| Occupation | Science fiction author |
|---|---|
| Notableworks | Dreams Before the Start of Time |
| Awards |
|
| Website | annecharnock.com |
Anne Charnock (born 8 June 1954) is a British author of science fiction novels. In 2018, she won the Arthur C. Clarke Award in science fiction, for her novel Dreams Before the Start of Time.
Career
Born in Bolton, England, Charnock has a background in environmental science, journalism, and fine art, which she incorporates into her science fiction writing.[1] She has worked as a science writer for The Guardian and New Scientist, and as a foreign correspondent.[2]
A Calculated Life is set in a dystopian near-future Britain shaped by advances in genetic engineering and corporate power; its protagonist is a ‘simulant’ (part human, part AI) leased to a corporation to generate economic predictions.[3] It was nominated for the 2013 Philip K. Dick Award.[4] Charnock’s novella The Enclave, set in the same world, follows migrant workers attempting to make a living in the UK, and it was published in a quartet of novellas by NewCon Press alongside works by Neil Williamson, Simon Morden and Alastair Reynolds.[5]
Charnock is also the author of Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind (47 North), published in 2015, a novel that braids together past, present and future, with a 15th-century Italian female artist at its centre.[6]
Her 2017 novel Dreams Before the Start of Time (47 North), is set in a future world where artificial wombs have become the primary method of reproduction and infertility has been eradicated. It won the Arthur C. Clarke award for science fiction in 2018.[2] In 2017, it was shortlisted for the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Award for Best Novel.[7]
In 2017, Charnock won the BSFA Award for Best Shorter Fiction for her novella The Enclave, published by NewCon.[7] Charnock was a judge during the 2018 James White Award short story competition,[8] and served as a judge for the Kitschies Awards in 2024.[9]
Awards
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | A Calculated Life | Philip K. Dick Award | — | [10] | |
| Kitschies | Golden Tentacle (Dèbut) | ||||
| 2018 | The Enclave | BSFA Award | Short Fiction | ||
| 2018 | Dreams Before the Start of Time | Arthur C. Clarke Award | — | ||
| BSFA Award | Novel | ||||
| 2021 | "All I Asked For” | BSFA Award | Short Fiction |
Bibliography
Novels
- A Calculated Life (2013). Self-published.
- Sleeping Embers of an Ordinary Mind (2015).
- Dreams Before the Start of Time (2017).
- Bridge 108 (2020).[11]
Chapbook
- The Enclave (2017)
Short stories
| Title | Year Published | Collection / Mag | ISBN | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "A Good Citizen" | 2017 | "A Good Citizen". 2084. Unsung Stories. 2017. | ISBN 978-1-907389-50-4 | [12] |
| "A Cure for Homesickness" | 2018 | "A Cure for Homesickness". Shoreline of Infinity. ' (11.5). The New Curiosity Shop. April 2018. | ISBN 978-1-9997002-6-3 | [13] |
References
- ^ "'Science fiction is like a Swiss army knife'". Independent [London, England]. 24 January 2016.
- ^ Cain, Sian (2018-07-18). "Arthur C Clarke award goes to 'classic' novel exploring the limits of pregnancy". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ "Charnock, Anne". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Gollancz. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "2013 Philip K. Dick Award Nominees Announced - SFWA". SFWA. 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ Lovegrove, James (7 April 2017). "Short review: NewCon Press Novella Set 1". Financial Times. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ Roberts, Adam (2015-12-03). "Best science fiction and fantasy books of 2015". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ "2017 BSFA Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ "2018 James White Award Shortlist". Locus Online. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
- ^ "2024 (And Final) Kitschies Winners". Locus Magazine. Locus Science Fiction Foundation. 27 November 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "sfadb : Anne Charnock Titles". www.sfadb.com. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Bridge 108". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Title: A Good Citizen". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
- ^ "Title: A Cure for Homesickness". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved 2022-07-28.