Pat Murphy
Encyclopedia
Patrice Ann 'Pat' Murphy (born March 9, 1955 in Washington) is an award-winning American
science writer and author of science fiction
and fantasy
novels. Her second novel, The Falling Woman (1986), won the Nebula Award
, and she also won a Nebula Award
in the same year for her novelette, "Rachel in Love." Her short story collection, Points of Departure (1990) won the Philip K. Dick Award, and her 1990 novella, Bones, won the World Fantasy Award
in 1991.
She lives in San Francisco and, for more than 20 years, when she was not writing science fiction, she worked at the Exploratorium
, San Francisco's museum of science, art, and human perception. There, she published non-fiction as part of the museum staff.
Murphy has used the ideas of the absurdist pseudophilosophy pataphysics in some of her writings. Along with Lisa Goldstein
and Michaela Roessner
, she has formed The Brazen Hussies to promote their work. Together with Karen Joy Fowler
, Murphy co-founded the James Tiptree, Jr. Award
in 1991.
She has a black belt
in the martial art kenpō
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
science writer and author of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels. Her second novel, The Falling Woman (1986), won the Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
, and she also won a Nebula Award
Nebula Award
The Nebula Award is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America , for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the previous year...
in the same year for her novelette, "Rachel in Love." Her short story collection, Points of Departure (1990) won the Philip K. Dick Award, and her 1990 novella, Bones, won the World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
in 1991.
She lives in San Francisco and, for more than 20 years, when she was not writing science fiction, she worked at the Exploratorium
Exploratorium
The Exploratorium is a museum in San Francisco with over 475 participatory exhibits, all of them made onsite, that mix science and art. It also aims to promote museums as informal education centers....
, San Francisco's museum of science, art, and human perception. There, she published non-fiction as part of the museum staff.
Murphy has used the ideas of the absurdist pseudophilosophy pataphysics in some of her writings. Along with Lisa Goldstein
Lisa Goldstein
Lisa Goldstein is a Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award nominated fantasy and science fiction writer. Her 1982 novel The Red Magician won the American Book Award for best paperback novel, and was praised by Philip K. Dick shortly before his death...
and Michaela Roessner
Michaela Roessner
Michaela-Marie Roessner-Hermann is an American science-fiction writer publishing under the name Michaela Roessner. Born in San Francisco, she was raised in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Thailand, and Oregon...
, she has formed The Brazen Hussies to promote their work. Together with Karen Joy Fowler
Karen Joy Fowler
Karen Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the nineteenth century, the lives of women, and alienation....
, Murphy co-founded the James Tiptree, Jr. Award
James Tiptree, Jr. Award
The James Tiptree, Jr. Award is an annual literary prize for works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore one's understanding of gender. It was initiated in February of 1991 by science fiction authors Pat Murphy and Karen Joy Fowler, subsequent to a discussion at WisCon.- Background...
in 1991.
She has a black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in the martial art kenpō
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
.
Novels
- The Shadow Hunter (1982; partially rewritten and republished in 2002)
- The Falling WomanThe Falling WomanThe Falling Woman is a 1986 contemporary psychological fantasy novel by Pat Murphy. It won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1987.-Summary:...
(1986) - The City, Not Long After (1989)
- Nadya: The Wolf Chronicles (1996)
- There and Back Again (1999)
- Wild Angel (2001)
- Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell (2002)
- The Wild GirlsThe Wild GirlsThe Wild Girls is a children's novel written by Pat Murphy. It won the children's category of the 2008 Northern California Independent Booksellers Association Book of the Year Awards.-Plot:...
(children's novel) (2007)
Anthologies
- The James Tiptree Award Anthology 1 (2005) with Debbie Notkin, Karen Joy FowlerKaren Joy FowlerKaren Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the nineteenth century, the lives of women, and alienation....
and Jeffrey D. Smith. Anthology of winners of the James Tiptree, Jr. AwardJames Tiptree, Jr. AwardThe James Tiptree, Jr. Award is an annual literary prize for works of science fiction or fantasy that expand or explore one's understanding of gender. It was initiated in February of 1991 by science fiction authors Pat Murphy and Karen Joy Fowler, subsequent to a discussion at WisCon.- Background... - The James Tiptree Award Anthology 2 (2006) with Debbie Notkin, Karen Joy FowlerKaren Joy FowlerKaren Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the nineteenth century, the lives of women, and alienation....
and Jeffrey D. Smith. - The James Tiptree Award Anthology 3 (2007) with Debbie Notkin, Karen Joy FowlerKaren Joy FowlerKaren Joy Fowler is an American author of science fiction, fantasy, and literary fiction. Her work often centers on the nineteenth century, the lives of women, and alienation....
and Jeffrey D. Smith.
Nonfiction
- Exploratopia (2006, ISBN 0316612812)
- Zap Science: A Scientific Playground in a Book (1997) by John Cassidy, Paul Doherty, & Pat Murphy
- The Science Explorer Out and About (1997) by Pat Murphy, Ellen Klages, and Linda Shore
- The Color of Nature (1996) by Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty
- The Science Explorer (1996) by Pat Murphy, Ellen Klages, and Linda Shore
- By Nature's Design (1993) by Pat Murphy
- Bending Light: An Exploratorium Toolbook (1993) by Pat Murphy
- Explorabook: A Kid's Science Museum in a Book by John Cassidy, Pat Murphy, and Paul Doherty (1991)
- "Before and After" (1997 travel essay)
- "Imaginary Friends" (1996 essay)