Elissa Malcohn

Biography

Elissa Malcohn's novelette "Lazuli" (Asimov's, Nov. 1984) made her a 1985 John W. Campbell Award finalist for best new science fiction writer of the year. Her short story "Moments of Clarity" (Full Spectrum, Bantam, 1988) reached preliminary ballot for the 1989 Nebula Awards. Commenting on "Moments of Clarity" in his review of Full Spectrum in the November, 1988, Out of This World Tribune, Bruce D. Arthurs wrote, "This one story is worth the price of the entire book."

Elissa's work also appears in publications that won awards in 2009. IPPY Silver Medalist Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory (Scriblerus Press) contains her story "Arachne" (originally published in Aboriginal Science Fiction, Dec. 1988). Bram Stoker Award winner Unspeakable Horror: From the Shadows of the Closet (Dark Scribe Press) contains her story "Memento Mori." Her story "Hermit Crabs" in Hugo Award winner Electric Velocipede (#14) and her novelette "Flotsam" in Asimov's (Oct./Nov. 2009) made the recommended reading list in The Year's Best Science Fiction, 26th and 27th Annual Collections, respectively.

Elissa's work has appeared in dozens of publications since the 1970s. Covenant, the first volume of her Deviations series, was originally published by the now-defunct Aisling Press in 2007.

Elissa edited Star*Line, the journal of the Science Fiction Poetry Association, from 1986-88 and was a five-time Rhysling Award nominee for best speculative poetry of the year.

Outside the genre, Elissa won first prize in the Woodview Coffee House 2010 song-writing contest.

Member, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Science Fiction Poetry Association, Broad Universe, more. Proud participant, Operation E-Book Drop, Books For Soldiers, and Shadow Forest Authors.

Books

Deviations: Second Covenant
Series: Deviations, Book 6. Price: Free! Words: 108,060. Language: English. Published: May 31, 2011 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Vol. 6: Bless struggles to govern Crossroads as the Yata gain power. Abri must balance his sworn oath to hunt Masari with his growing worship of them. TelZodo becomes enmeshed in a push for increased predation, while Evit stumbles on a solution to Yata dependence that could destroy the region utterly. In an atmosphere of murder and political intrigue, only the victor will get to rewrite history.
Deviations: TelZodo
Series: Deviations, Book 5. Price: Free! Words: 87,470. Language: English. Published: November 30, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Vol. 5: TelZodo comes of age in Crossroads. Unable to follow in his parents' footsteps and cursed with sterility, he seeks his salvation and sanity in Promontory. Hobbled by poor health, TripStone's life is equally bleak. TelZodo's arrival plunges them into a battle of wills that leaves them no choice but to face their personal demons together -- if they don't kill each other first.
Deviations: Bloodlines
Series: Deviations, Book 4. Price: Free! Words: 152,960. Language: English. Published: June 5, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Vol. 4: Promontory's people must hunt down the escaped "Farm Yata" or starve, but they must also integrate with the Skedge Yata to save their industries. The drive toward integration makes TripStone the main target of a Yata out to save her kin in the canyon. Across the region, Crossroads and Basc struggle to maintain a peaceful coexistence, but violations bring them to the brink of all-out war.
Deviations: Destiny
Series: Deviations, Book 3. Price: Free! Words: 122,170. Language: English. Published: November 30, 2009 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Vol. 3: Repeated acts of sabotage threaten Promontory's Destiny supply. The more TripStone learns about Promontory and the trader BrushBurn, the more she doubts her mission to destroy Destiny Farm. Across town, the very people hiding Ghost and his new family are under pressure to unlock the drug's secrets -- while Crossroads, on the brink of bankruptcy, faces certain invasion.
Deviations: Appetite
Series: Deviations, Book 2. Price: Free! Words: 91,880. Language: English. Published: November 26, 2009 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
Vol. 2: Crossroads and Basc face starvation after the Covenant's destruction; their independence depends on an uneasy alliance. TripStone's plot to destroy Destiny Farm could place her entire valley at risk. Unaware of Crossroads' fate, her comrade Ghost and his pregnant wife Piri search for a home, but no place is safe. Piri risks giving birth to their hybrid child in the deepest heart of danger.
Deviations: Covenant
Series: Deviations, Book 1. Price: Free! Words: 89,440. Language: English. Published: November 26, 2009 . Categories: Fiction » Science fiction » General
(4.50 from 2 reviews)
Vol. 1: An accomplished hunter in the Masari village of Crossroads, TripStone is charged with slaying the sacred Yata. Her comrade Ghost tries to end Masari dependence on Yata meat by performing experiments punishable by death. Their worldview shatters when they harbor a Yata woman raised to be livestock instead of a god -- while a secret Yata militia prepares to alter the balance of power.