Picture a mathematician turned stuntwoman who wields equations like superpowers and crafts pulse-pounding sci-fi—meet S.L. Huang! This Hugo-winning author blends high-octane action with mind-bending math in her acclaimed Cas Russell series, while her diverse life as a Hollywood armorer and global adventurer fuels stories that leap off the page.
From MIT classrooms to Los Angeles film sets, Huang’s journey is as thrilling as her novels. Her unique ability to fuse mathematical precision with cinematic flair has made her a standout voice in speculative fiction, captivating readers with tales of queer heroes and rebellious underdogs.
The Making of S.L. Huang
Born Shi Lian Huang in New Jersey, S.L. Huang, known as Lisa, graduated from MIT with a mathematics degree, a foundation that shapes her cerebral yet action-packed storytelling. A two-time cancer survivor, having battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a child and breast cancer later, Huang’s resilience shines through. After MIT, she traded equations for excitement, moving to Hollywood to become a stuntwoman and the first female professional armorer in the industry. When cancer temporarily sidelined her physical work, she turned to writing, channeling her dynamic experiences into fiction.
Huang’s global adventures—teaching in China, volunteering in Costa Rica, and living in Japan—infuse her work with cultural depth and a fearless spirit. Her background in martial arts, sword fighting, and firearms expertise adds authenticity to her kinetic action scenes, making her a polymath whose life mirrors her larger-than-life characters.
S.L. Huang’s Unforgettable Stories
Huang’s Cas Russell series, starting with Zero Sum Game (2018), introduces Cas, a mercenary with superhuman mathematical abilities who navigates a gritty underworld of conspiracies and violence. Praised by Library Journal as a top debut, the series continues with Null Set (2019) and Critical Point (2020), blending thriller pacing with explorations of identity and morality. Cas’s knack for calculating trajectories mid-battle makes her a unique antihero, reflecting Huang’s mathematical roots.
Beyond sci-fi, Huang’s fantasy works dazzle. Her novella Burning Roses (2020) reimagines Red Riding Hood and Hou Yi as middle-aged women on a quest, weaving themes of friendship and sacrifice. The Water Outlaws (2023), a queer, feminist retelling of the Chinese classic Water Margin, delivers martial arts epics with rebellious heart, earning starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for its vivid action. Huang’s short fiction, including the Hugo-winning “As the Last I May Know” (2020), appears in outlets like Analog and Strange Horizons, showcasing her versatility.
Huang’s style is cinematic, with tightly plotted narratives, diverse casts, and a knack for making math thrilling. Her genderqueer perspective and focus on queer, feminist themes add modern relevance, while her stunt work ensures fight scenes crackle with realism.
Why S.L. Huang Matters
S.L. Huang’s impact lies in her ability to make speculative fiction accessible and exhilarating, blending intellectual depth with visceral action. Her diverse protagonists—queer, female, and unapologetically fierce—challenge genre norms, offering representation that resonates with modern readers. By turning mathematics into a superpower, she inspires STEM enthusiasts and fiction lovers alike, proving that numbers can be as thrilling as sword fights.
Her Hollywood credentials and global perspective broaden sci-fi’s appeal, while her Hugo Award and critical acclaim cement her as a rising star. Huang’s stories don’t just entertain—they empower, showing that resilience and rebellion can change the world, one equation at a time.
- Born: New Jersey, USA
- Key Works: Cas Russell series, Burning Roses, The Water Outlaws
- Awards: Hugo Award for Best Short Story (2020)
- Fun Fact: First female professional armorer in Hollywood
Ready for a wild ride? Grab Zero Sum Game and dive into S.L. Huang’s electrifying world of math-fueled mayhem!