Picture a storyteller who weaves vibrant worlds where starships hum with life and queer women of color take center stage—meet Jae Koyanagi, formerly known as Jacqueline Koyanagi! This speculative fiction author burst onto the scene with her debut novel Ascension, a space opera that snagged a spot on the James Tiptree Jr. Honor List. With a knack for blending heart, grit, and cosmic wonder, Koyanagi’s stories explore embodiment, consciousness, and mortality in ways that feel both intimate and infinite.
Born to a Japanese-Southern-American family, Koyanagi’s unique perspective infuses her work with rich diversity and authenticity. Her tales aren’t just about spaceships; they’re about people—flawed, fierce, and beautifully human—navigating love, loss, and identity in far-flung futures. Let’s dive into the life and legacy of this captivating voice in science fiction!
The Making of Jae Koyanagi
Raised in Ohio before moving to Georgia, Koyanagi’s early life was shaped by a blend of cultures and a passion for storytelling. She earned a degree in anthropology with a minor in religion, fields that sparked her fascination with human experience and belief systems. This curiosity would later fuel her speculative fiction, where she crafts worlds that challenge norms and celebrate diversity. Koyanagi began writing to see herself and her loved ones reflected in genre fiction, carving out space for queer, disabled, and neurodivergent characters in a field often dominated by traditional archetypes.
Jae Koyanagi’s Unforgettable Stories
Koyanagi’s debut, Ascension (2013), introduces Alana Quick, a sky surgeon with a chronic illness who stows away on the starship Tangled Axon. This novel, the first in the Tangled Axon series, is a love letter to found family, polyamory, and the visceral connection between humans and machines. Praised for its diverse cast and sensual prose, it earned a place on the James Tiptree Jr. Honor List for its exploration of gender and identity.
Beyond Ascension, Koyanagi’s short fiction has graced anthologies like Phantasm Japan and works by Candlemark & Gleam. She’s also contributed to collaborative serials like Ninth Step Murders and Ctrl-Alt-Destroy through Realm, showcasing her versatility. Her 2019 project Alternis, co-authored with Andrea Phillips and others, dives into a digital battlefield where a young gamer’s skills could save nations. Koyanagi’s style—lush, character-driven, and unafraid to tackle disability, race, and non-traditional relationships—sets her apart in speculative fiction.
Her stories don’t shy away from heavy themes but balance them with warmth and hope. Whether it’s Alana’s bond with her starship or a gamer navigating a high-stakes digital war, Koyanagi’s work invites readers to embrace the messy, beautiful complexity of existence.
Why Jae Koyanagi Matters
Koyanagi’s impact lies in her fearless commitment to representation. By centering queer women of color, disabled characters, and diverse relationship styles, she’s expanded the boundaries of science fiction, making it a more inclusive space. Her work resonates with readers who rarely see themselves as heroes in genre fiction, offering stories that feel both revolutionary and deeply personal. The James Tiptree Jr. Honor List nod for Ascension underscores her influence in challenging gender norms and societal expectations.
Today, Koyanagi continues to write, play Dungeons & Dragons, and muse about the goodness of dogs in her Colorado home. Her legacy is one of courage—proof that speculative fiction can be a canvas for voices too often sidelined, painted with vivid imagination and heart.
- Born: Ohio, to a Japanese-Southern-American family
- Key Works: Ascension, Alternis, Ninth Step Murders
- Awards: James Tiptree Jr. Honor List (2014) for Ascension
- Hobbies: Dungeons & Dragons, crafting chainmaille jewelry
Snag Ascension and dive into Jae Koyanagi’s lush, soulful sci-fi worlds—you’ll be starstruck by her vision!