Rivers Solomon facts for kids

Rivers Solomon is an American writer known for their exciting speculative fiction and other stories. Speculative fiction includes genres like science fiction and fantasy.

In 2018, Rivers Solomon won the Firecracker Award for their first novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts. Later, in 2020, their second book, The Deep, received the Lambda Literary Award. Their third novel, Sorrowland, came out in 2021 and won the Otherwise Award.

About Rivers Solomon

Rivers Solomon was born in 1989 in California, U.S. They grew up in different states, including California, Indiana, Texas, and New York.

They studied at Stanford University in California. They also earned a special degree in writing from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin.

Rivers Solomon lives in Cambridge, UK, with their family. They have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and are on the autism spectrum.

Some of the writers who have inspired Rivers Solomon include Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler, Alice Walker, and Ray Bradbury.

Rivers Solomon's Books

Rivers Solomon has written several popular books. Their stories often explore important ideas and unique worlds.

An Unkindness of Ghosts

Their first novel, An Unkindness of Ghosts, was published in 2017. It is a science fiction story. The book explores ideas about racism and how societies are organized.

The story takes place on a huge generation ship called the Mathilda. This ship has been traveling through space for a long time. People on the ship live in a society that is very unfair. It reminds readers of the time of slavery.

The main character, Aster, is a healer. She lives in the lowest, darkest parts of the ship. Aster tries to solve a mystery about her mother's past. This mystery could change everything on the Mathilda.

Many critics praised An Unkindness of Ghosts. It was named one of the best books of 2017 by several publications. It also won the Firecracker Award and was nominated for many other awards.

The Deep

Rivers Solomon's second book, The Deep, came out in 2019. This story is based on a song by the hip-hop group Clipping.

The Deep tells the story of a secret underwater society. This society was built by the descendants of pregnant enslaved people. These people were thrown overboard from slave ships long ago. Their children learned to breathe underwater and created a new home.

The main character is Yetu. She is the "historian" of her people. Yetu carries all the memories of her ancestors. This is a heavy burden. She struggles with this responsibility and seeks a way to share it.

The Deep won the Lambda Literary Award in 2020. It was also nominated for the Nebula, Locus, and Hugo awards.

Sorrowland

Their third novel, Sorrowland, was published in May 2021. This book is a mix of different genres. It has elements of gothic fiction and explores themes of racism in America. It also looks at how some people are treated unfairly by society.

The story follows a young Black woman named Vern. She escapes from a religious compound. Vern gives birth to twins in the wilderness. As her body changes in strange ways, she learns more about herself and the world.

Sorrowland explores themes of escape, self-acceptance, and love. It also touches on difficult topics like injustice and corruption. The book won the Otherwise Award in 2021.

Other Works

Rivers Solomon has also written shorter stories and articles. These have appeared in well-known publications. These include The New York Times and The Paris Review.

They also worked with other authors on a serial novel called The Vela.

See also

In Spanish: Rivers Solomon para niños