Picture a Canadian storyteller who’s trekked through war zones, coded tech breakthroughs, and spun tales that grip you like a late-night thriller—meet Jon Evans! A San Francisco-based author, journalist, and software engineer, Evans weaves his global adventures and tech savvy into award-winning novels that pulse with mystery, thriller, and fantasy vibes. From the shadowy streets of Dark Places to the wilds of Beasts of New York, his stories are as unforgettable as his passport stamps.
The Making of Jon Evans
Born on April 11, 1973, in Waterloo, Ontario, Jon Evans grew up with a Rhodesian father and Canadian mother, soaking in a blend of cultures that fueled his wanderlust. Armed with an electrical engineering degree from the University of Waterloo, he dove into software engineering, but his heart was always in storytelling. His travels to over 100 countries, from Iraq’s conflict zones to Haiti’s vibrant streets, shaped his gritty, globe-trotting narratives. Evans’s knack for merging tech and tales kicked off with his debut novel, setting the stage for a career that’s as dynamic as his life.
Jon Evans’s Unforgettable Stories
Evans’s novels are a thrilling cocktail of suspense, adventure, and tech-driven intrigue. His debut, Dark Places (2004), snagged the 2005 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, plunging readers into a backpacker’s nightmare in Nepal with a serial killer twist. Blood Price (2005) amps up the stakes, exploring Third World exploitation through a tech-savvy heroine battling a world where data defines destiny. His fantasy gem, Beasts of New York (2011), a ForeWord Book of the Year winner, reimagines urban wildlife with a cult following, while his graphic novel The Executor (2010) earned a spot among Comic Book Resources’ top ten graphic novels of the year. His latest, Exadelic (2023), is a mind-bending sci-fi ride blending AI and black magic. Evans’s style—sharp, immersive, and laced with global and tech insights—makes every page a journey.
What sets Evans apart is his ability to fuse real-world issues, like globalization and digital power, with heart-pounding plots. His “travel technothrillers” capture the 2000s’ tech boom and its impact on far-flung corners, from Morocco to Belize. Released under Creative Commons, many of his works are free to download, reflecting his belief in accessible storytelling.
Why Jon Evans Matters
Jon Evans isn’t just a novelist; he’s a cultural bridge, blending tech, travel, and fiction to reflect our connected world. His journalism for Wired, The Guardian, and TechCrunch dissects tech’s societal ripples, while his novels give voice to the marginalized, from urban animals to exploited communities. As CTO of HappyFunCorp and architect of Bookshop.org, he’s shaped the digital landscape, and his GitHub Archive Program ensures open-source code lives on for 1,000 years. Evans’s legacy lies in his fearless storytelling and his push to make knowledge and stories free for all.
- Born: April 11, 1973, Waterloo, Ontario
- Key Works: Dark Places, Blood Price, Beasts of New York, The Executor, Exadelic
- Awards: Arthur Ellis Award (2005), ForeWord Book of the Year (2011)
- Fun Fact: His novels are translated into 13 languages!
Snag Dark Places or Beasts of New York and dive into Jon Evans’s thrilling, globe-spanning adventures!