Simon Jimenez

Simon Jimenez
Born1989 (age 36–37)
EducationEmerson College (MFA)
OccupationAuthor
Writing career
LanguageEnglish
GenreSpeculative fiction
Notable awardsCrawford Award (2023)
Websitewww.simonjimenezwriter.com

Simon Emmanuel Jimenez is a Filipino-American writer of speculative fiction. His novels include The Vanished Birds and The Spear Cuts Through Water. Jimenez's works have received critical praise. The Vanished Birds was a finalist for the 2021 Locus Award for Best First Novel and the 2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award.

Jimenez was nominated for the 2021 Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

Early life and education

Jimenez spent time in Canada and the Philippines growing up. He attended Emerson College, where he earned an MFA in Creative Writing. Jimenez played the piano, and describes it as a "love/hate relationship".

Career

In an interview with Kirkus, Jimenez described himself as a "lifelong science fiction fan". Among his influences are the science fiction works Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons, as well as the works of David Mitchell, Gabriel García Marquez, and Jennifer Egan.

During his time at Emerson College, he began working on his first novel. His debut novel, The Vanished Birds, was published in 2020 from Titan Books. In 2021, Jimenez was nominated for the Astounding Award for Best New Writer.

His second novel, The Spear Cuts Through Water, was published by Del Rey Books in 2022. The book received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. It won a 2023 British Fantasy Award and 2023 Crawford Award.

"It’s both like nothing and everything you’ve ever read: a tale made from the threads that weave the world, and all of us, together. Lyrical, evocative, part poem, part prose—not to be missed by anyone, especially fans of historical fantasy and folktale." — Kirkus Reviews, starred review of The Spear Cuts Through Water

Personal life

Jimenez is gay and multiracial, being half Filipino. He currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

Awards and honors

In 2022, Kirkus Reviews named The Spear Cuts Through Water one of the best science fiction and fantasy books of the year.

Year Work Award Category Result Ref
2020 The Vanished Birds Goodreads Choice Awards Science Fiction Finalist
2021 Arthur C. Clarke Award — Shortlisted
British Fantasy Award Best Newcomer
(Sydney J. Bounds Award)		 Shortlisted
Locus Award First Novel Finalist
— Astounding Award — Finalist
2023 The Spear Cuts Through Water British Fantasy Award Fantasy Novel
(Robert Holdstock Award)		 Won
Crawford Award — Won
Ignyte Award Adult Novel Finalist
Ursula K. Le Guin Prize — Shortlisted
2024 Grand prix de l'Imaginaire Roman étranger Shortlisted
Prix Imaginales Meilleur roman étranger Shortlisted

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 Francesca Myman (10 Jan 2022). "Simon Jimenez: Resonance". Locus. Retrieved 24 Oct 2022.
  2. ↑ "An Indies Introduce Q&A with Simon Jimenez". American Booksellers Association. 8 Jan 2020. Retrieved 24 Oct 2022.
  3. ↑ John Denardo (6 Feb 2020). "Simon Jimenez on His Remarkable Debut SF Novel". Kirkus. Retrieved 24 Oct 2022.
  4. 1 2 Matthew Jackson (Jan 2020). "Simon Jimenez". Book Page. Retrieved 24 Oct 2022.
  5. ↑ "Announcing the 2021 Hugo Award Finalists". Tor.com. 13 Apr 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2022.
  6. ↑ "The Spear Cuts Through Water". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  7. ↑ "Simon Jimenez biography". Fantasy Book Review. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
  8. ↑ "Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2022". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 2022-11-26.
  9. ↑ "Goodreads Choice Awards 2020". Goodreads. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  10. ↑ "2021 Clarke Award Shortlist". Locus. 30 Jun 2021. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  11. ↑ Andrew Liptak (27 Sep 2021). "Here Are the Winners of the 2021 British Fantasy Award!". Reactor. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  12. ↑ "2021 Locus Awards Winners". Locus. 26 Jun 2021. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  13. ↑ "2021 Hugo, Astounding, and Lodestar Awards Winners". Locus. 18 Dec 2021. Retrieved 7 Jun 2025.
  14. ↑ "2023 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 18 Sep 2023. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  15. ↑ "Jimenez Wins Crawford". Locus. 7 Feb 2023. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  16. ↑ "2023 Ignyte Awards Finalists". Locus. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  17. ↑ "2023 Le guin Prize for Fiction Shortlist". Locus. 11 Jul 2023. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  18. ↑ "2024 Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire Winners". Locus. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.
  19. ↑ "2024 Prix Imaginales Winners". Locus. 19 Jun 2024. Retrieved 7 Jul 2025.