Amal El-Mohtar

Amal El-Mohtar is a Canadian speculative fiction writer and poet who has earned significant recognition in the science fiction and fantasy genres. She gained widespread acclaim for co-authoring "This Is How You Lose the Time War" with Max Gladstone, which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Novella in 2020. Her work has garnered multiple prestigious awards, including Hugo and Nebula Awards for Best Short Story in 2017, and Locus Awards for Best Short Story in both 2015 and 2017. Since 2006, she has served as editor of the fantasy poetry quarterly magazine "Goblin Fruit," establishing herself as a notable voice in speculative poetry. Beyond her creative work, El-Mohtar contributes regularly to the New York Times Book Review as a science fiction and fantasy reviewer since 2018. She has also worked as a creative writing instructor at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, sharing her expertise through teaching and as a host on Brandon Sanderson's writing podcast "Writing Excuses." Of Lebanese descent and born in Ottawa, Ontario, El-Mohtar's work often draws from various cultural influences and spans multiple formats including short fiction, poetry, essays, and reviews. Her contributions to speculative fiction continue to shape the genre through both her creative output and critical commentary.

Readers particularly connect with El-Mohtar's poetic writing style and emotional depth in "This Is How You Lose the Time War." On Goodreads, readers frequently mention the lyrical prose and complex relationship dynamics. One reader noted: "The language is so beautiful it hurts." Common praise points: - Dense, literary writing style - Creative epistolary format - LGBTQ+ representation - Emotional impact - Unique approach to time travel Common criticisms: - Plot can be difficult to follow - Style over substance for some readers - Too abstract/experimental - Length too short for price Ratings across platforms: - Goodreads: 4.2/5 (100,000+ ratings) - Amazon: 4.4/5 (8,000+ reviews) - StoryGraph: 4.27/5 Her short fiction receives similar feedback, with readers highlighting her poetic language. Some readers find her work requires multiple readings to fully grasp. One Amazon reviewer stated: "Beautiful but occasionally impenetrable - you have to work for it." For her poetry and critical work, readers appreciate her technical expertise and cultural commentary.

This Is How You Lose the Time War (2019, with Max Gladstone) In a war across timelines, two rival agents begin exchanging letters, developing a dangerous relationship that could alter the course of multiple realities.

The Honey Month (2010) A collection of 28 short stories and poems inspired by different varieties of honey, each piece written after tasting a unique honey sample.

Seasons of Glass and Iron (2016) A fairy tale that interweaves two traditional stories about women breaking free from magical constraints.

The Truth About Owls (2014) A story following a Lebanese girl in Glasgow who develops a fascination with owls while dealing with her identity and family history.

Pockets (2015) A tale about a woman who discovers she can pull impossible objects from her pockets, exploring themes of loss and possibility.

To Follow the Waves (2009) A speculative poetry chapbook centered around themes of dreams, desire, and damascene jewelry.

Max Gladstone blends intricate worldbuilding with complex character relationships in his fantasy works, particularly the Craft Sequence series. His writing style meshes technological and magical elements in urban fantasy settings, similar to El-Mohtar's approach to genre-blending.

Naomi Novik creates fantasy narratives that weave together folklore and contemporary themes. Her work in novels like Uprooted and Spinning Silver demonstrates strong female protagonists and cultural elements that echo El-Mohtar's attention to heritage in storytelling.

Cat Valente incorporates poetic language and mythological elements throughout her fiction work. Her Space Opera and Fairyland series showcase the same mix of lyrical writing and genre-bending storytelling found in El-Mohtar's work.

N.K. Jemisin crafts stories that challenge genre conventions while exploring cultural identity and power dynamics. Her Broken Earth trilogy demonstrates the kind of boundary-pushing narrative structure that aligns with El-Mohtar's experimental approach.

Sofia Samatar combines literary elements with speculative fiction while drawing from multiple cultural traditions. Her work in A Stranger in Olondria shows similar attention to poetic language and cultural exploration as El-Mohtar's writing.