A prestigious award for lifetime achievement in short stories, the PEN/Malamud Award, has been recently bestowed upon science fiction author Ted Chiang. This marks only the second time that a writer of this genre has been honored with this award since its inception in 1988.
Chiang’s work has previously garnered recognition from various science fiction awards, including the Nebula and Hugo Awards, for collections such as “Exhalation” and “Stories of Your Life and Others.” The award committee chair, Jung Yun, commended Chiang’s creative and well-constructed stories that encourage readers to explore unique worlds beyond their own.
Upon receiving the award, Chiang expressed his surprise and delight while highlighting his appreciation for the short story form and its ability to focus on a single idea or moment. He also acknowledged the growing acceptance of science fiction in the wider literary world and felt privileged to be a part of this trend.
The PEN/Malamud Award is named after the late fiction writer Bernard Malamud and his wife, Ann, and has previously been awarded to renowned authors such as Alice Munro, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Edwidge Danticat. This recognition further solidifies Chiang’s status as a leading voice in the science fiction genre.
