Elizabeth Moon (born March 7, 1945) is an American

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel unive ...

and

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

writer. Her other writing includes newspaper columns and opinion pieces. Her novel '' The Speed of Dark'' won the 2003

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of profe ...

. Prior to her writing career, she served in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

Early life

Moon was born Susan Elizabeth Norris and grew up in McAllen, Texas. She started writing when she was a child and first tried a book, which was about her dog, at age six. She was inspired to write creatively, and says that she began writing science fiction in her teens, considering it a sideline. She earned a

Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in History from

Rice University William Marsh Rice University (Rice University) is a Private university, private research university in Houston, Houston, Texas. It is on a 300-acre campus near the Houston Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice is ranke ...

Houston, Texas Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 in ...

in 1968 and later earned a second B.A. in Biology. In 1968, she joined the

as a computer specialist, attaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant while on active duty. She married Richard Sloan Moon in 1969 and they have a son, Michael, born in 1983.Moon, Elizabeth
Biographical information
Retrieved 2007-09-15. Elizabeth Moon 2005

Writing career

Moon began writing professionally in her mid-thirties and had a newspaper column in a county weekly newspaper. In 1986, she published her first

in the monthly magazine ''

Analog Analog or analogue may refer to: Computing and electronics * Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable ** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals *** Analog electronics, circuits which use analo ...

'' and the anthology series ''

Sword and Sorceress The ''Sword and Sorceress'' series is a series of fantasy anthologies originally edited by American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley, and originally published by DAW Books. As she explained in the foreword to the first volume, she created the anthol ...

''.. Retrieved 2011-06-18. Her stories appeared regularly in ''Analog'' the next few years. Her first novel ''The Sheepfarmer's Daughter'' (1988) won the

Compton Crook Award The Compton Crook Award is presented to the best English language first novel of the year in the field of science fiction, fantasy, or horror by the members of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at their annual science fiction convention, Baltic ...

and inaugurated the Paksenarrion series. Most of her work has military science fiction themes, although biology, politics, and personal relationships also feature strongly. ''The Serrano Legacy'' is a

space opera Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes space warfare, with use of melodramatic, risk-taking space adventures, relationships, and chivalric romance. Set mainly or entirely in outer space, it features technological and soci ...

. Her Nebula-winning novel '' The Speed of Dark'' (2003) is a near-future story told from the viewpoint of an

autistic The autism spectrum, often referred to as just autism or in the context of a professional diagnosis autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism spectrum condition (ASC), is a neurodevelopmental condition (or conditions) characterized by difficulti ...

data analyst, inspired by her own autistic son Michael.Meats, Jessica (June 8, 2011)
"An interview with: Elizabeth Moon"
. ''Plot Twister: Adventures in the world of fiction''. Retrieved 2014-03-04.

Other interests

Elizabeth Moon has many interests besides writing. She has a musical background, having played the

accordion Accordions (from 19th-century German ''Akkordeon'', from ''Akkord''—"musical chord, concord of sounds") are a family of box-shaped musical instruments of the bellows-driven free-reed aerophone type (producing sound as air flows past a reed ...

during her university days and sung in

choir A choir ( ; also known as a chorale or chorus) is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform. Choirs may perform music from the classical music repertoire, which ...

s.Dow, Christopher
Elizabeth Moon's Path to the Stars
,

's alumni magazine, ''The Sallyport''. Retrieved 2007-09-15. She is an accomplished fencer, and captain of the SFWA Musketeers, a group of published speculative fiction authors who also fence.SFWA Musketeers
. Retrieved 2011-05-13. Moon is also an experienced

paramedic A paramedic is a registered healthcare professional who works autonomously across a range of health and care settings and may specialise in clinical practice, as well as in education, leadership, and research. Not all ambulance personnel are p ...

and has served in various capacities in local government.

Awards and nominations

*1989:

winner for ''

Sheepfarmer's Daughter ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' is an epic fantasy saga by the American author Elizabeth Moon. ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' was originally published in three volumes in 1988 and 1989 and as a single trade edition of that name in 1992 by Baen. The thr ...

'' *1997:

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...

for Best Novel (nomination) for ''

Remnant Population ''Remnant Population'' is a 1996 science fiction novel by American writer Elizabeth Moon. The protagonist, Ofelia, is an old woman who decides to remain behind on a colony world after the company who sent her there pulls out. It was nominated for ...

'' *2003:

for Best Novel winner for '' The Speed of Dark'' *2003:

Arthur C. Clarke Award The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. It is named after British author Arthur C. Clarke, who gave a grant to establish the award i ...

(nomination) for ''The Speed of Dark'' *2007:

Robert A. Heinlein Award The Robert A. Heinlein Award was established by the Heinlein Society in 2003 "for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings to inspire the human exploration of space." It is named for prolific science fiction author Rob ...

for "outstanding published works in hard science fiction or technical writings that inspire the human exploration of space"Elizabeth Moon
. The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees. Retrieved 2011-07-28.

Works

Paksenarrion

''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' novels

# ''Sheepfarmer's Daughter'' (June 1988) # ''Divided Allegiance'' (October 1988) # ''Oath of Gold'' (January 1989) : “Those Who Walk in Darkness” (March 1990)—short story set during ''Oath of Gold'', included in the collections ''Lunar Activity'' and ''Phases'' : ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' (February 1992)—paperback omnibus : ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' (October 2003)—hardcover omnibus : ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' (January 2010)—paperback omnibus

''The Legacy of Gird'' novels

# ''Surrender None'' (June 1990)—prequel to ''The Deed of Paksenarrion'' # ''Liar's Oath'' (May 1992)—sequel to ''Surrender None'' : ''The Legacy of Gird'' (September 1996)—paperback omnibus :: available as ''A Legacy of Honour'' (paperback omnibus) (November 2010)

''Paladin's Legacy'' or ''Legend of Paksenarrion'' novels

# ''Oath of Fealty'' (March 2010)—sequel to ''Oath of Gold'' # ''Kings of the North'' (March 2011) # ''Echoes of Betrayal'' (February 2012) # ''Limits of Power'' (June 2013) # ''Crown of Renewal'' (May 2014)

''Familias Regnant universe''

* Heris Serrano trilogy # ''Hunting Party'' (July 1993) # ''Sporting Chance'' (September 1994) # ''Winning Colors'' (August 1995) ::''Heris Serrano'' (July 2002)—Baen omnibus edition of ''Hunting Party'', ''Sporting Chance'' and ''Winning Colors'' ::''The Serrano Legacy: Omnibus One'' (December 2006)—Orbit GB omnibus * Esmay Suiza continuation # ''

Once a Hero ''Once a Hero'' is an American action-adventure television series that aired on ABC from September 19 until October 3, 1987. The series stars Milo O'Shea as Abner Bevis, a down-on-his-luck comic book artist whose life is turned upside down when hi ...

'' (Hardcover , March 1997) # '' Rules of Engagement'' (Hardcover , December 1998) ::''The Serrano Connection: Omnibus Two'' (September 2007)—Orbit GB omnibus ::''The Serrano Connection'' (October 2008)—Baen omnibus edition * Suiza and Serrano # '' Change of Command'' (Hardcover , December 1999) # '' Against the Odds'' (Hardcover , December 2000) ::''The Serrano Succession: Omnibus Three'' (February 2008)—Orbit GB omnibus

''Vatta's War''

# ''Trading in Danger'' (Hardcover , October 2003) # ''Marque and Reprisal'' (Hardcover , October 2004)—''Moving Target'' in the UK, New Zealand and Australia # ''Engaging the Enemy'' (Hardcover , March 2006) # ''Command Decision'' (Hardcover , February 2007) # ''Victory Conditions '' (Hardcover , February 2008)

''Vatta's Peace''

# ''Cold Welcome'' (Hardcover , April 2017) # ''Into the Fire'' (Hardcover , February 2018)

Planet Pirates

: The

Planet Pirates ''Planet Pirates'' is a science fiction trilogy written by Anne McCaffrey and two co-authors separately, Elizabeth Moon and Jody Lynn Nye. The three novels were published as paperback originals by Baen Books in 1990 and 1991, although the Doubleda ...

trilogy is based on two books by Anne McCaffrey, '' Dinosaur Planet'' and ''

Dinosaur Planet Survivors ''Dinosaur Planet Survivors'' or ''Survivors: Dinosaur Planet II'' is a 1984 science fiction novel by American writer Anne McCaffrey. It is the sequel to ''Dinosaur Planet'' (1978) and thus the second book in the Ireta series.. In 1985 the first ...

'' (1978 and 1984, jointly reissued as ''The Ireta Adventure'' in 1985 and ''The Mystery of Ireta'' in 2004), which also form the core of ''The Death of Sleep''.

ISFDB The Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) is a database of bibliographic information on genres considered speculative fiction, including science fiction and related genres such as fantasy, alternate history, and horror fiction. The ISFDB ...

catalogs all five novels as the Ireta series. # ''

Sassinak ''Sassinak'' is a science fiction novel by American writers Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon, published by Baen Books in 1990. It is the first book in the Planet Pirates trilogy and continues the Ireta series that McCaffrey initiated with '' Di ...

'' ( Baen Books, March 1990), Anne McCaffrey and Moon # ''

The Death of Sleep ''The Death of Sleep'' is a science fiction novel by American writers Anne McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye, published by Baen Books in 1990. It is the second book in the Planet Pirates trilogy and continues the Ireta series that McCaffrey initiated ...

'' (Baen, June 1990), McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye # ''

Generation Warriors ''Generation Warriors'' is a science fiction novel by American writers Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon. published by Baen Books in 1991. It concludes the Planet Pirates trilogy (1990–1991), which McCaffrey wrote alternately with Moon and Jod ...

'' (Baen, February 1991), McCaffrey and Moon Omnibus edition: ''The Planet Pirates'' (Baen, October 1993), McCaffrey, Moon, and Nye (ISFDB). Retrieved 2014-03-04.

Other novels

* ''

'' (Hardcover , May 1996) * '' Speed of Dark'' (Orbit UK October 2002)—as ''The Speed of Dark'' (Ballantine 2003) in the USA

Short stories

* "And Ladies of the Club" (1995; collected in Esther Friesner's anthology ''

Chicks in Chainmail ''Chicks in Chainmail'' is an anthology of fantasy stories, edited by Esther Friesner, with a cover by Larry Elmore. It consists of works featuring female protagonists mostly written by female authors. It was first published in paperback by Bae ...

'') * "Tradition" (1998; collected in Harry Turtledove's anthology ''

Alternate Generals Bibliography of science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction and nonfiction writer Harry Turtledove: Writing as Eric Iverson ''Elabon'' * ''Wereblood'' (1979) * ''Werenight'' (1979, revised in 1994 to include ''Wereblood'') * ''Prince of the North ...

'')

Collections

* ''Lunar Activity'' (, March 1990)—Ten short stories * ''Phases'' (, December 1997)—Eight stories from ''Lunar Activity'', and others previously uncollected. : Both include "Those Who Walk in Darkness"—a Paksenarrion short story * ''Moon Flights'' (hardcover , paperback , August 2008)—Fifteen stories, including an original "Vatta's War" story, with an introduction by Anne McCaffrey ** The limited edition hardcover (, September 2007) contains an additional rare bonus story entitled "Fencing In". * ''Deeds of Honor: Paksenarrion World Chronicles'' (, June 2015)—Eight stories set in the world of Paksenarrion.

References

External links

*
Paksworld blog
(official)
MoonScape
��personal blog at LiveJournal *
Elizabeth Moon’s list of her own short fiction

The Locus Index to SF Awards: Index of Literary Nominees.
Free copies of ''Sheepfarmer's Daughter''
from the

Baen Free Library The Baen Free Library is a digital library of the science fiction and fantasy publishing house Baen Books where 61 e-books as of June 2016 (112 e-books as of December 2008) can be downloaded free in a number of formats, without copy protection. It ...

Elizabeth Moon novels produced
at Graphic Audio (GraphicAudio.net)
''Moon Flights''
at

Night Shade Books Night Shade Books is an American, San Francisco–based imprint, formerly an independent publishing company, that specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Among its publications have been the U.S. edition of Iain M. Banks' novel ''T ...

Interviews

* Christopher Dow
Elizabeth Moon's Path to the Stars

's alumni magazine, ''The Sallyport''. Retrieved 2007-09-15. * Lotesse, ''The OF Blog''
Interview with Elizabeth Moon
(August 18, 2006). Retrieved 2012-02-03. * Kurt Weller

(March 30, 2007), ''The Plaza of the Mind'', Blogspot. Retrieved 2007-09-15. * Lou Antonelli
Texas author un-invited as convention Guest of Honor over remarks on Islam
(October 23, 2010), ''NewsOK''. {{DEFAULTSORT:Moon, Elizabeth 1945 births 20th-century American novelists 20th-century American women writers 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American women writers American Episcopalians American fantasy writers American science fiction writers American women novelists Living people Military science fiction writers Nebula Award winners People from McAllen, Texas Rice University alumni United States Marine Corps officers Female United States Marine Corps personnel Women science fiction and fantasy writers Military personnel from Texas