Jo Walton

Jo Walton (born December 1, 1964) is a Welsh-Canadian author of science fiction and fantasy whose work spans alternate history, mythic fantasy, and literary science fiction. Born in Aberdare, Wales, she moved to Canada in 2000 and became a Canadian citizen. She attended University College of Swansea (now Swansea University) and is known for her intellectually eclectic approach to genre fiction. Walton is a prolific author with more than twenty novels to her credit, along with poetry and essays. Her breakthrough work Among Others (2011) won both the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel—a rare double. The novel is a semi-autobiographical story about a young Welsh girl finding solace in science fiction. She has also won multiple Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, including for Lifelode (2010), Or What You Will (2022), and several other works, making her one of the most honored authors in the award's history. Her other notable works include the Small Change alternate history trilogy, The Just City (2015) and its sequels in the Thessaly series, and Lent (2019). Walton is also a beloved essayist for Tor.com, where her re-reading essays have introduced classic SF and fantasy to new audiences. She is recognized for her intellectual generosity, formal experimentation, and deep knowledge of the genre's history.