Picture a Korean-American storyteller who weaves surreal suspense and speculative fiction into unforgettable tales—meet Maria Dong! With her debut novel Liar, Dreamer, Thief captivating readers and her sophomore work Psychopomp pushing sci-fi boundaries, Dong has emerged as a bold voice in science fiction and fantasy. Her ability to blend psychological depth with genre-bending narratives makes her a rising star you’ll want to know.
Born from a diverse career path and a lifelong love of storytelling, Dong’s work explores identity, mental health, and the human condition with a feminist, anti-capitalist edge. Let’s dive into her journey, her unforgettable stories, and why she’s making waves in speculative fiction!
The Making of Maria Dong
Maria Dong’s path to authorship is as eclectic as her stories. A computer programmer by day, she’s also worked as a property manager, English teacher, and occupational therapist. A car accident a decade ago left her bedridden, sparking her writing journey as a way to combat boredom. Inspired by horror masters like Stephen King and her Korean heritage, Dong began crafting stories that delve into the psychological and political. Living in a reportedly haunted centenarian saltbox house in southwest Michigan with her partner, she draws from her mixed-race, second-generation experiences to create vivid, liminal worlds.
Maria Dong’s Unforgettable Stories
Dong’s debut novel, Liar, Dreamer, Thief (2023), is a psychological suspense thriller with speculative elements, following Katrina Kim, a Korean-American woman grappling with mental illness and obsession. Katrina’s ritualistic behaviors, like drawing impossible eleven-sided endekagrams, blur reality and fantasy, creating a surreal narrative that’s earned praise from Buzzfeed, Forbes, and Publisher’s Weekly. Her sophomore novel, Psychopomp (March 2025, Dark Matter Ink), is a dark sci-fi suspense set on a penal colony moon, exploring capitalism and mental health through a former Pomp’s hallucinations of volatile crystals.
Beyond novels, Dong’s short fiction shines in prestigious outlets like Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Lightspeed, and Khoreo. Her story “In the Beginning of Me, I Was a Bird” was a finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, showcasing her lyrical, emotional style. Works like “The Frankly Impossible Weight of Han” tackle cultural identity, while her vivid, character-driven prose often bends reality, reflecting her love for liminal spaces. Dong’s stories are anti-capitalist, feminist, and deeply human, making every page a thought-provoking adventure.
Her writing process is as unique as her tales—she’s a self-described “pantser,” letting curiosity guide her narratives. This organic approach, paired with her knack for weaving mental health and marginalized identities into speculative frameworks, sets her apart in a genre often dominated by safer bets. Whether it’s a haunting short story or a sprawling novel, Dong’s work invites readers to question reality and embrace the messy, beautiful complexity of human experience.
Why Maria Dong Matters
Maria Dong’s impact lies in her fearless exploration of underrepresented voices. As a Korean-American author, she brings second-generation and mixed-race perspectives to sci-fi and fantasy, challenging the genre’s traditional Eurocentric lens. Her focus on mental health, particularly in Liar, Dreamer, Thief, offers an authentic, insider’s view of compulsion and obsession, resonating with readers who see their struggles reflected. By tackling capitalism and identity, Dong’s work sparks conversations about societal structures, making her a vital voice in speculative fiction’s evolution.
Her inclusion in anthologies like We’re Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction and her growing fanbase highlight her influence. Dong’s stories don’t just entertain—they provoke, inspire, and redefine what sci-fi and fantasy can be. As she continues to publish, her legacy as a trailblazer for marginalized authors grows stronger.
- Birthplace: Details unavailable, but she’s Korean-American, now based in southwest Michigan.
- Key Works: Liar, Dreamer, Thief (2023), Psychopomp (2025), “In the Beginning of Me, I Was a Bird.”
- Awards: Finalist for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.
- Fun Fact: Loves K-Dramas and Bell’s beer!
Ready to dive into Maria Dong’s surreal worlds? Snag Liar, Dreamer, Thief or pre-order Psychopomp for a thrilling blend of sci-fi, suspense, and heart. Her stories will leave you questioning reality and cheering for her unforgettable characters!