Picture a Jersey-born storyteller who crafts gritty, witty worlds where cyborgs clash and blood magic crackles—meet Jeff Somers! With a flair for science fiction, urban fantasy, and horror, Somers has carved a niche with his sharp prose and dark humor. From his breakout Avery Cates series to his zine roots, he’s a literary force who thrives in Hoboken with his wife, cats, and a knack for cocktails.
The Making of Jeff Somers
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Jeff Somers once dreamed of being a brain surgeon—until math and hard work dashed those plans. A self-proclaimed survivor of a 'severe head trauma,' he turned to writing, mixing fiction with a love for whiskey and chess. In 1995, he launched his zine, The Inner Swine, becoming a staple in the alt.zines scene. His early essays showcased his observational wit, paving the way for a genre-hopping career.
Jeff Somers’s Unforgettable Stories
Somers’s debut novel, Lifers (2001), introduced his knack for flawed characters and sharp dialogue, though critics noted its lean plot. He hit his stride with the Avery Cates series, starting with The Electric Church (2007), a noir-soaked cyberpunk saga about a killer-for-hire battling a cyborg religion. Praised for its gritty world-building, the series spans five novels and several novellas. The Ustari Cycle, including We Are Not Good People (2014), dives into urban fantasy with con-men mages wielding blood magic. His standalone Chum explores betrayal with dark humor, while his 40+ short stories, like 'Ringing the Changes,' earned spots in prestigious anthologies.
Somers’s style blends dystopian grit with a 'funky wit,' drawing from influences like Raymond Chandler and Neal Stephenson. His worlds are vivid, often set in a chaotic future New York, where antiheroes navigate moral gray zones. Whether crafting cyberpunk epics or magical heists, Somers keeps readers hooked with tight pacing and clever twists.
Why Jeff Somers Matters
Jeff Somers has left a mark on speculative fiction by blending genres with a punk-rock edge. His Avery Cates series redefined cyberpunk with its raw, human core, inspiring fans and writers alike. Beyond novels, his zine work and craft essays for Writer’s Digest show his dedication to storytelling. In a genre often dominated by glossy heroes, Somers champions the underdog, making his stories resonate with readers craving authenticity.
- Born: 1971, Jersey City, NJ
- Key Works: The Electric Church, We Are Not Good People, Writing Without Rules
- Awards: Finalist, Sturgeon Award (2016); Best American Mystery Stories (2006)
Ready to dive into a world of gritty antiheroes and clever cons? Grab The Electric Church and lose yourself in Jeff Somers’s electrifying imagination!