Sequoia Nagamatsu
Biography
Sequoia Nagamatsu is a celebrated Japanese American author renowned for his imaginative and poignant speculative fiction. Born in Hawaii in 1982, he earned an MFA from Southern Illinois University and has since taught creative writing at various institutions. His debut short story collection, "Where We Go When All We Were Is Gone" (2016), explored themes of Japanese folklore, grief, and the absurd, earning critical acclaim and the Willow Books Literature Award. He gained widespread recognition with his New York Times bestselling novel, "How High We Go in the Dark" (2022). This ambitious work, set in a near-future world grappling with a deadly ancient plague emerging from melting permafrost, weaves together interconnected narratives exploring humanity's response to catastrophe, loss, and the search for meaning. Nagamatsu's writing is characterized by its lyrical prose, philosophical depth, and a unique ability to blend scientific concepts with deeply personal and emotional stories, often infused with elements of magical realism and a profound sense of wonder.
Selected Thoughts
«"Grief, I realized, was a language. And like any language, it evolved."»
«"The future, like memory, was a story we told ourselves."»
«"We were all just stardust and longing, falling through an infinite void."»
Writing Style
Lyrical, melancholic, speculative, emotionally resonant, philosophical, and imaginative, often blending scientific concepts with deeply personal narratives and surreal imagery.