Ursula K. Le Guin is the only other science fiction author to have won the prestigious PEN/Malamud Award for lifetime achievement in short stories, which was awarded to Ted Chiang. The award committee chair, Jung Yun, praised Chiang’s work, stating that his stories are captivating, imaginative and encourage readers to explore different worlds. Chiang expressed his surprise and delight at receiving the award, acknowledging the increasing recognition of science fiction in the broader literary community.
Chiang highlighted the unique ability of short stories to focus on a single idea or moment, expressing his gratitude for being honored with an award that celebrates this literary form. The PEN/Malamud Award, named after the late fiction writer Bernard Malamud and his wife Ann, has previously been bestowed upon literary luminaries such as Alice Munro, Jhumpa Lahiri and Edwidge Danticat. Chiang is known for his collections “Exhalation” and “Stories of Your Life and Others,” which have earned him various esteemed science fiction awards like the Nebula and Hugo.
