Mary Doria Russell
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Mary Doria Russell (born 1950) is an American novelist.
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[edit] Biography
Russell was born in the suburbs of Chicago. Her parents were both in the military: her father was a Marine Corps drill sergeant, and her mother was a Navy nurse. She earned a PhD. in biological anthropology at the University of Michigan.
Russell currently lives in South Euclid, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, with her husband, Don, and her college-age son, Dan.
[edit] Writing career
Two of Russell's novels — The Sparrow and its sequel Children of God — explore one of science fiction's oldest concepts: first contact with aliens. Within the framework of the two works, she also explores how one can reconcile the idea of a benevolent deity in a universe filled with pain and evil.
Russell's third novel, A Thread of Grace, tells a fictional story within the fact-based setting of the Resistance in Italy during World War II and the plight of Jewish refugees in Northern Italy escaping from Nazi persecution throughout Europe. During the Nazi occupation of their country, many real Italian citizens allowed Jewish refugees to seek safe harbour among their farmlands, cities, and ports. Although a work of fiction, much of story is based on accounts of actual survivors from this period. Russell herself is of Italian heritage and is also a convert to Judaism.[1]
Russell's fourth novel, Dreamers of the Day (released in March 2008), revolves around the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference, which laid the foundations for the modern Middle East.
[edit] Books
- The Sparrow (1996)
- Children of God (1998)
- A Thread of Grace (2005)
- Dreamers of the Day, Random House, 2008. ISBN 1-4000-6471-6
[edit] Awards
- James Tiptree, Jr. Award
- British Science Fiction Association's Best Novel Award
- Arthur C. Clarke Award
- John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer
- Cleveland Arts Council Prize for Literature
- American Library Association Readers Choice Award
- Spectrum Classics Award
- Kurd Lasswitz Preis (German Nebula)
- Nominations
- Hugo Award
- Book of the Month Club Best First Fiction Prize
[edit] See also
- Giordano Bruno, the Italian philosopher for whom the interstellar ship in Children of God is named.
[edit] References
- ^ "A Talk with Mary Doria Russell". BookBrowse. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
[edit] External links
- Mary Doria Russell's personal website
- Radio interview of Mary Doria Russell discussing Dreamers of the Day and more, with Richard Wolinsky on KPFA's Cover to Cover (April 10, 2008)
- Interview of Mary Doria Russell discussing Dreamers of the Day and more with Kelly Hewitt for Loaded Questions.
- Interview of Mary Doria Russell discussing A Thread of Grace and more at LoadedShelf, September 2006
