Neon Yang, formerly JY Yang, is a Singaporean writer of English-language

speculative fiction Speculative fiction is a term that has been used with a variety of (sometimes contradictory) meanings. The broadest interpretation is as a category of fiction encompassing genres with elements that do not exist in reality, recorded history, na ...

best known for the ''Tensorate'' series of novellas published by Tor.com. The first ''Tensorate'' novella, '' The Black Tides of Heaven'', was a finalist for the 2018

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 ...

, Locus Award,

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 ...

, World Fantasy Award, and Kitschie Award. The third ''Tensorate'' novella, ''The Descent of Monsters'', was a finalist for the 2019 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ SF/F/Horror. Their debut novel, ''The Genesis of Misery'', the first book in ''The Nullvoid Chronicles'', is scheduled for release in 2022 by Tor Books.

Biography

Yang is non-binary and

queer ''Queer'' is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or cisgender. Originally meaning or , ''queer'' came to be used pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships in the late 19th century. Beginning in the lat ...

, and uses '' they'' pronouns. They legally changed their name to "Neon" in 2020. They have a master's degree in creative writing from the University of East Anglia and were a member of the 2013 class of the Clarion West Writers Workshop.

Career

Yang has published short fiction since 2012 in publications such as '' Clarkesworld'', '' Lightspeed Magazine'', ''

Uncanny Magazine ''Uncanny Magazine'' is an American science fiction and fantasy online magazine, edited and published by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, based in Urbana, Illinois. Its mascot is a space unicorn. The editors-in-chief, who originally ...

'', ''

Apex Magazine ''Apex Magazine'', also previously known as ''Apex Digest'', is an American horror and science fiction magazine. This subscription webzine, ''Apex Magazine'', contains short fiction, reviews, and interviews. It has been nominated for several awa ...

'' and '' Strange Horizons''. Their novelette, "Waiting on a Bright Moon" was a top ten finalist for the 2018 Locus Award for Best Novelette. Their novelette, "Circus Girl, The Hunter, and Mirror Boy" was a finalist for the 2020 Ignyte Award. Their novelette, "A Stick of Clay, in the Hands of God, Is Infinite Potential" was a top ten finalist for the 2021 Locus Award for Best Novelette. Their ''Tensorate'' series of novellas began in 2017 with the simultaneously released '' The Black Tides of Heaven'' and ''

The Red Threads of Fortune ''The Red Threads of Fortune'' is a 2017 LGBT fantasy novella by Singaporean author Neon Yang. After the death of her daughter, Tensor Sanao Mokoya has abandoned her position as prophet and now spends her time hunting naga in the wilderness. She ...

'', which were published by Tor.com to critical acclaim. '' The Black Tides of Heaven'' received a starred review from '' Publishers Weekly'', which called it "a captivating Buddhist-inspired steampunk setting" that "captures an epic sweep in compact, precise prose", and a positive review from ''

Library Journal ''Library Journal'' is an American trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional prac ...

'', which called it (and its sibling volume, ''

'') "an impressive, fresh debut steeped in Chinese culture". ''

'' was also reviewed by '' Publishers Weekly'', which said "though not as gripping as The Black Tides of Heaven''">' The Black Tides of Heaven'' the novella authentically depicts trauma and lays promising groundwork for future books in the series". '' The Black Tides of Heaven'' was a finalist for the 2017

Nebula Award for Best Novella The Nebula Award for Best Novella is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) for science fiction or fantasy novellas. A work of fiction is defined by the organization as a novella if it is between 17,500 and 40 ...

, the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella, the 2018 World Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and the 2018

Kitschies The Kitschies are British literary prizes presented annually for "the year's most progressive, intelligent and entertaining works that contain elements of the speculative or fantastic" published in the United Kingdom. Awards and criteria The Ki ...

Golden Tentacle, and was named one of the 100 best fantasy novels of all time by a '' Time'' magazine panel. The ''Tensorate'' series continued with the novellas ''The Descent of Monsters'' in 2018 and ''The Ascent to Godhood'' in 2019. ''The Descent of Monsters'' was a finalist for the 2019 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ SF/F/Horror. ''The Ascent to Godhood'' received a positive review from '' Publishers Weekly'', which called it "a thrilling adventure hatstands alone, as well as providing moving, complicated backstory for the earlier books". Yang's debut novel, ''The Genesis of Misery'', the first in ''The Nullvoid Chronicles'' trilogy, was announced by Tor Books in 2020, to be released in September 2022, and described as a retelling of the story of Joan of Arc as a mecha

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 ...

. ''The Genesis of Misery'' received a starred review from '' Publishers Weekly'', which called it a "vibrant tour de force" and "a triumph", noting that it "presents a simultaneous embrace and inversion of Chosen One narratives" and its "themes of faith, suffering, queerness, and duty".

Themes

Yang's work revolves around "the human body as a vessel for storytelling", and is based on their background as a molecular biologist, journalist and science communicator. They have described themself as "a deep pessimist about human nature," saying that "the best we can do is to recognize this and mitigate that assholic nature when we can. I think, ultimately, that’s what most of my stories end up being about." They have referenced David Mitchell,

Helen Oyeyemi Helen Oyeyemi FRSL (born 10 December 1984) is a British novelist and writer of short stories. Life Oyeyemi was born in Nigeria and was raised in Lewisham, South London from when she was four. Oyeyemi wrote her first novel, '' The Icarus Girl'' ...

, and William Gibson as influences on their writing. Yang has described their Tensorate novellas as "queer Asian science fantasy."Author's official website
visited 12/4/2021 The series has been described as "

silkpunk Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that incorporates retrofuturistic technology and aesthetics inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the Victorian era or ...

" by reviewers.

Bibliography

Novels

''The Nullvoid Chronicles'' trilogy # ''The Genesis of Misery'', Tor Books, 2022

Novellas

''Tensorate'' series

# '' The Black Tides of Heaven'', Tor.com, 2017, # ''

'', Tor.com, 2017, # ''The Descent of Monsters'', Tor.com, 2018, # ''The Ascent to Godhood'', Tor.com, 2019, The four volumes were collected in an omnibus edition: ''The Tensorate Series'', Tor.com, 2021,

Standalone

*''Between the Firmaments'', Book Smugglers Publishing, 2018

Other short fiction

Collections

* ''The Ayam Curtain'', Math Paper Press, 2012, ed. as June Yang with Joyce Chng,

Stories

References

External links

* *

Interviews

Author Spotlight: JY Yang
Xander Odell, '' Lightspeed Magazine'', issue #68, 2016
Asian Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror: A Round Table Discussion
Aliette de Bodard, '' Mithila Review'', 2016
JY Yang: Energy Systems
Francesca Myman, ''

Locus Magazine ''Locus: The Magazine of The Science Fiction & Fantasy Field'', founded in 1968, is an American magazine published monthly in Oakland, California. It is the news organ and trade journal for the English-language science fiction and fantasy (genre ...

'', 2018
Interview: JY Yang
Christian A. Coleman, '' Lightspeed Magazine'', issue #98, 2018 {{DEFAULTSORT:Yang, Neon Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Alumni of the University of East Anglia Non-binary writers Singaporean short story writers Singaporean LGBT writers 21st-century Singaporean writers Queer people 21st-century LGBT people Queer writers