second novel.
Later in life, she lived in the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and the Florida Keys. She shared her time between these places with her husband, Joseph Mansy. They were married in 1977.
Goonan studied English literature and philosophy in college. After graduating, she became a certified Montessori teacher. She even opened her own Montessori school in Knoxville. After moving to Hawaii again, she started writing full-time. She also taught creative writing and science fiction at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Kathleen Goonan passed away on January 28, 2021, from bone cancer.
Her Science Fiction Books
Kathleen Goonan is famous for her novels that show a future world. In these stories, new technologies like "bionan" (nano- and biotechnologies) deeply change humans and their homes. She explored how cultures and societies change, sometimes facing big problems. Goonan loved jazz music, and she often included references to famous jazz artists in her tales.
The Nanotech Quartet
Goonan's first novel, Queen City Jazz, was published in 1994. It was praised by many, including the famous science fiction writer William Gibson. He called it an "unforgettable vision of America." The New York Times also named it a Notable Book. This book became the first in what she called her Nanotech Quartet.
Some people linked her work to "cyberpunk" because of Gibson's praise. However, Goonan's stories are different. She didn't focus much on computers. Her main characters, like Verity in Queen City Jazz, are often positive and heroic. This led some critics to call her style "nanopunk".
- Queen City Jazz (1994): This book shows America changed by new, powerful technology. It introduces the world of the Nanotech Quartet.
- Mississippi Blues (1997): This is a direct sequel to Queen City Jazz. It follows Verity's adventures along the Mississippi River. The river has been greatly changed by nanotech that didn't work right. The book also pays tribute to the author Mark Twain.
- Crescent City Rhapsody (2000): This book is a prequel, meaning it tells what happened before Queen City Jazz. It explains how the world of the Quartet came to be. It shows how the U.S. government introduced nanotechnology without fully testing it. Much of the story happens in New Orleans.
- Light Music (2002): This novel finishes the Nanotech Quartet. It explores how humanity continues to change because of "bionan" technology. It also connects to an alien presence.
Other Notable Novels
- The Bones of Time (1996): This novel is not part of the Nanotech Quartet. It mixes Hawaiian myths with a spy story. The plot involves a chase through Asia and the cloning of a Hawaiian ruler. This book was a finalist for the Arthur C Clarke Award.
- In War Times (2007): This book was a big change from her nanotech stories. It mixes historical fiction with alternate history. The story is set during World War II. It explores secret technologies used during the war. It also looks at what might have happened if these technologies led to lasting peace. The book touches on the idea of the multiverse. It won the John W. Campbell Memorial Award.
- This Shared Dream (2011): This novel continues the story from In War Times. It follows the three Dance children as adults. They remember a different reality that once existed. Key characters from In War Times also appear. They try to stop an unseen enemy from changing history.
Short Stories
Kathleen Goonan also wrote shorter stories. Her novelette "Creatures with Wings" was in the 2010 book Engineering Infinity. Another novelette, "Wilder Still, the Stars," was published in the 2014 book Reach for Infinity.
See also
In Spanish: Kathleen Ann Goonan para niños
- Nanopunk
- Posthuman
