The pool of science fiction writers is seemingly endless, but some writers receive more attention and awards than others. This list introduces three underrated writers who contribute their own twists to the world of contemporary science fiction and deserve more praise and accolades. In no particular order, they are:
Ekaterina Sedia
Ekaterina Sedia contributes a poetic magical realism to science fiction that incorporates beautiful, descriptive imagery with strong, magical tones and themes. Her ability to integrate such poetic devices makes her someone worth taking note of and praising.
Sedia explains that she was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. She is currently a professor of botany and plant ecology in New Jersey. Her short stories appear in several anthologies, and she has written five novels, such as Heart of Iron, The House of Discarded Dreams, and The Secret History of Moscow.
In The Secret History of Moscow, multitudes of people begin to go missing, and sometimes they are seen as turning into birds. A few observers who are aware of what is going on are led into an underground world below Moscow. (Entrances into this world include going through the reflection of doors in puddles and going through fast-moving, glass windows.) Upon entering this secret world, the group encounters many magical beings and searches to find out what happened to the missing bird-people they once knew and loved.
Ninni Holmqvist
Ninni Holmqvist has currently written one novel, The Unit. This novel puts emphasis on the consideration of human needs, human worth, and the necessity of one’s life in comparison to that of a larger group. Holmqvist contributes a science fiction that can be imagined in the real world, and she presents very eerie circumstances that are jarringly believable. Her intriguing look at society and her thoughtful commentary on human nature make her deserving of accolades. Her future works should be highly anticipated.
Book Reporter informs us Holmqvist works as a translator, residing in Sweden. Despite only having written one novel, she also has published many short stories.
The Unit is a dystopian novel revolving around a society that forces elderly people to be placed in a clinic if they have not had children or contributed to society. In this clinic, the elderly must undergo experiments and organ donations for the better of society. In addition, this clinic is focused on allowing the elderly to live in luxury and comfort while they sacrifice themselves for others. A twist in the plot occurs when one woman falls in love with another patient, and she must then determine if she would rather escape or obediently continue to sacrifice herself for others.
Craig DiLouie
Craig DiLouie brings a realistic horror to science fiction that is dirty, gritty, and all about survival. While introducing a fresh perspective on the apocalyptic zombie theme, he focuses on the basic fight-or-flight human instinct. His fast-paced action and drama are fused with a creative twist on the ever-popular zombie theme and make DiLouie worthy of accolades.
On one of his websites, Infected Nation, DiLouie explains that he currently lives in Canada and also has a freelance technical writing business. He has written a handful of apocalyptic novels, including The Killing Floor, The Infection, and Tooth and Nail.
In The Infection, a virus gets loose that turns a large portion of humanity into zombie-like creatures, grotesque monsters, and alien-type beings. All of these monstrosities are determined to infect other humans with the same virus. A group of survivors struggles to stay alive in this post-apocalyptic world. Once the survivors reach a refugee camp, they are assigned on a mission by the government. Their mission? Return to the chaos of zombies, monsters, and aliens in hopes of saving the rest of humanity.
These authors have made excellent contributions to science fiction. From worlds full of magic, to worlds full of society-focused people, to worlds full of zombie-monsters, these authors have created intriguing and worthy pieces of literature. If any of these writers have sparked your interest, feel free to look deeper into their works and try them out!
