📖 Overview
Rebecca Roanhorse is an American science fiction and fantasy author known for incorporating Indigenous characters and Navajo mythology into her work. She has received multiple prestigious awards including the Hugo Award for Best Short Story (2018), the Nebula Award for Best Short Story (2017), and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (2018).
Her debut novel "Trail of Lightning" (2018) launched the Sixth World series, which takes place in a post-apocalyptic world influenced by Navajo traditions. Roanhorse has also written for the Star Wars franchise with "Race to Crashpoint Tower" and authored the Between Earth and Sky series, beginning with "Black Sun."
Born in Conway, Arkansas in 1971 and adopted by white parents, Roanhorse grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. Her early experiences as a Black and Native child in Texas during the 1970s and 1980s led her to find solace in reading and writing science fiction.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Roanhorse's incorporation of Indigenous perspectives and mythology into science fiction and fantasy, with many noting her fresh take on post-apocalyptic settings. Fans highlight her action scenes, pacing, and complex female characters.
Common praise points:
- Authentic Native American representation
- Strong world-building
- Fast-moving plots
- Morally ambiguous characters
Common criticisms:
- Some find the pacing too quick with underdeveloped characters
- Readers note violent/graphic content may not suit all audiences
- Several mention wanting more depth in world-building
Ratings averages:
Goodreads:
- Trail of Lightning: 3.9/5 (33,000+ ratings)
- Black Sun: 4.2/5 (25,000+ ratings)
- Race to the Sun: 4.1/5 (4,000+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Trail of Lightning: 4.4/5
- Black Sun: 4.5/5
One recurring reader comment notes Roanhorse "writes action sequences that feel like watching a movie." Several reviewers mention needing content warnings for violence.
📚 Books by Rebecca Roanhorse
Trail of Lightning - A post-apocalyptic novel set in former Navajo territory following Maggie Hoskie, a monster hunter who uses traditional powers to track supernatural creatures.
Race to the Sun - A middle-grade novel following a 7th-grade Navajo girl who discovers she must prevent the Sun from being trapped forever by ancient monsters.
Star Wars: Resistance Reborn - A Star Wars novel bridging events between "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker," focusing on General Leia Organa's resistance movement.
Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky Book 1) - A pre-Columbian Americas-inspired fantasy about a priest, a ship captain, and a blind assassin whose paths converge during a celestial event.
Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky Book 2) - A continuation of the epic fantasy following the aftermath of the convergence at Tova, with competing factions vying for power.
Tread of Angels - A historical fantasy set in 1883 Colorado about a half-demon woman trying to prove her sister's innocence in a murder case.
Race to the Sun - A middle-grade novel following a 7th-grade Navajo girl who discovers she must prevent the Sun from being trapped forever by ancient monsters.
Star Wars: Resistance Reborn - A Star Wars novel bridging events between "The Last Jedi" and "The Rise of Skywalker," focusing on General Leia Organa's resistance movement.
Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky Book 1) - A pre-Columbian Americas-inspired fantasy about a priest, a ship captain, and a blind assassin whose paths converge during a celestial event.
Fevered Star (Between Earth and Sky Book 2) - A continuation of the epic fantasy following the aftermath of the convergence at Tova, with competing factions vying for power.
Tread of Angels - A historical fantasy set in 1883 Colorado about a half-demon woman trying to prove her sister's innocence in a murder case.
👥 Similar authors
N.K. Jemisin writes fantasy and science fiction that centers non-Western mythologies and explores themes of oppression and power structures. Her Broken Earth trilogy features complex worldbuilding and marginalized characters navigating societal systems.
Octavia Butler pioneered Black perspectives in science fiction and wrote about power dynamics, survival, and cultural identity. Her works like Kindred and the Parable series examine apocalyptic scenarios and social hierarchies through marginalized viewpoints.
Daniel Heath Justice combines Cherokee traditions with fantasy storytelling in his Way of Thorn and Thunder trilogy. He writes Indigenous-centered narratives that challenge colonial perspectives in speculative fiction.
Stephen Graham Jones incorporates Indigenous experiences and horror elements in his works like The Only Good Indians and Mongrels. His writing merges contemporary Native American life with supernatural and horror elements.
Louise Erdrich writes stories that blend Ojibwe culture with elements of magical realism and contemporary fiction. Her works like Future Home of the Living God explore Indigenous perspectives in both realistic and speculative contexts.
Octavia Butler pioneered Black perspectives in science fiction and wrote about power dynamics, survival, and cultural identity. Her works like Kindred and the Parable series examine apocalyptic scenarios and social hierarchies through marginalized viewpoints.
Daniel Heath Justice combines Cherokee traditions with fantasy storytelling in his Way of Thorn and Thunder trilogy. He writes Indigenous-centered narratives that challenge colonial perspectives in speculative fiction.
Stephen Graham Jones incorporates Indigenous experiences and horror elements in his works like The Only Good Indians and Mongrels. His writing merges contemporary Native American life with supernatural and horror elements.
Louise Erdrich writes stories that blend Ojibwe culture with elements of magical realism and contemporary fiction. Her works like Future Home of the Living God explore Indigenous perspectives in both realistic and speculative contexts.