Picture a Hawaiian storyteller who turned the ocean into a futuristic playground of noir and sci-fi—meet Chris McKinney! Born and raised in Honolulu, this Korean, Japanese, Scottish American author has carved a unique niche with his gripping narratives that blend speculative fiction, crime, and sharp social commentary. Best known for his Water City trilogy, McKinney’s tales dive deep into class struggles, climate change, and humanity’s dance with the sea, earning him a spot as one of Hawaii’s literary gems.
The Making of Chris McKinney
Growing up in rural Kahalu‘u on Oahu, McKinney lived across from a brackish shoreline, spearfishing and crabbing in Kaneohe Bay. This coastal upbringing, steeped in Native Hawaiian and Japanese culture, shaped his lens on socioeconomic inequity—a theme that pulses through his work. After earning a B.A. in English from the University of Hawai‘i, he traded a potential law career for storytelling, debuting with The Tattoo in 1999, a raw exploration of Hawaii’s underbelly. His early life, marked by a blended heritage and rural roots, fueled his authentic voice.
Chris McKinney’s Unforgettable Stories
McKinney’s bibliography is a vibrant mix of grit and imagination. His breakthrough, The Tattoo, paints a vivid portrait of Hawaii’s marginalized communities, blending crime and cultural identity. The Water City trilogy—Midnight, Water City (2021), Eventide, Water City (2023), and Sunset, Water City (2023)—catapults readers to a 22nd-century underwater Hawaii. Here, a colorblind detective with synesthesia navigates murder mysteries amid dystopian seas, earning accolades like Publishers Weekly’s Best Mystery of 2021. Other novels, like Boi No Good and Yakudoshi: Age of Calamity, tackle addiction and social divides with noir flair. McKinney’s style fuses genres—sci-fi, mystery, horror, and adventure—while his Hawaiian settings and class-conscious themes ground his speculative leaps.
His writing sparkles with cinematic influences, from Blade Runner to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and literary nods to Orwell and Philip K. Dick. McKinney’s ability to weave research-heavy topics like astrophysics and marine biology into page-turners makes his work both thrilling and thought-provoking.
Why Chris McKinney Matters
McKinney’s impact lies in his fearless dissection of Hawaii’s social fabric, exposing inequalities often glossed over by its paradise image. His Water City trilogy, lauded by Newsweek for its “razor-sharp social commentary,” reimagines the islands as a futuristic battleground for survival and faith, resonating with global climate concerns. As a professor at Honolulu Community College and a 2024 Honolulu Magazine Author of the Year, he inspires new voices while amplifying Native Hawaiian and mixed-race perspectives. His awards, including the Elliot Cades and seven Ka Palapala Po‘okela Awards, cement his legacy as a trailblazer in speculative and crime fiction.
- Born: Honolulu, Hawaii
- Key Works: The Tattoo, Water City trilogy, Boi No Good
- Awards: Elliot Cades Award, seven Ka Palapala Po‘okela Awards
Ready to dive into a world where Hawaii meets sci-fi noir? Grab Midnight, Water City and let Chris McKinney’s electrifying tales sweep you away!