Wen Spencer

Wen Spencer (born 1963) is an American science fiction and fantasy writer whose books center on characters with unusual abilities, and which might be regarded as original variations on the standard vampire and werewolf themes. In 2003, she was the winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.

Spencer was raised on the family farm in Evans City, Pennsylvania and attended the University of Pittsburgh, gaining a degree in Information science, and has been active in science fiction fandom. Her Ukiah Oregon series features a partly alien character of gentle nature but with powerful abilities and with dangerous relatives who are variations on the theme of werewolf. Her novel Tinker features a young woman of extraordinary brilliance who is turned (somewhat reminiscently of vampire fiction) into an elf. A Brother's Price posits a believable world where perhaps 1 man is born for every 8, 10, or more women, and the evolution of its society.

File:Wen-with-Campbell.jpg

Wen Spencer accepting the Campbell Award at the 2003 World Science Fiction Convention in Toronto

Published works

Ukiah Oregon series

1. Alien Taste (2001), Compton Crook Award winner
2. Tainted Trail (2002)
3. Bitter Waters (2003)
4. Dog Warrior (October 2004)

Tinker (Elfhome) series

Fantasy novels set in near-future Pittsburgh and Elfhome

1. Tinker (2003), 2004 Sapphire Award for the Best Science Fiction Romance novel
2. Wolf Who Rules (July 2006)
3. Elfhome (July 2012)
4. Wood Sprites (release November 2014)

• Steel City Magic – Science Fiction Book Club omnibus edition of Tinker and Wolf Who Rules (April 2006)
• Short stories set in the Elfhome Universe

Stand-alone novels

• A Brother's Price (2005)
• Endless Blue (2007)
• Eight Million Gods (2013)

Short stories

• set in the Elfhome Universe
  • "Wyvern" in Faire Tales (2004), Elfhome #0.5
  • "Bare Snow Falling on Fairywood" (2014), Elfhome #0.9
  • "Pittsburgh Backyard and Garden" in Free Short Stories 2013 (2013), Elfhome #1.1
  • "Blue Sky" (2012), Elfhome #2.5
  • "Peace Offering" in Free Short Stories 2012 (2012), Elfhome #3.1
• "Once Upon a Toad" in Fantastic Companions (2005)
• "Another Man's Meat" in Triangulation 2004: A Confluence of Speculative Fiction (2004)
• "Moon Monkeys" in Adventures in Sol System (2004)
• "Rituals for a New God" in Turn the Other Chick (2004)
• "Young Robots in Love" in Triangulation 2003: A Confluence of Speculative Fiction (2003)
• "Protection Money" in Jim Baen's Universe (2006), (later part of Elfhome #3)

External links

• Official website
• Wen Spencer at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Bibliography on SciFan
• Full Length Commentary on A Brother's Price
• Tinker (Elfhome) on Goodreads
• Ukiah Oregon on Goodreads