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{{Short description|American speculative fiction writer (born 1964)}}
{{Image|Martha Wells 2018.jpg|right|300px|Author Martha Wells at the 2018 Texas Book Festival in [[Austin, Texas]].}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
|name        = Martha Wells
| image      = Martha Wells 2018.jpg
| caption    = Wells at the 2018 Texas Book Festival
| alt        = Image of Wells at the 2018 Texas book Festival
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1964|9|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Fort Worth, Texas]], U.S.
| occupation  = Writer
| nationality = American
| education  = [[Texas A&M University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| genre      = [[Fantasy]], [[science fiction]]
| period      = 1993–present
| website    = {{URL|marthawells.com}}
}}


'''Martha Wells''' (1964 - ?)<ref name="Locus interview">{{cite web|url=http://locusmag.com/2018/08/martha-wells-unburied-future/|title=Martha Wells: Unburied Future|date=August 13, 2018|website=Locus Online}}</ref> is an American writer of [[speculative fiction]]. She has published a number of fantasy novels, young adult novels, media tie-ins, short stories, and nonfiction essays on fantasy and science fiction subjects. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marthawells.com/bib.htm|title=Martha Wells – Bibliography|website=official site|access-date=2018-12-02}}</ref> Wells has won four [[Hugo Award]]s, two [[Nebula Award]]s and three [[Locus Award]]s for her science fiction series ''[[The Murderbot Diaries]]''. She is also known for her fantasy series ''[[Ile-Rien]]'' and ''The Books of the Raksura.'' Wells is praised for the complex, realistically detailed societies she creates; this is often credited to her academic background in [[anthropology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.farsector.com/quadrant/interview-wells.htm|title=Shaun Farrell interviews Martha Wells for Far Sector SFFH March 2006|website=www.farsector.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actusf.com/spip/article-3899.html|title=ActuSF Interview with Martha Wells}}</ref>
'''Martha Wells''' (1964 - ?)<ref name="Locus interview" /> is an [[United States of America|American]] writer of [[science fiction]] and [[Fantasy (storytelling)|fantasy]] acclaimed for the highly regarded sci-fi series ''The Murderbot Diaries'', in which she has written nine episodes since 2017. In 2023, she was praised by the New York Times book review for the stand-alone fantasy novel [[Witch King (novel)|Witch King]].
 
Wells has also written the fantasy series ''[[Ile-Rien]]'' and ''The Books of the Raksura.''
 
Wells has won four [[Hugo Award]]s (fan-selected), two [[Nebula Awards]] (writer-selected), and three [[Locus Award]]s.   Her novels have been translated into twelve languages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marthawells.com/bib.htm|title=Martha Wells – Bibliography|website=official site|access-date=2018-12-02}}</ref>   She has been praised for the complex, realistically detailed societies she creates; this is often credited to her academic background in [[anthropology]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.farsector.com/quadrant/interview-wells.htm|title=Shaun Farrell interviews Martha Wells for Far Sector SFFH March 2006|website=www.farsector.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actusf.com/spip/article-3899.html|title=ActuSF Interview with Martha Wells}}</ref>  
{{TOC|left}}


==Life==
==Life==
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During 2018, Wells was the leader of the story team and lead writer for the new [[Dominaria]] expansion of the card game ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whitbrook|first1=James|title=Scifi Author Martha Wells Is Bringing Magic: The Gathering Back to Where It All Began|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/scifi-author-martha-wells-is-bringing-magic-the-gather-1822976803|access-date=14 February 2018|work=[[io9]]}}</ref>
During 2018, Wells was the leader of the story team and lead writer for the new [[Dominaria]] expansion of the card game ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whitbrook|first1=James|title=Scifi Author Martha Wells Is Bringing Magic: The Gathering Back to Where It All Began|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/scifi-author-martha-wells-is-bringing-magic-the-gather-1822976803|access-date=14 February 2018|work=[[io9]]}}</ref>


In May 2018, her ''Murderbot Diaries'' novella ''[[All Systems Red]]'' was number 8 on ''[[The New York Times]]'' Bestseller List for Audio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/05/01/audio-fiction/ |title=Audio Fiction Books Bestsellers|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> The book won the 2017 [[Nebula Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2017Nebula>{{cite web|url=https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/4876/|title=''All Systems Red''|publisher=[[Nebula Award]]s|via=nebulas.sfwa.org|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520124440/https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/4876/|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2018 [[Hugo Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2018Hugo>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2018-hugo-awards/|title=2018 Hugo Awards|date=March 15, 2018|publisher=[[Hugo Awards]]|access-date=August 20, 2018|via=thehugoawards.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402094920/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2018-hugo-awards/|archive-date=April 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2018 [[Locus Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2018Locus>{{cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2018/06/2018-locus-awards-winners/ |title=2018 Locus Awards Winners|work=Locus|date=June 23, 2018}}</ref> and the [[American Library Association]]'s [[Alex Award]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ala.unikron.com/2018/|title=American Library Association announces 2018 youth media award winners|publisher=[[American Library Association]]|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213002511/http://ala.unikron.com/2018/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and was nominated for the 2017 [[Philip K. Dick Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philipkdickaward.org/2018/01/philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced.html|title=Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced|publisher=[[Philip K. Dick Award]]|date=January 11, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320091921/http://www.philipkdickaward.org/2018/01/philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced.html|archive-date=March 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was followed by the sequel novellas ''[[Artificial Condition]]'' (2018), ''[[Rogue Protocol]]'' (2018), and ''[[Exit Strategy (Wells novel)|Exit Strategy]]'' (2018);<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/books/review/martha-wells-exit-strategy.html/ |title=Ghosts, Robots, and Monsters: A Round-up of New Sci-Fi and Fantasy|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 30, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> a short story, "Compulsory" (2018);<ref name="Compulsory">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/future-of-work-compulsory-martha-wells/|title=The Future of Work: 'Compulsory' by Martha Wells|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|date=December 17, 2018|access-date=February 4, 2019}}</ref> and a full novel sequel, ''[[Network Effect (novel)|Network Effect]]'' (2020), which made ''[[The New York Times]]'' Bestseller List for Novel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/03/11/announcing-the-title-of-martha-wells-murderbot-diaries-novel/|title=Murderbot Will Return in...''Network Effect''|website=Tor.com|first=Lee|last=Harris|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> On April 26, 2021, [[Tor.com]] publishing announced that they had signed a deal with Wells for six books, including three more Murderbot Diaries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/04/26/tordotcom-publishing-acquires-six-martha-wells-books-including-three-murderbot-diaries/|website=Tor.com|first=Molly|last=Templeton|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 26, 2021|title='Tordotcom Publishing Acquires Six Martha Wells Books—Including Three Murderbot Diaries'}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2021-04-25 |title=How 'Murderbot Diaries' author Martha Wells overcame a career in crisis to create the killer series |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/25/how-murderbot-diaries-author-martha-wells-overcame-a-career-in-crisis-to-create-the-killer-series |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref>
In May 2018, her ''Murderbot Diaries'' novella ''[[All Systems Red]]'' was number 8 on ''[[The New York Times]]'' Bestseller List for Audio.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2018/05/01/audio-fiction/ |title=Audio Fiction Books Bestsellers|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref> The book won the 2017 [[Nebula Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2017Nebula>{{cite web|url=https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/4876/|title=''All Systems Red''|publisher=[[Nebula Award]]s|via=nebulas.sfwa.org|access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520124440/https://nebulas.sfwa.org/nominated-work/4876/|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2018 [[Hugo Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2018Hugo>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2018-hugo-awards/|title=2018 Hugo Awards|date=March 15, 2018|publisher=[[Hugo Awards]]|access-date=August 20, 2018|via=thehugoawards.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402094920/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2018-hugo-awards/|archive-date=April 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> the 2018 [[Locus Award for Best Novella]],<ref name=2018Locus>{{cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2018/06/2018-locus-awards-winners/ |title=2018 Locus Awards Winners|work=Locus|date=June 23, 2018}}</ref> and the [[American Library Association]]'s [[Alex Award]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ala.unikron.com/2018/|title=American Library Association announces 2018 youth media award winners|publisher=[[American Library Association]]|date=February 12, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213002511/http://ala.unikron.com/2018/|archive-date=February 13, 2018|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and was nominated for the 2017 [[Philip K. Dick Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philipkdickaward.org/2018/01/philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced.html|title=Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced|publisher=[[Philip K. Dick Award]]|date=January 11, 2018|access-date=May 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320091921/http://www.philipkdickaward.org/2018/01/philip-k-dick-award-nominees-announced.html|archive-date=March 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was followed by the sequel novellas ''[[Artificial Condition]]'' (2018), ''[[Rogue Protocol]]'' (2018), and ''[[Exit Strategy (Wells novel)|Exit Strategy]]'' (2018);<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/30/books/review/martha-wells-exit-strategy.html/ |title=Ghosts, Robots, and Monsters: A Round-up of New Sci-Fi and Fantasy|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 30, 2018|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref> a short story, "Compulsory" (2018);<ref name="Compulsory">[https://www.wired.com/story/future-of-work-compulsory-martha-wells/ The Future of Work: 'Compulsory' by Martha Wells] in Wired (magazine), December 17, 2018</ref> and a full novel sequel, ''[[Network Effect (novel)|Network Effect]]'' (2020), which made ''[[The New York Times]]'' Bestseller List for Novel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2019/03/11/announcing-the-title-of-martha-wells-murderbot-diaries-novel/|title=Murderbot Will Return in...''Network Effect''|website=Tor.com|first=Lee|last=Harris|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> On April 26, 2021, [[Tor.com]] publishing announced that they had signed a deal with Wells for six books, including three more Murderbot Diaries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/04/26/tordotcom-publishing-acquires-six-martha-wells-books-including-three-murderbot-diaries/|website=Tor.com|first=Molly|last=Templeton|date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 26, 2021|title='Tordotcom Publishing Acquires Six Martha Wells Books—Including Three Murderbot Diaries'}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=2021-04-25 |title=How 'Murderbot Diaries' author Martha Wells overcame a career in crisis to create the killer series |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/25/how-murderbot-diaries-author-martha-wells-overcame-a-career-in-crisis-to-create-the-killer-series |access-date=2022-05-28 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref>


In September 2022, Tor Book shared the cover of ''Witch King'', the latest novel by Wells that was released on May 30, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown|first=Alex|date=2023-05-31|title=A Lavish, Crunchy Fantasy: Witch King by Martha Wells|url=https://www.tor.com/2023/05/31/book-review-witch-king-by-martha-wells/|access-date=2023-11-21|website=Tor.com}}</ref> Tor describes the book as a story "of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tor.com |date=2022-09-21 |title=Revealing Witch King, Murderbot Author Martha Wells’ New Epic Fantasy |url=https://www.tor.com/2022/09/21/cover-reveals-martha-wells-witch-king/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Tor.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In September 2022, Tor Book shared the cover of ''Witch King'', the latest novel by Wells that was released on May 30, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown|first=Alex|date=2023-05-31|title=A Lavish, Crunchy Fantasy: Witch King by Martha Wells|url=https://www.tor.com/2023/05/31/book-review-witch-king-by-martha-wells/|access-date=2023-11-21|website=Tor.com}}</ref> Tor describes the book as a story "of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tor.com |date=2022-09-21 |title=Revealing Witch King, Murderbot Author Martha Wells’ New Epic Fantasy |url=https://www.tor.com/2022/09/21/cover-reveals-martha-wells-witch-king/ |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Tor.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
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| rowspan="3" | ''[[Artificial Condition|The Murderbot Diaries: Artificial Condition]]''
| rowspan="3" | ''[[Artificial Condition|The Murderbot Diaries: Artificial Condition]]''
| Hugo Award
| Hugo Award
| Best Novella{{efn|''Rogue Protocol'' and ''Exit Strategy'' also made the preliminary shortlist but Wells declined the nominations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dublin2019.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/201Hu@o%5Efulre@su@lt@s.pdf |title=2019 Hugo Results}}</ref>}}
| Best Novella<ref>[https://dublin2019.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/201Hu@o%5Efulre@su@lt@s.pdf 2019 Hugo Result] - ''Rogue Protocol'' and ''Exit Strategy'' also made the preliminary shortlist but Wells declined the nominations.</ref>
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| align=center | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2019/04/02/2019-hugo-award-finalists-announced/|title=2019 Hugo Award Finalists Announced|website=[[Tor.com]]|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>  
| align=center | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2019/04/02/2019-hugo-award-finalists-announced/|title=2019 Hugo Award Finalists Announced|website=[[Tor.com]]|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2019}}</ref>  
|-
|-
| Locus Award
| Locus Award
| Best Novella{{efn|''Rogue Protocol'' was also shortlisted for the award.<ref name="Locus2019"/>}}
| Best Novella<ref name="Locus2019"/><ref>''Rogue Protocol'' was also shortlisted for the award.</ref>
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| align=center | <ref name="Locus2019">{{cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2019/06/2019-locus-awards-winners/ |title=2019 Locus Awards Winners|work=Locus|date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
| align=center | <ref name="Locus2019">{{cite web |url=https://locusmag.com/2019/06/2019-locus-awards-winners/ |title=2019 Locus Awards Winners|work=Locus|date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
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|-
|-
! align="center" | 2023
! align="center" | 2023
|''Witch King''
|''[[Witch King (novel)|Witch King]]''
|[[Dragon Awards]]
|[[Dragon Awards]]
|Dragon Award for Best Fantasy Novel|Best Fantasy Novel
|Dragon Award for Best Fantasy Novel|Best Fantasy Novel
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* On October 19, 2022, she was made a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lib.tcu.edu/TXLitHOF// |title=Texas Literary Hall of Fame|work=TCU Library|date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>
* On October 19, 2022, she was made a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=https://lib.tcu.edu/TXLitHOF// |title=Texas Literary Hall of Fame|work=TCU Library|date=October 19, 2022}}</ref>


==Published works==
== Attribution ==
===Stand-alone fantasy novels===
{{WPAttribution}}
* ''City of Bones'' (1995, {{ISBN|0-312-85686-5}})
* ''[[Wheel of the Infinite]]'' (2000, {{ISBN|0-380-97335-9}})
* ''Witch King'' (2023, {{ISBN|978-1250826794}})
 
===Ile-Rien===
Listed in order of the internal chronology, not by year of publication.
* "The Potter's Daughter" (2006 short story, ''Elemental: the Tsunami Relief Anthology'' {{ISBN|0-7653-1562-9}}, ''The Year's Best Fantasy #7'' {{ISBN|978-1-892391-50-6}})
* ''The Element of Fire'' (1993, {{ISBN|0-312-85374-2}}; revised edition 2006, {{ISBN|0-615-13571-4}})
* "Night at the Opera" (2015, in the collection ''Between Worlds: the Collected Cineth and Ile-Rien Stories'' and [[PodCastle]] Episode 400)
* ''[[The Death of the Necromancer]]'' (1998, {{ISBN|0-380-97334-0}})
* The Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy:
** ''The Wizard Hunters'' (2003, {{ISBN|0-380-97788-5}})
** ''The Ships of Air'' (2004, {{ISBN|0-380-97789-3}})
** ''The Gate of Gods'' (2005, {{ISBN|0-380-97790-7}})
 
===Books of the Raksura===
* ''The Cloud Roads'' (2011, {{ISBN|978-1-59780-216-1}})
* ''The Serpent Sea'' (2012, {{ISBN|978-1-59780-332-8}})
* ''The Siren Depths'' (2012, {{ISBN|978-1-59780-440-0}})
* ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud '' (2014, {{ISBN|978-159780-535-3}})
* ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below'' (2015, {{ISBN|978-159780-537-7}})
* ''The Edge of Worlds'' (2016, {{ISBN|978-1-59780-843-9}})
* ''The Harbors of the Sun'' (2017, {{ISBN|978-1-59780-891-0}})
;Short stories
* "The Forest Boy" (2009) – prequel to ''The Cloud Roads''. In the collection ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 1''.
* "The Almost Last Voyage of the Wind-ship Escarpment" (2011) – set in the same world. In the collection ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 2''.
* "Adaptation" (2012) – prequel to ''The Cloud Roads''. In the collection ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 1''.
* "Mimesis" (2013) – in the anthology ''The Other Half of the Sky'' (2013, {{ISBN|9781936460441}}) and in the collection ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 2''.
* "Trading Lesson" (2013) – in the collection ''Stories of the Raksura Vol 1''
* "Birthright" (2017) – in the anthology ''Mech: Age of Steel'' (2013, {{ISBN|9781941987858}})
 
===Emilie===
Young-adult fantasy
* ''Emilie and the Hollow World'' (2013, {{ISBN|978-190884-449-1}})
* ''Emilie and the Sky World'' (2014, {{ISBN|978-190884-452-1}})
 
===''Star Wars''===
* ''Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge '' (2013, {{ISBN|978-0-345-54524-4}})
* "Bespin Escape" ''The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View'' (2020, {{ISBN|978-0345-51147-8}})
 
===''Stargate'' universe===
{{main|Stargate literature}}
* ''Reliquary'' (2006 ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' novel, {{ISBN|0-9547343-7-8}})
* ''Entanglement'' (2007 ''Stargate Atlantis'' novel, {{ISBN|1-905586-03-5}})
* "Archaeology 101" (2006 ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' short story, ''Stargate Magazine'')
 
===''The Murderbot Diaries''===
Science fiction series:
{{main|The Murderbot Diaries}}
* ''[[All Systems Red]]'' (2017 ''[[Tor.com]]'' novella, {{ISBN|978-076539-753-9}})<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/all-systems|title=Book review by Samantha Holloway: ''All Systems Red'' (''The Murderbot Diaries'')|website=New York Journal of Books|first=Samantha|last=Holloway|access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7653-9753-9|title=Fiction Book Review: ''All Systems Red'' by Martha Wells|website=[[Publishers Weekly]]|date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=April 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/27/688354123/sulky-cynical-murderbot-is-one-of-sci-fis-most-human-characters|title=Sulky, Cynical 'Murderbot' Is One of Sci-Fi's Most Human Characters|website=[[NPR]]|first=Jason|last=Sheehan|date=January 27, 2019|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>
* ''Artificial Condition'' (2018 ''Tor.com'' novella, {{ISBN|978-12501-869-28}})
* ''Rogue Protocol'' (2018 ''Tor.com'' novella, {{isbn|978-12501-917-86}})
* ''Exit Strategy'' (2018 ''Tor.com'' novella, {{isbn|978-12501-918-54}})
* "Compulsory" (2018 ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' short story)<ref name="compulsory">{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Martha |title=The Future of Work: Compulsory |url=https://www.wired.com/story/future-of-work-compulsory-martha-wells/ |website=Wired |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>
* "Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory" (2020 ''Tor.com'' short story)<ref name="home-ss">{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Martha |title=Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory |url=https://www.tor.com/2021/04/19/home-habitat-range-niche-territory-martha-wells/ |website=TOR.com |publisher=TOR |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>
* ''[[Network Effect (novel)|Network Effect]]'' (2020 ''Tor.com'' novel, {{ISBN|978-1-250-22986-1}})
* ''Fugitive Telemetry'' (2021 ''Tor.com'' novella, {{ISBN|978-1250765376}})
* ''System Collapse'' (2023, ''Tor.com'' novel, {{ISBN|978-1250826978}})<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Martha |title=System Collapse |url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250826978/systemcollapse |website=Macmillan Publishers |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref>
 
===Other short stories===
* "Thorns" (1995, ''[[Realms of Fantasy]]'')
* "Bad Medicine" (1997, ''[[Realms of Fantasy]]'')
* "Wolf Night" (2006, ''Lone Star Stories''<ref name="wolf-night">{{cite web |last1=Wells |first1=Martha |title=Wolf Night |url=http://literary.erictmarin.com/archives/Issue%2016/wolf.htm |website=Lone Star Stories |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>)
* "Reflections" (2007, ''[[Black Gate Magazine]]'')
* "Holy Places" (2007, ''[[Black Gate Magazine]]'')
* "Houses of the Dead" (2008, ''[[Black Gate Magazine]]'')
* "Revenants" (2012, in the anthology ''Tales of the Emerald Serpent'')
* "Soul of Fire" (2014, in the anthology ''Tales of the Emerald Serpent II: A Knight in the Silk Purse'')
* "The Dark Gates" (2015, in the anthology ''The Gods of Lovecraft'')
*  "Obsolescence" ''Take Us to a Better Place'' (2020, {{ISBN|978-159591-028-8}})
* "The Salt Witch" (2020, ''[[Uncanny Magazine]]'')
 
===Non-fiction===
* "Don't Make Me Tongue You: John Crichton and D'Argo and the Dysfunctional Buddy Relationship" (2005, ''Farscape Forever'', {{ISBN|1-932100-61-X}})
* "[[Neville Longbottom]]: the Hero with a Thousand Faces" (2006, ''Mapping the World of Harry Potter'', {{ISBN|1-932100-59-8}})
* "Donna Noble Saves the Universe" (2012, ''Chicks Unravel Time: Women Journey Through Every Season of Doctor Who'', {{ISBN|9781935234128}})
* "A Life Less Ordinary: The Environment, Magic Systems, and Non-Humans" (2014, ''A Kobold Guide to Magic'', {{ISBN|978-1936781287}})
* "The Ups and Downs of a Long Career" (2019, ''The Writer's Book of Doubt'', {{ISBN|978-0648334224}})
 
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


== References ==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist |25em
<references>
}}


==External links==
<ref name="Locus interview">
{{Wikiquote}}
{{cite web|url=http://locusmag.com/2018/08/martha-wells-unburied-future/|title=Martha Wells: Unburied Future|date=August 13, 2018|website=Locus Online}}
* {{official website }}
</ref>
* [https://marthawells.dreamwidth.org/ Blog]
* {{isfdb name|2625}}
* [http://www.fantasyliterature.com/fantasy-author/wellsmartha Martha Wells] at FantasyLiterature.com – novels synopses, cover art, and reviews
* [http://www.idref.fr/07340912X Martha Wells] at IdRef – bibliographic data for French-language editions
* {{LCAuth|n93023694|Martha Wells||}}


== Provenance ==
</references>[[Category:Suggestion Bot Tag]]
{{WPA/Metadata}}

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=Martha_Wells_(author)&printable=yes
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Author Martha Wells at the 2018 Texas Book Festival in Austin, Texas.

Martha Wells (1964 - ?)[1] is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy acclaimed for the highly regarded sci-fi series The Murderbot Diaries, in which she has written nine episodes since 2017. In 2023, she was praised by the New York Times book review for the stand-alone fantasy novel Witch King.

Wells has also written the fantasy series Ile-Rien and The Books of the Raksura.

Wells has won four Hugo Awards (fan-selected), two Nebula Awards (writer-selected), and three Locus Awards. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages.[2] She has been praised for the complex, realistically detailed societies she creates; this is often credited to her academic background in anthropology.[3][4]

Life

Martha Wells was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and has a B.A. in Anthropology from Texas A&M University.[1] She lives in College Station, Texas, with her husband. She was involved in SF/F fandom in college and was chairman of AggieCon 17.[5] In May 2023, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. [6]

Career

As an aspiring writer Wells attended many local writing workshops and conventions, including the Turkey City Writer's Workshop taught by Bruce Sterling.[7] She has also taught writing workshops at ArmadilloCon, WorldCon, ApolloCon, and Writespace Houston,[8] and was the Special Workshop Guest at FenCon in 2018.[9]

Her first published novel, The Element of Fire (1993), was a finalist for that year's Compton Crook Award, and a runner-up for the 1994 William Crawford Award. Her second novel, City of Bones (1995), received a starred review from Publishers Weekly and a black diamond review from Kirkus Reviews, and was on the 1995 Locus Recommended Reading List for fantasy. Her third novel, The Death of the Necromancer (1998), was nominated for a Nebula Award.[10] The Element of Fire and The Death of the Necromancer are stand-alone novels which take place in the country of Ile-Rien, which is also the setting for the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy: The Wizard Hunters (2003), The Ships of Air (2004), and The Gate of Gods (2005). Her fourth novel was a stand-alone fantasy, Wheel of the Infinite. In 2006, she released a revised edition of The Element of Fire.[11]

She has written media tie-ins, including Reliquary and Entanglement set in the Stargate Atlantis universe, "Archaeology 101", a short story based on Stargate SG-1 for issue No. 8 (Jan/Feb 2006) of the official Stargate Magazine, and a Star Wars novel, Empire and Rebellion: Razor's Edge.[12]

Her fantasy short stories include "The Potter's Daughter" in the anthology Elemental (2006), which was selected to appear in The Year's Best Fantasy #7 (2007).[13] This story features one of the main characters from The Element of Fire. Three prequel short stories to the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy were published in Black Gate Magazine in 2007[14][15] and 2008.[16]

Wells' longest-running fantasy series is The Books of the Raksura, which included five novels and two short fiction collections published by Night Shade Books: The Cloud Roads (2011), The Serpent Sea (2012), The Siren Depths (2012), Stories of the Raksura Vol 1: The Falling World & The Tale of Indigo and Cloud (2014), Stories of the Raksura Vol 2: The Dead City & The Dark Earth Below (2015), The Edge of Worlds (2016), and The Harbors of the Sun (2017). The series was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Series in 2018,[17] and The Edge of Worlds was reviewed in The New York Times.[18]

Wells has written two young adult fantasy novels, Emilie and the Hollow World and Emilie and the Sky World, published by Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry in 2013 and 2014.[19]

Wells was toastmaster of the World Fantasy Convention in 2017,[20] where she delivered a speech called "Unbury the Future"[21] about marginalized creators in the history of science fiction and fantasy, movies, and other media, and the deliberate suppression of the existence of those creators. The speech was well-received and generated a great deal of discussion.[22]

During 2018, Wells was the leader of the story team and lead writer for the new Dominaria expansion of the card game Magic: The Gathering.[23]

In May 2018, her Murderbot Diaries novella All Systems Red was number 8 on The New York Times Bestseller List for Audio.[24] The book won the 2017 Nebula Award for Best Novella,[25] the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Novella,[26] the 2018 Locus Award for Best Novella,[27] and the American Library Association's Alex Award,[28] and was nominated for the 2017 Philip K. Dick Award.[29] It was followed by the sequel novellas Artificial Condition (2018), Rogue Protocol (2018), and Exit Strategy (2018);[30] a short story, "Compulsory" (2018);[31] and a full novel sequel, Network Effect (2020), which made The New York Times Bestseller List for Novel.[32] On April 26, 2021, Tor.com publishing announced that they had signed a deal with Wells for six books, including three more Murderbot Diaries.[33][34]

In September 2022, Tor Book shared the cover of Witch King, the latest novel by Wells that was released on May 30, 2023.[35] Tor describes the book as a story "of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose."[36]

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result Template:Abbr
1994 The Element of Fire Compton Crook Award Template:Nom
Crawford Award Template:Nom
1998 The Death of the Necromancer Nebula Award Best Novel Template:Nom [37]
2002 The Death of the Necromancer (French edition) Imaginales Award Template:Nom
2004 The Element of Fire (French edition) Template:Nom
2018 The Books of the Raksura Hugo Award Best Series Template:Nom [38]
The Murderbot Diaries: All Systems Red Alex Award Template:Won [39]
Hugo Award Best Novella Template:Won [26]
Locus Award Best Novella Template:Won [27]
Nebula Award Best Novella Template:Won [25]
Philip K. Dick Award Template:Nom [40]
Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award Best SF Novel Template:Nom
2019 The Murderbot Diaries: Exit Strategy BSFA Award Best Shorter Fiction Template:Nom [41]
The Murderbot Diaries: Artificial Condition Hugo Award Best Novella[42] Template:Won [43]
Locus Award Best Novella[44][45] Template:Won [44]
Nebula Award Best Novella Template:Nom [46]
2021 The Murderbot Diaries: Network Effect Hugo Award Best Novel Template:Won [47]
Locus Award Best Science Fiction Novel Template:Won [48]
Nebula Award Best Novel Template:Won [49]
The Murderbot Diaries Hugo Award Best Series Template:Won [47]
2023 Witch King Dragon Awards Best Fantasy Novel Template:Won [50]
  • Nomination for Journal d’un AssaSynth, tomes 1 à 4 (translated by Mathilde Montier) in the 2020 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire awards in the Nouvelle étrangère category[51]
  • Nominations for Tagebuch eines Killerbots (The Murderbot Diaries Omnibus) for Best Foreign Novel published in German and for translator Frank Böhmert for Best Translation in the 2020 Kurd Laßwitz Preis[52]
  • Finalist for The Murderbot Diaries, Books 1–4 (translated by Naoya Nakahara) in the Seiun Award in the Best Translated Novel category[53]
  • Winner for Sistemas críticos (translated by Carla Bataller Estruch) in the Ignotus Award in the Best Foreign Short Story category[54]
  • Winner for Journal d’un AssaSynth, tomes 1 à 4 (translated by Mathilde Montier) in the 2020 Prix Bob Morane in the Romans étrangers category[55]
  • Locus Recommended List in 1994 for The Element of Fire
  • Locus Recommended List in 1995 for City of Bones
  • Martha Wells declined a Nebula finalist slot in the Best Novella category for Fugitive Telemetry in the 2021 Nebula Awards,[56] giving the reason that The Murderbot Diaries had already won two Nebulas (for Best Novella and Best Novel) and that the spot would be of more benefit to another writer. Due to a three-way tie for sixth place, declining allowed two additional novellas a spot on the 2021 ballot.[57] Wells also declined a Hugo Nomination for Fugitive Telemetry that year. [58]
  • Network Effect (translated by Frank Böhmert) was a finalist for the Kurd Laßwitz Preis 2022 for Best SF in German translation.[59]
  • Finalist for Network Effect (translated by Naoya Nakahara) for the Seiun Award in the international longform category[60]
  • On October 19, 2022, she was made a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame[61]

Attribution

Some content on this page may previously have appeared on Wikipedia.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Martha Wells: Unburied Future (August 13, 2018).
  2. ↑ Martha Wells – Bibliography.
  3. ↑ Shaun Farrell interviews Martha Wells for Far Sector SFFH March 2006.
  4. ↑ ActuSF Interview with Martha Wells.
  5. ↑ AggieCon XVII Program exerpt. (en-US).
  6. ↑ Lots of Travel, plus Cancer. (en-US).
  7. ↑ Re:Fiction (September 19, 2017). Interview with Martha Wells.
  8. ↑ Writers' Family Reunion.
  9. ↑ FenCon XV – September 21–23, 2018.
  10. ↑ The Locus Index to SF Awards Index. Locus.
  11. ↑ The Element of Fire by Martha Wells.
  12. ↑ Media Tie-ins.
  13. ↑ (2007) Year's best fantasy 7, 1st. San Francisco: Tachyon Publications. ISBN 9781892391506. OCLC 153153135. 
  14. ↑ "Table of Contents". Black Gate (10).
  15. ↑ "Table of Contents". Black Gate (11).
  16. ↑ "Table of Contents". Black Gate (12).
  17. ↑ Press Release: WorldCon 76 Announces 2018 Hugo Award Finalists.
  18. ↑ Jemisin, N. K. (April 19, 2016). Otherworldy: The Latest in Science Fiction and Fantasy. The New York Times.
  19. ↑ Young Adult Fantasy by Martha Wells.
  20. ↑ World Fantasy 2017 – An annual gathering and reunion of professionals, collectors, and others interested in the field of light and dark fantasy art and literature..
  21. ↑ 'Unbury the Future': Martha Wells' Full Speech from the 2017 World Fantasy Awards (November 7, 2017).
  22. ↑ World Fantasy Con 2017: A Mixed Montage.
  23. ↑ Scifi Author Martha Wells Is Bringing Magic: The Gathering Back to Where It All Began, io9.
  24. ↑ Audio Fiction Books Bestsellers. The New York Times (May 1, 2018).
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 All Systems Red. Nebula Awards.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 2018 Hugo Awards. Hugo Awards (March 15, 2018).
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 2018 Locus Awards Winners. Locus (June 23, 2018).
  28. ↑ American Library Association announces 2018 youth media award winners. American Library Association (February 12, 2018).
  29. ↑ Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced. Philip K. Dick Award (January 11, 2018).
  30. ↑ Ghosts, Robots, and Monsters: A Round-up of New Sci-Fi and Fantasy. The New York Times (November 30, 2018).
  31. ↑ The Future of Work: 'Compulsory' by Martha Wells in Wired (magazine), December 17, 2018
  32. ↑ Harris, Lee (March 11, 2019). Murderbot Will Return in...Network Effect.
  33. ↑ Templeton, Molly (April 26, 2021). 'Tordotcom Publishing Acquires Six Martha Wells Books—Including Three Murderbot Diaries'.
  34. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (2021-04-25). How 'Murderbot Diaries' author Martha Wells overcame a career in crisis to create the killer series (en-US).
  35. ↑ Brown, Alex (2023-05-31). A Lavish, Crunchy Fantasy: Witch King by Martha Wells.
  36. ↑ Tor.com (2022-09-21). Revealing Witch King, Murderbot Author Martha Wells’ New Epic Fantasy (en-US).
  37. ↑ 1998 Nebula Awards.
  38. ↑ 2018 Hugo and Campbell Award Finalists. Locus (March 31, 2018).
  39. ↑ American Library Association announces 2018 youth media award winners, American Library Association, 2018-02-19. (in en)
  40. ↑ Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced.
  41. ↑ Awards Shortlist.
  42. ↑ 2019 Hugo Result - Rogue Protocol and Exit Strategy also made the preliminary shortlist but Wells declined the nominations.
  43. ↑ 2019 Hugo Award Finalists Announced (April 2, 2019).
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 2019 Locus Awards Winners. Locus (June 29, 2019).
  45. ↑ Rogue Protocol was also shortlisted for the award.
  46. ↑ Announcing the 2018 Nebula Award Finalists (February 20, 2019).
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Martha Wells Awards. Science Fiction Awards Database. Locus Science Fiction Foundation.
  48. ↑ 2021 Locus Awards Winners. Locus (June 26, 2021).
  49. ↑ SFWA Announces the 56th Annual Nebula Award® Winners (en-US) (2021-06-05).
  50. ↑ 2023 Dragon Awards.
  51. ↑ Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2020.
  52. ↑ 2020 Kurd Laßwitz Preis.
  53. ↑ 2020 Seiun Awards Nominees. Locus (May 7, 2020).
  54. ↑ Ignotus 2020 Awards for the best Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror in Spain. File770 (November 16, 2020).
  55. ↑ Prix Bob Morane 2020. File770 (September 2020).
  56. ↑ SFWA Announces Nebula Award Finalists (March 8, 2022).
  57. ↑ The Nebula Nomination Decline.
  58. ↑ 2022 Hugo, Lodestar and Astounding Awards.
  59. ↑ Kurd Laßwitz Preis 2022 Finalists (March 20, 2022).
  60. ↑ 2022 Seiun Award Nominees. File770 (May 15, 2022).
  61. ↑ Texas Literary Hall of Fame. TCU Library (October 19, 2022).
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