Kara Mia Dalkey (born 1953) is an American author of young adult fiction and
historical fantasy
Historical fantasy is a category of fantasy and genre of historical fiction that incorporates fantastic elements (such as magic) into a more "realistic" narrative. There is much crossover with other subgenres of fantasy; those classed as Arthur ...
.
Personal life
She was born in Los Angeles and has lived in Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Colorado, and Seattle. Much of her fiction is set in the
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kanmu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means "peace" in Japanese. ...
of Japan.
She was married to author
John Barnes
John Charles Bryan Barnes MBE (born 7 November 1963) is a former professional football player and manager. He currently works as an author, commentator and pundit for ESPN and SuperSport. Initially a quick, skilful left winger, he moved to cent ...
; they divorced in 2001. She is a member of the
Pre-Joycean Fellowship and of
the Scribblies
The Scribblies were a fantasy fiction group of writers formed in the U.S. city of Minneapolis in January 1980. Members included Nate Bucklin, Emma Bull, Steven Brust, Kara Dalkey, Pamela Dean, Will Shetterly and Patricia Wrede.Novel Spaces, http ...
.
Education
She is a graduate of the
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) is a private college in downtown Los Angeles. It offers degree programs in majors including fashion, entertainment, beauty, interior design, and graphic design. The college was founded in 19 ...
in Los Angeles.
Literary work
Her works include ''The Sword of Sagamore'', ''Steel Rose'', ''Little Sister'' and ''The Nightingale''. The latter book is part of
Terri Windling
Terri Windling (born December 3, 1958 in Fort Dix, New Jersey) is an American editor, artist, essayist, and the author of books for both children and adults. She has won nine World Fantasy Awards, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and the Bram S ...
's Fairy Tale Series. Her short stories are featured in the
Liavek
Liavek is a series of five fantasy anthologies edited by Emma Bull and Will Shetterly set in a shared world.
Orson Scott Card found the initial volume to be "an example of what can be accomplished n a shared-world projectwhen almost everything g ...
anthologies, ''Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction,'' and ''Firebirds Rising''. Liavek was a shared-world series edited by
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
and
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
. Ace Books published Liavek and thus many of the Scribblies' first short stories.
Her ''Water Trilogy'' is a blend of the
Atlantis
Atlantis ( grc, Ἀτλαντὶς νῆσος, , island of Atlas (mythology), Atlas) is a fictional island mentioned in an allegory on the hubris of nations in Plato's works ''Timaeus (dialogue), Timaeus'' and ''Critias (dialogue), Critias'' ...
myth with
Arthurian
King Arthur ( cy, Brenin Arthur, kw, Arthur Gernow, br, Roue Arzhur) is a Legend, legendary king of Great Britain, Britain, and a central figure in the medieval literary tradition known as the Matter of Britain.
In the earliest tradition ...
legends.
Her stories "Lady Shobu" and "The Rule of Silence" are part of the
Buffy the Vampire Slayer anthologies from Simon & Schuster.
Musical background
She is also a musician and has gigged extensively on electric bass (which she plays left-handed) and harmony vocals, with such bands as Runestone, the Albany Free Traders,
[ Flyer] and Nate Bucklin and the Ensemble (in Minnesota) and Relic and Voodoo Blue (in Seattle.) At different times she has also played drums, banjo and acoustic guitar. She is a songwriter, but her total output is low, and no CD or other album is in the works.
Bibliography
Sagamore
*''The Curse of Sagamore'' (1986)
*''The Sword of Sagamore'' (1989)
Mitsuko
*''Little Sister'' (1996)
*''The Heavenward Path'' (1998)
Blood of the Goddess
#''Goa'' (1996)
#''Bijapur'' (1997)
#''Bhagavati'' (1998)
Water Trilogy
#''Ascension'' (2002)
#''Reunion'' (2002)
#''Transformation'' (2002)
Other novels
*''
The Nightingale'' (1988)
*''Euryale'' (1988)
*''
Steel Rose'' (1997)
*''Crystal Sage'' (1999)
*''Genpei'' (2000)
*''Sword Named Sorrow'' (2021)
Short stories
*"The Hands of the Artist" in ''Liavek,'' edited by
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
&
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
, published by
Ace Books
Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...
in 1985.
*"Before the Paint is Dry" in ''Liavek: The Players of Luck,'' edited by
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
&
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
, published by
Ace Books
Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...
in 1986.
*"The World in the Rock" in ''Liavek: Wizard’s Row,'' edited by
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
&
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
, published by
Ace Books
Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...
in 1987.
*"Portrait of Vengeance" in ''Liavek: Spells of Binding,'' edited by
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
&
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
, published by
Ace Books
Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...
in 1988.
*"A Prudent Obedience" in ''Liavek: Festival Week,'' edited by
Will Shetterly
Will Shetterly (born 1955) is an American writer of fantasy and science fiction best known for his novel '' Dogland'' (1997). The novel is inspired by his childhood at the tourist attraction Dog Land owned by his parents. He won the Minnesota Bo ...
&
Emma Bull
Emma Bull (born December 13, 1954) is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Her novels include the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated '' Bone Dance'' and the urban fantasy '' War for the Oaks''. She is also known for a series of anthologies ...
, published by
Ace Books
Ace Books is a publisher of science fiction (SF) and fantasy books founded in New York City in 1952 by Aaron A. Wyn. It began as a genre publisher of mysteries and westerns, and soon branched out into other genres, publishing its first scienc ...
in 1990.
*"Lady Shobu" in ''
Tales of the Slayer
''Tales of the Slayer'' are volumes containing prose short stories. Four volumes of this series have been released, all published by Pocket Books. Each contains a number of short stories surrounding the mythology of past Slayers.
Tales within ...
'', published by
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publ ...
in 2002.
*"Lady of the Ice Garden" in ''Firebirds: An Anthology of Original Fantasy and Science Fiction,'' ed.
Sharyn November
Sharyn November is an American writer and an editor of books for children and teenagers. Until March 2016 she was Senior Editor for Viking Children's Books and Editorial Director of Firebird Books, which is a mainly paperback (reprint) imprint p ...
, published by
Firebird Books
Firebird Books (launched January 2002) is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., publishing mainly paperback reprint editions of science fiction and fantasy for teenagers and adults.
It was created by Sharyn November, one of the few children's ...
in 2003.
*"The Rule of Silence" in ''
Tales of the Slayer
''Tales of the Slayer'' are volumes containing prose short stories. Four volumes of this series have been released, all published by Pocket Books. Each contains a number of short stories surrounding the mythology of past Slayers.
Tales within ...
'', published by
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster () is an American publishing company and a subsidiary of Paramount Global. It was founded in New York City on January 2, 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. As of 2016, Simon & Schuster was the third largest publ ...
in 2004.
*"Hives" in ''Firebirds Rising: An Anthology of Original Science Fiction and Fantasy,'' ed.
Sharyn November
Sharyn November is an American writer and an editor of books for children and teenagers. Until March 2016 she was Senior Editor for Viking Children's Books and Editorial Director of Firebird Books, which is a mainly paperback (reprint) imprint p ...
, published by
Firebird Books
Firebird Books (launched January 2002) is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., publishing mainly paperback reprint editions of science fiction and fantasy for teenagers and adults.
It was created by Sharyn November, one of the few children's ...
in 2006.
*"Flatland" in ''Firebirds Soaring: An Anthology of Original Speculative Fiction'' ed.
Sharyn November
Sharyn November is an American writer and an editor of books for children and teenagers. Until March 2016 she was Senior Editor for Viking Children's Books and Editorial Director of Firebird Books, which is a mainly paperback (reprint) imprint p ...
, published by
Firebird Books
Firebird Books (launched January 2002) is an imprint of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., publishing mainly paperback reprint editions of science fiction and fantasy for teenagers and adults.
It was created by Sharyn November, one of the few children's ...
in 2009.
*"The Philosopher Duck" in ''Asimov's Science Fiction'', June 2014.
*"The Midden" in
''The First Line'' ed.
David LaBounty
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
, published by
Blue Cubicle Press
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when ob ...
in Summer 2016.
*"American Angel" in ''After the Orange'' ed.
Manny Frishberg
Manny is a common nickname for people with the given name Manuel, Emanuele, Immanuel, Emmanuel, Herman, or Manfred.
People
* Manny Acosta (born 1981), Panamanian pitcher in the Mexican Baseball League
* Manny Acta (born 1969), Dominican Major ...
, published by
B Cubed Press
B, or b, is the second letter of the Latin-script alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is '' bee'' (pronounced ), plural ''bees''. It r ...
in 2017.
*"Ancestral Key" in ''
The First Line'' ed.
David LaBounty
David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
, published by
Blue Cubicle Press
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between violet and cyan on the spectrum of visible light. The eye perceives blue when ob ...
in Summer 2020.
Award nominations
* ''The Nightingale'' - Nominee - 1989
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given annually for outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas.
Established by the Mythopoeic Society in 1971, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awar ...
for fantasy novel
* ''Heavenward Path'' - Nominee - 1999
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
The Mythopoeic Awards for literature and literary studies are given annually for outstanding works in the fields of myth, fantasy, and the scholarly study of these areas.
Established by the Mythopoeic Society in 1971, the Mythopoeic Fantasy Awar ...
for children's literature
* "Lady of the Ice Garden" - Short list - The 2003
James Tiptree, Jr. Award
References
External links
Bio at Lunacat BibliographyFive reviews at
Steampunk.com
Review of The Ascension
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalkey, Kara
1953 births
Living people
American fantasy writers
Women science fiction and fantasy writers
20th-century American novelists
21st-century American novelists
20th-century American women writers
21st-century American women writers
American women novelists
Asimov's Science Fiction people