Picture a Korean American storyteller who weaves history, humor, and speculative fiction into unforgettable narratives—meet Ed Park! A literary fiction novelist and founding editor of The Believer, Park has carved a unique niche in contemporary literature with his sharp wit and innovative storytelling. From his debut novel Personal Days to the Pulitzer Prize finalist Same Bed Different Dreams, he’s a master at blending the mundane with the profound, inviting readers to rethink history and identity.
Born in Buffalo, New York, Park’s journey from bookworm to literary trailblazer is as captivating as his stories. His work, infused with pop culture and historical intrigue, challenges mainstream narratives and amplifies overlooked voices, making him a vital figure in today’s literary landscape.
The Making of Ed Park
Ed Park was born in 1970 in Buffalo, New York, to South Korean immigrant parents. Growing up in the 1980s, he found solace in books, drawn to the offbeat and underappreciated works of authors like Charles Portis. After earning a degree from Yale and an MFA from Columbia, Park dove into the literary world, working at the Village Voice’s Literary Supplement and co-founding The Believer in 2003 with Heidi Julavits and Vendela Vida. His early career as an editor and critic shaped his knack for spotting hidden gems, a skill that later defined his fiction.
Ed Park’s Unforgettable Stories
Park’s debut novel, Personal Days (2008), is a sharp, darkly comic satire of office life, capturing the paranoia and absurdity of corporate culture. Hailed as one of Time’s top 10 fiction books of 2008, it was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award and praised for its Orwellian doublespeak and vivid characters, from spreadsheet drone Pru to backrub-giving Jack II.
His second novel, Same Bed Different Dreams (2023), is a sprawling, ambitious epic that reimagines Korean and Korean American history. Blending alternate history, sci-fi, and satire, it follows Soon Sheen, a novelist-turned-tech worker, and explores the Korean Provisional Government’s secret legacy. A finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize and winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, it’s been called 'a feverish, mind-altering marvel' by Pulitzer winner Hua Hsu.
Park’s forthcoming story collection, An Oral History of Atlantis (2025), promises more of his signature wit, with tales like Weird Menace, a long story styled as a DVD commentary track. His writing—lyrical, playful, and layered—tackles identity, history, and the absurdities of modern life, earning comparisons to Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo.
Why Ed Park Matters
Ed Park’s impact lies in his ability to expand the boundaries of contemporary literature. Through The Believer, he championed diverse voices and experimental storytelling, reshaping American literary culture. His novels, rich with Korean American perspectives, challenge readers to confront hidden histories and question mainstream narratives. By blending humor with profound themes, Park makes complex ideas accessible, inviting a broad audience to engage with literature that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- Born: 1970, Buffalo, New York
- Key Works: Personal Days (2008), Same Bed Different Dreams (2023), An Oral History of Atlantis (2025)
- Awards: Los Angeles Times Book Prize (2023), Pulitzer Prize finalist (2024)
- Fun Fact: Park once ran a PDF-only newsletter called The New-York Ghost!
Snag Same Bed Different Dreams and dive into Ed Park’s dazzling world of history, humor, and heart!