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Lisa Tuttle
Lisa Tuttle
Lisa Tuttle
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Lisa Gracia Tuttle (born September 16, 1952)[2] is an American science fiction, fantasy, and horror author. She has published more than a dozen novels, seven short story collections, and several non-fiction titles, including a reference book on feminism, Encyclopedia of Feminism (1986). She has also edited several anthologies and reviewed books for various publications. She has been living in the United Kingdom since 1981.

Key Information

Tuttle won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer in 1974, received the 1982 Nebula Award for Best Short Story for "The Bone Flute", which she refused, and the 1989 BSFA Award for Short Fiction for "In Translation".

Writing career

[edit]

Lisa Tuttle began writing when she attended The Kinkaid School in Piney Point Village, Texas. At Lamar High School in Houston she was active in science fiction fandom, and founded and edited the Houston Science Fiction Society's fanzine, Mathom. At Syracuse University in New York, she wrote for the university's fanzine Tomorrow And…, plus several alternative newspapers.[2] In 1971 Tuttle attended the Clarion Writer's Workshop, running that year at Tulane University in New Orleans, after which she sold her first short story, "Stranger in the House", which appeared in 1972 in Clarion II, an anthology edited by Robin Wilson.[1][2] In 1974 Tuttle received a BA degree in English Literature and moved to Austin, Texas, where she worked as a journalist for five years at the Austin American-Statesman, a daily newspaper.[2]

In 1973 Tuttle and several other science fiction writers, including Howard Waldrop, Steven Utley and Bruce Sterling, founded the Turkey City Writer's Workshop in Austin, Texas,[3] and in 1974 she was joint winner of the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer with Spider Robinson.[1] Tuttle collaborated with author and screenwriter George R. R. Martin on a novella, The Storms of Windhaven that was nominated for a Hugo Award in 1976.[4] Tuttle and Martin later expanded the novella into a novel, Windhaven, which was published in 1981.[1]

Over the next 25 years Tuttle wrote a number science fiction and fantasy novels, including Lost Futures (1992), which was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke and James Tiptree, Jr. Awards. She has also written young adult fiction and published several titles, including Catwitch (with illustrator Una Woodruff) (1983), Panther in Argyll (1996) and Love-on-Line (1998).[1]

She has written under different shared house pen names with other authors for series of books. In 1987 she wrote the Casualty novelization Megan's Story under the name Laura Waring, Virgo: Snake Inside for a series of twelve young-adult books called Horrorscopes (1995) under the house pseudonym of Maria Palmer (although it was later reissued under her own name),[5] and was a contributing author to Ben M. Baglio's Dolphin Diaries (2000–2002), a young-adult series of books, writing the first 8 books in the series, which were published as by Ben M. Baglio in the US and as by Lucy Daniels in the UK.[citation needed]

In addition to fiction, Tuttle has written non-fiction, including the Encyclopedia of Feminism (1986) and Writing Fantasy and Science Fiction (2002). As editor she has compiled several anthologies, including Skin of the Soul: New Horror Stories by Women (1990), and Crossing the Border: Tales of Erotic Ambiguity (1998), the latter covering the topic of genderbending.[1]

Tuttle's fiction often focuses on gender issues and includes "strong-willed women" who question their identities. British author David V. Barrett wrote that her stories are "emotionally uncomfortable", and that "they not only make you think, they make you feel".[1] Her science fiction works have been associated with feminist science fiction, and The Cambridge Guide to Women's Writing in English said that many of her stories use elements of science fiction and horror to "dramatize aspects of the human, and specifically the female, condition".[6] It described The Pillow Friend as her "most satisfactory" novel, saying that it "trades more on ambiguities in its use of imaginary friends, phantom pregnancies and edible boyfriends".[6]

Tuttle has taught writing at several institutions, including Clarion West and the Citylit College in London.[1] She has also reviewed books for The Sunday Times.[7][8] In 1989 Tuttle received the BSFA Award for Short Fiction for "In Translation".[9] Her short story, "Replacements" was adapted for an episode of the Canadian horror TV series, The Hunger in 1999,[10] and another story of hers, "Community Property" was the subject of a 2005 French short film, Propriété commune.[11]

Her work appeared in The Guardian.[12]

Nebula Awards refusal

[edit]
Tuttle with George R. R. Martin, 2012

In 1982, Tuttle became the first person to refuse a Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Award.[13][14][15] Her short story, "The Bone Flute", which had been published in May 1981 in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story in early 1982. She had objected to another nominee in this category, George Guthridge, sending his story "The Quiet", to SFWA members. Although this practice is now generally accepted, at that time it was seldom considered. SFWA had no rules about it. Tuttle wrote a letter to the Awards director Frank Catalano requesting that her story be withdrawn, saying, "I don't approve of this kind of campaigning".[16] But "The Bone Flute" was chosen as the best short story before Catalano received Tuttle's letter, and when she was notified that she was the winner, she responded saying that she would not be accepting the award because she had withdrawn the story from the competition. Tuttle said that she would not be attending the awards ceremony on April 24, 1982, and requested that the reason for her refusal be given at the event. However, on April 29, 1982, Tuttle was contacted by Pocket Books's editor John Douglas, who told her that he had received her award on her behalf. No mention had been made at the ceremony of her refusal to accept the award.[17][18]

Later, George R. R. Martin, with whom Tuttle had collaborated on Windhaven, wrote an open letter to the SFWA in which he said that, while he did not necessarily agree with Tuttle's decision to refuse the award, he objected to the way the organization handled her refusal. Martin wrote: "She has made a difficult and considerable sacrifice on grounds of principle, and [...] I feel very strongly that she had a right to be heard."[19] In the wake of the controversy, Guthridge stopped writing for a decade, and stopped writing science fiction entirely. When asked in an interview in 2003 whether she regretted declining the Nebula Award, Tuttle said, "I think my main regret is that people may assume that I object to awards on principle, and never nominate anything by me for anything again! I would love to win some awards, especially ones with money attached ..."[1]

Personal life

[edit]

In the early 1970s, Tuttle was in a relationship with fellow science-fiction/fantasy author George R. R. Martin,[20] with whom she co-wrote Windhaven. Tuttle lived with Steven Utley for several years before moving in January 1981 from the United States to London, England, where she married British writer Christopher Priest.[21] After the marriage ended in 1987, she relocated to Torinturk in rural Scotland in 1990, where she currently lives with her second husband, editor Colin Murray, and their daughter, Emily.[1][2]

Bibliography

[edit]

Awards

[edit]
Work Year & Award Category Result Ref.
The Storms of Windhaven

(with George R. R. Martin)

1976 Locus Award Novella Won [24]
1976 Hugo Award Novella Nominated
1976 Nebula Award Novella Nominated
Stone Circle 1977 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
1977 Nebula Award Short Story Nominated
Woman Waiting 1977 Locus Award Novelette Nominated
The Family Monkey 1978 Locus Award Novella Nominated
One-Wing

(with George R. R. Martin)

1980 Analog Award Serial Novel/Novella Won [25]
1981 Hugo Award Novella Nominated
1981 Locus Award Novella Nominated
Bug House 1981 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
Treading the Maze 1981 BSFA Award Short Fiction Nominated
The Bone Flute 1982 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
Windhaven

(with George R. R. Martin)

1982 Locus Award SF Novel Nominated
No Regrets 1986 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
In Translation 1989 BSFA Award Short Fiction Won
Husbands 1991 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
Lizard Lust 1991 Locus Award Short Story Nominated
Skin of the Soul 1991 Locus Award Anthology Nominated
Mark Harrison's Dreamlands

(with Mark Harrison)

1992 Locus Award Non-Fiction Nominated
Lost Futures 1992 Otherwise Award Honor
1992 BSFA Award Novel Nominated
1993 Arthur C. Clarke Award Finalist
2017 Premio Ignotus Foreign Novel Nominated
Food Man 1995 Otherwise Award Honor
The Pillow Friend 1996 Otherwise Award Honor
1996 International Horror Guild Award Novel Nominated [26]
1997 Locus Award Horror/Dark Fantasy Novel Nominated
The Mezzotint 2003 International Horror Guild Award Short Fiction Nominated
My Death 2004 International Horror Guild Award Long Fiction Nominated
2005 World Fantasy Award Novella Nominated
2005 British Fantasy Award Novella Nominated
Closet Dreams 2007 International Horror Guild Award Intermediate Form Won [27]
2007 Bram Stoker Award Short Fiction Nominated
The Dead Hours of Night 2021 Bram Stoker Award Fiction Collection Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Lisa Tuttle

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Lisa Gracia Tuttle (born 16 September 1952) is an American-born author of , fantasy, and who has resided in the since late 1980. An early participant in the Clarion Writers' Workshop, she won the Award for Best New Writer in 1974, recognizing her emergence as a significant voice in speculative genres often exploring feminist themes. Tuttle co-authored the collaborative novel (1981) with , which earned a nomination and highlighted her skill in planetary romance and adventure storytelling. Her short story "The Bone Flute" (1981) received the for Best Short Story, though she refused it amid controversy over misleading campaigning that influenced the voting process, a decision not acknowledged by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. In addition to over a dozen novels and multiple short story collections, Tuttle has produced non-fiction, including the reference work Encyclopedia of Feminism (1986). She later received the British Science Fiction Association Award for "" (1989), affirming her enduring contributions to short fiction.

Early Life

Childhood in Texas

Lisa Gracia Tuttle was born on September 16, 1952, in , , where she spent her formative years as a fourth-generation Texan on both sides of her family. Growing up in west 's area, she was raised in a household where her parents fostered a love of reading, filling their home with books that provided early exposure to imaginative . A family photograph from when she was two years old depicts her holding The Magazine of Fantasy and , indicating an introduction to speculative genres at a very young age. As a bookish obsessed with tales, Tuttle began creating stories shortly after learning to read around age six. At nine years old, her father gifted her his old , on which she produced a newspaper titled The News-Carrier, along with drafts of novels, stories, and poems. This hands-on engagement with writing emerged amid Houston's cultural environment, though her influences stemmed primarily from the printed materials in her home rather than local folklore or settings. During third grade, her temporarily relocated to , where she wrote poetry and won a statewide writing contest, but they soon returned to , where she remained until leaving for college in 1970.

Education and Early Interests

Tuttle attended high school in , , where she developed an early interest in through active participation in activities. During this period, she founded a science-fiction and launched a related magazine, fostering connections with writers and enthusiasts across the country via letter exchanges. These pursuits marked the initial cultivation of her creative inclinations toward speculative genres, grounded in the communal exchange of ideas within Texas's nascent science fiction scene. In 1970, following her graduation from high school, Tuttle enrolled at in , marking her first departure from . That same summer, she participated in the Clarion Science Fiction Writers' Workshop in , an intensive program that provided structured training in techniques among aspiring writers. Her university studies, combined with this workshop experience, built directly on her high school involvement by offering formal exposure to narrative craft and peer critique, thereby channeling her genre preferences into disciplined creative practice.

Career Beginnings

Initial Publications

Tuttle sold her first professional , "Stranger in the House," which appeared in the 1972 anthology Clarion II. This publication followed her participation in the Clarion Writers' Workshop in 1971. Her early short fiction, produced while studying at , established her presence in science fiction and fantasy magazines and anthologies during the early 1970s. These initial works garnered sufficient notice within the genre to earn Tuttle the Award for Best New Writer in 1974, recognizing emerging authors based on publications from the prior two years. The award, voted by attendees at the World Science Fiction Convention, highlighted the impact of her debut efforts amid competition from other new writers. No specific sales figures for these stories are publicly documented, but the Campbell win provided verifiable early validation of her contributions.

Recognition as New Writer

In 1974, Lisa Tuttle shared the Award for Best New Writer with , an honor bestowed by votes from members of the World Science Fiction Society to recognize the most promising emerging professional in science fiction whose first publication occurred within the prior two years. The award, administered alongside the Hugo Awards at that year's (Discon II in ), underscored Tuttle's debut short stories, such as "Stranger in the House" (1972), amid a competitive field including finalists like Jesse Miller and . This peer-voted distinction, reflecting consensus among professionals and fans on her innovative voice in , aligned with her involvement as a founding member of the Turkey City Writer's Workshop in , formed in 1973 with writers including Howard Waldrop and Steven Utley. The workshop's critique sessions fostered her craft during this nascent phase, amplifying the award's signal of her rapid integration into genre networks. Such early validation from established channels typically catalyzed expanded publication prospects for recipients, as evidenced by the award's history of spotlighting talents who subsequently secured anthology inclusions and editorial interest in the 1970s landscape.

Major Works and Milestones

Collaborative Novel Windhaven

, co-authored by Lisa Tuttle and , originated from discussions in early 1974 when Martin suggested a story centered on a flyer who loses her wings, prompting the pair to outline and write the "The Storms of Windhaven," published in the Wings in 1975. This initial piece won the for Best in 1976 and was nominated for both the Hugo and Awards in the same category. Tuttle and Martin then expanded the narrative into a novel comprising three interconnected novellas—"The Storms of Windhaven," "The Broken Flight," and "The Fall"—published as a single volume by Books in October 1981. The collaboration involved alternating writing sections, with Tuttle handling much of the protagonist's perspective and Martin contributing to plot structure and world details, reflecting their shared interest in character-driven . Set on the low-gravity planet , a storm-swept world of scattered islands amid vast oceans, the depicts a society descended from crash-landed interstellar travelers whose technology has largely faded into legend. Flyers, an aristocratic class, craft wings from the rare metal of the ancient spaceship to harness planetary winds for gliding between islands, functioning as vital messengers in a pre-technological era where sea travel is perilous. The story follows Maris, a landbound fisherman's daughter who gains wings through inheritance but defies hereditary traditions by seeking training as a flyer, navigating political intrigue, personal loss, and societal resistance across the novellas. This world-building emphasizes causal constraints like wing fragility, wind-dependent travel, and resource scarcity shaping social hierarchies and conflicts. Upon release, earned praise for its innovative planetary ecology and exploration of merit versus birthright, with reviewers highlighting the realistic portrayal of flight mechanics and interpersonal tensions. It placed second in the 1982 poll for Best Novel, reflecting strong reader support among science fiction enthusiasts. Some critics noted its slower pace and focus on personal drama over action, viewing it as more akin to , though contemporaries appreciated its departure from tropes toward grounded, anthropological science fiction.

Nebula Award Controversy

"The Bone Flute," a short story by Lisa Tuttle, was first published in the May 1981 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. It was nominated for the for Best , recognizing works from 1981, with the awards ceremony held in 1982. The story received the Nebula Award, but Tuttle declined it, marking the first and, as of 2025, only instance of an author refusing the honor. Tuttle's refusal stemmed from her objection to perceived irregularities in the voting process, particularly excessive campaigning by rival nominee George Guthridge for his story "." Guthridge and his editor, Edward L. Ferman, distributed copies of the story and sent letters to Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) members, which some voters, including Tuttle, viewed as misleading and influential in swaying the outcome. "The Bone Flute" won by a slim margin over "," a result Tuttle attributed to this advocacy rather than purely literary merit. Prior to the final , Tuttle attempted to withdraw her story to protest these practices and the fact that SFWA voters had not received copies of all nominated works, but Nebula rules did not permit removal at that stage. The incident prompted debates in the community about integrity, campaigning , and procedural rules. Tuttle framed her decision as a principled stand against a tainted process that undermined fair competition, emphasizing that awards should reflect genuine consensus rather than organized promotion. Critics varied in response: some praised her action as upholding standards, while others argued it represented procedural overreach, as votes had already been cast and the win was legitimate under existing guidelines. SFWA proceeded with announcing and offering the despite her preemptive withdrawal effort, highlighting the organization's adherence to completed ballots but also exposing gaps in handling such disputes. The controversy underscored ongoing tensions in genre awards between merit-based recognition and external influences.

Later Novels and Collections

Tuttle's solo novel Gabriel, published in 1987 by Walker & Co., centers on a widow named Dinah who becomes convinced that a ten-year-old boy named Ben is the reincarnation of her late husband, leading to psychological unraveling amid claims of eternal love persisting beyond death. The book explores themes of grief and obsession through supernatural elements, receiving attention for its eerie domestic horror. In 1992, Tuttle released Lost Futures via Grafton, a science fiction narrative where protagonist Clare, following her brother's death, navigates fragmented alternate realities and lost possibilities, blending personal loss with speculative quantum-like shifts in existence. The novel earned nominations for the , British Science Fiction Association Award, and James Tiptree, Jr. Award, highlighting its innovative take on parallel worlds and emotional disorientation. The Pillow Friend, issued in 1996 by , follows from her 1960s childhood, where a called the "pillow friend" inspires vivid, boundary-blurring fantasies that resurface in adulthood, intertwining eroticism, memory, and . The 334-page work drew note for its explicit exploration of dream versus reality in female experience. Tuttle's A Nest of Nightmares appeared in 1986 from Sphere Books, compiling thirteen original horror tales where mundane domestic settings for female protagonists are disrupted by and macabre intrusions, such as spousal secrets manifesting physically. Initially UK-exclusive and later reprinted, it established her command of subtle, ambiguity-laden frights without overt gore. Memories of the Body: Tales of Desire and Transformation, published in 1992 by Severn House (with a Grafton edition), gathers fifteen stories fusing , horror, and motifs around bodily change, gender boundaries, and futuristic matrimony, including narratives of humans and necrotic dreams. The volume's focus on transformative desires prompted recognition for defying genre confines through introspective, boundary-pushing vignettes. During this era, Tuttle edited the 1990 anthology Skin of the Soul for The Women's Press, assembling contemporary women's and horror to spotlight emerging voices in the genre, which garnered a nomination for best . This curatorial effort contributed to broadening horror's scope by featuring diverse female-authored works on psychological and dread.

Recent Developments

Publications Post-2020

In 2023, Tuttle's My Death, originally published in 2004, was reissued by , bringing renewed attention to its exploration of identity and mortality through a narrative of . The edition features the author's original text without alterations, maintaining its status as a compact work of centered on a writer's encounter with a . Tuttle contributed the "Shadow Bro" to the 2024 horror Enter Boogeyman, edited by Alessandro Manzetti and published by Acheron Books, which compiles original tales centered on the boogeyman archetype from various international authors. Her piece depicts a familial entity concealed in a tin box, emphasizing themes of inescapable inheritance and domestic dread within the collection's 30+ stories. In 2025, Tuttle's work appears in The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror Volume 1, an anthology edited by Ally Wilkes and published by Black Crow, featuring 13 original horror stories from established and emerging writers including and Tim Lebbon. The volume, scheduled for release on December 16, 2025, underscores Tuttle's continued inclusion in curated selections of contemporary horror, affirming her relevance in the genre through peer-recognized contributions. These anthology appearances, alongside digital reprints of earlier collections via platforms like Amazon and , evidence Tuttle's sustained output in short fiction formats post-2020, prioritizing collaborative vehicles over standalone novels. No new full-length novels by Tuttle have been released or announced since 2020 as of October 2025.

Ongoing Contributions to Anthologies

Lisa Tuttle edited Skin of the Soul: New Horror Stories by Women in 1991, compiling original horror tales exclusively from female authors such as ("Pregnant"), ("Boobs"), and Melanie Tem ("Lightning Rod"). The anthology emphasized emerging voices in horror, showcasing crossovers with speculative elements like psychological dread and bodily horror, and was noted for its role in highlighting underrepresented in the genre at the time. In 1998, Tuttle edited Crossing the Border: Tales of Erotic Ambiguity, featuring 22 stories exploring blurred boundaries in eroticism and identity from contributors including , , , and . The collection drew on fantasy and horror motifs to examine ambiguous desires, with some stories previously unpublished, reflecting Tuttle's curation of themed speculative content that challenged conventional narratives. Tuttle's more recent editorial work includes Classic Ghost Stories, published in June 2024, where she selected and introduced 14 tales from authors such as , , , and , focusing on atmospheric supernatural elements central to horror and fantasy traditions. This curation underscores her sustained influence in anthologizing , bridging classic works with contemporary readership through contextual prefaces. Her "Wives" (1979), depicting human colonization and alien assimilation on a distant , has seen continued placement in retrospective anthologies, including The Future is Female!: 25 Classic Stories by Women (2018) and The Big Book of (2016), affirming its enduring appeal in science fiction compilations. These inclusions highlight the story's resonance with themes of gender dynamics and otherness, as noted in reader discussions of its unsettling portrayal of replacement and control.

Literary Themes and Reception

Exploration of Horror and Fantasy

Lisa Tuttle's short fiction in horror and fantasy often centers on motifs of bodily transformation, where physical forms alter through uncanny processes, as compiled in her 2005 collection Memories of the Body: Tales of Desire and Transformation, featuring stories that depict such changes via supernatural influences. These transformations underscore causal disruptions to identity and reality, grounded in narrative instances of artifacts or entities triggering irreversible shifts, evident in works like "The Bone Flute" (1981), where an ancient instrument exerts compulsive, morphing effects on its possessor. Isolation recurs as a thematic device, amplifying to intrusions, particularly in "Replacements" (1981), wherein a detects insidious, otherworldly substitutions infiltrating domestic life, heightening the dread of unrecognized peril. This motif exploits everyday settings to reveal hidden threats, fostering a causal realism where enables the irruption of the anomalous into the mundane. Tuttle blends with fantasy by juxtaposing internal mental strains against external fantastical elements, as in her collaborative novel Windhaven (1981) with , which portrays winged flyers navigating isolated aerial perils on a low-technology world, evoking suspense through environmental and social antagonisms rather than overt monstrosities. In contrast, her solo collections like A Nest of Nightmares (1986) employ gothic horror techniques, using straightforward to convey visceral, ambiguity-laden encounters with the eerie, distinguishing her fantasy-infused tales from pure speculative adventure. Such approaches prioritize immersive textual evidence of creeping unease over explicit spectacle.

Feminist Elements and Viewpoints

In her "Wives," published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in December 1979, Tuttle explores dynamics through a scenario where human women, displaced by alien invaders, develop attachments to their extraterrestrial captors that surpass their bonds with human men, highlighting tensions between female agency and traditional patriarchal expectations. This narrative provoked controversy for its overt feminist stance, with some readers and critics viewing it as a pointed of male dominance in relationships. Similarly, in "" (1980), Tuttle examines possessive dynamics in familial and societal structures, portraying women navigating inheritance and emotional claims in ways that challenge conventional roles. Tuttle's non-fiction work, Encyclopedia of Feminism (1986), adopts a referential approach, compiling entries on , key figures, and theoretical concepts across waves of the movement without prescriptive , functioning as a neutral compendium for scholars and general readers. praised the book in for its "remarkable distillation of tons of data" delivered with "clarity and good humour," underscoring its utility as an objective resource rather than ideological tract. Critics have occasionally faulted Tuttle's integration of feminist themes for perceived , particularly in early works like "Wives," where the of gender norms is seen by some as prioritizing message over narrative subtlety. However, others commend her as a pioneering voice in female-authored horror and , where feminist viewpoints infuse explorations of sexuality, identity, and power without graphic excess, contributing to a tradition of women redefining boundaries. This duality reflects Tuttle's empirical focus on causal interpersonal conflicts over abstract endorsements, as evidenced in textual analyses of her oeuvre.

Critical Assessments and Debates

Critics have praised Tuttle's for its innovative ambiguity and psychological depth, particularly in collections like A Nest of Nightmares (1986), where stories are described as "highly original and extremely chilling," establishing her as a master of contemporary horror through subtle, unsettling narratives rather than . Reviewers note the "punishing" quality of her tales, blending blithe domesticity with existential dread to evoke lasting unease, as seen in pieces that probe relational fractures and bodily autonomy without relying on overt tropes. Such assessments highlight her departure from conventional formulas, favoring implication over explication to heighten reader disquiet. Tuttle's science fiction, including Lost Futures (1992), has garnered nominations for prestigious awards like the , recognizing its exploration of alternate realities and personal loss through rigorous speculative structures. Her short fiction, such as "Wives" (1979), receives frequent citations in scholarship for dissecting gendered power dynamics and anthropocentric biases, appearing in analyses of New Wave-era works that challenge patriarchal norms in speculative literature. These references underscore her influence in academic discussions of embodiment and , though her broader genre rankings remain modest, with aggregate reader ratings averaging 3.81 across major works on platforms compiling user reviews. Criticisms of Tuttle's oeuvre occasionally point to narrative opacity, where layered ambiguities risk inducing confusion or unresolved tension, particularly in stories adopting male perspectives that evoke self-doubt through introspective unreliability. Some reviewers find certain tales underwhelming in buildup, faulting them for teasing horrors that dissipate without full payoff, though this sparsity aligns with her minimalist style rather than structural flaw. A notable debate centers on Tuttle's 1982 refusal of the for Best Short Story ("The Bone Flute"), which she withdrew citing procedural irregularities in the voting—specifically, a misleading informational letter that swayed results against runner-up George Guthridge by a . Supporters frame the act as a principled stand for award integrity, emphasizing her critique of SFWA's nomination processes as politically motivated overreach; detractors, including some contemporaries, viewed it as excessive amid slim evidentiary margins, sparking ongoing discussions in genre forums about the balance between transparency and disruption in literary honors. This incident, the only refusal on record, amplified her reputation for uncompromising ethics while polarizing views on institutional accountability in awards.

Personal Life

Move to the United Kingdom

In 1980, Lisa Tuttle relocated from the to , transitioning to full-time writing amid personal and professional aspirations. She initially resided primarily in for the subsequent decade, with brief interludes in rural areas, adapting to urban expatriate life that included navigating cultural differences and the demands of immersion in a foreign literary scene. This move marked a deliberate shift from American environments, enabling closer engagement with British publishing networks and events, though it required practical adjustments such as securing visas and establishing a sustainable income in a . By 1990, Tuttle had settled in the , specifically in a remote like Torinturk, prioritizing isolation to foster concentrated writing routines over urban distractions. The transition to this secluded setting reflected a causal preference for environmental factors—such as reduced interruptions and natural surroundings—that empirically supported creative output, contrasting with the denser social dynamics of . Professionally, the Scottish base offered sustained access to UK-based markets and conventions without the relocation costs of frequent travel, aligning with her established presence in British genre circles by that period. challenges persisted, including logistical hurdles in remote areas like limited amenities and weather variability, underscoring the unvarnished realities of long-term adaptation abroad.

Family and Residence

Tuttle was married to science fiction author Christopher Priest from 1981 to 1987. In 1990, she married musician , with whom she relocated from to a remote rural location on the west coast of , where they have resided since. The couple has one daughter. Tuttle has described the isolation of this Highland setting as a deliberate choice for a quieter life supportive of her writing, though she maintains ties to broader literary communities through periodic travel.

Bibliography

Novels

Windhaven (1981), co-authored with and published by Books (ISBN 978-0-671-25277-9), is a standalone depicting winged glider pilots on a low-gravity world. Gabriel (1988), published by Severn House Publishers, is a standalone horror centered on marital disturbances. Lost Futures (1992), issued by Grafton Books, is a standalone exploring alternate realities following personal loss. The Pillow Friend (1996), published by , is a standalone horror involving childhood obsessions and psychological terror. The Mysteries (2005), released by Bantam Books, is a standalone contemporary fantasy novel blending mystery and the supernatural in an urban setting. The Silver Bough (2006), also from Bantam Books (ISBN 978-0-553-38297-6), is a standalone horror novel set in a Scottish village, focusing on folklore and isolation. The Jesse Burke series comprises supernatural historical mysteries: The Somnambulist and the Psychic Thief (2016, Jo Fletcher Books), introducing psychic investigator Jesse Burke in Victorian Edinburgh; The Witch at Wayside Cross (2017, Jo Fletcher Books), continuing Burke's cases involving witchcraft accusations; and The Missing Mummies (2023, Jo Fletcher Books), featuring Egyptian artifact intrigue. My Death (2021), published by Titan Books, is a standalone psychological horror novel framed as a posthumous narrative. Riding the Nightmare (2024) is a standalone horror novel examining equine folklore and rural dread.

Short Story Collections

Tuttle's short story collections compile her across horror, fantasy, and related genres, with early volumes emphasizing horror and later ones incorporating thematic selections or reprints. A Nest of Nightmares (1986, Sphere Books) gathers ten horror stories, including "The Hollow Heritage" and "The Other Kind," and was later reprinted by Valancourt Books as part of the series in 2020. A Spaceship Built of Stone and Other Stories (1987, ) contains twelve stories blending and fantasy elements, such as the title story originally published in 1977. Memories of the Body: Tales of Desire and Transformation (1992) focuses on and themes across nine stories, including "Need." Ghosts and Other Lovers (2002, Night Shade Books) collects ghost stories and tales, with eight entries like "The Spirit of the Times." Stranger in the House: The Collected Short , Volume One (2010, Sarob Press) reprints earlier supernatural works, including "Sun City" and selections from prior periodicals. The Dead Hours of Night (2021, Valancourt Books) assembles horror stories from various periods, featuring pieces like "The Replacement" and earning nominations for awards.

Edited Works

Skin of the Soul: New Horror Stories by Women (1990), edited by Tuttle and published by The Women's Press, compiles seventeen original horror stories exclusively by female authors, including , , Cherry Wilder, , Josephine Saxton, , and Melanie Tem. The collection addresses the underrepresentation of women in horror, presenting narratives that emphasize female experiences and perspectives within the . It has been recognized as influential for elevating women's voices in horror . Crossing the Border: Tales of Erotic Ambiguity (1998), edited by Tuttle and released by , features twenty-two short stories by various authors delving into erotic themes intertwined with speculative elements such as ambiguity and boundary-crossing. The includes both previously published and original works, curated to explore sensual and fantastical tensions. In 2024, Tuttle edited Classic Ghost Stories for Flame Tree Press, selecting and introducing public-domain tales by authors including , , , , and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. The volume revives traditional ghost narratives through Tuttle's contemporary commentary, focusing on atmospheric encounters.

Non-Fiction

Lisa Tuttle's non-fiction output centers on reference works and journalistic contributions related to feminism and speculative genres. Her primary non-fiction book is Encyclopedia of Feminism, published in 1986 by Facts on File. This A-Z reference compiles entries on leaders of the women's movement, slogans, key issues, historical events, organizations, influential books, and terminology associated with feminism. Tuttle conducted extensive research for the volume, drawing from primary sources and contemporary scholarship available at the time, resulting in a structured compendium that serves as a snapshot of mid-1980s feminist discourse. Though dated by later developments, Tuttle has expressed pride in the work's thoroughness and its role in documenting feminist history. Beyond the encyclopedia, Tuttle has produced essays on writing practices within and horror. In her 1982 essay "Writing Together," published on George R.R. Martin's website, she examines collaborative authorship, drawing from her experience co-writing the novel (1981) with Martin, and contrasts it with solitary fiction crafting. This piece highlights practical challenges and benefits of joint projects in , emphasizing interpersonal dynamics over theoretical history. Tuttle has also contributed ongoing non-fiction through , including a monthly science fiction review column for , where she critiques recent works in the field. Her broader journalistic roles have included television criticism, though specific articles remain scattered and less centralized than her book-length efforts.

Awards and Honors

Major Awards Won

Lisa Tuttle won the Award for Best New Writer in 1974, tying with ; the award, presented annually at the Hugo Awards ceremony and voted on by convention members, recognizes emerging talent in science fiction. In 1989, she received the British Science Fiction Association () Award for Best Short Fiction for her story "In Translation," selected from nominees including works by Christopher Evans and Ian McDonald via vote of BSFA members. These victories highlight her early impact in short fiction, though she declined a 1982 for "The Bone Flute" due to concerns over the selection process, resulting in no acceptance.

Nominations and Refusals

Tuttle's works have been shortlisted for the twice, both in the Best Novella category for collaborations with : "The Storms of Windhaven" in 1976 and "One-Wing" in 1981. She received nominations for "The Storms of Windhaven" (Best Novella, 1976) and "Stone Circle" (Best Short Story, 1977). Her short story "The Bone Flute," published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in May 1981, was announced as the 1982 Nebula winner for Best Short Story, but Tuttle refused the award. Locus Award shortlists for Tuttle span multiple categories and decades, including Best Novella for "The Storms of Windhaven" (1976) and "One-Wing" (1981); Best Short Story for "Stone Circle" (1977), "Bug House" (1981), "The Bone Flute" (1982), and "No Regrets" (1986); Best SF Novel for Windhaven (1982); and later nods such as Best Horror/Dark Fantasy Novel for The Pillow Friend (1997) and Best Anthology for Skin of the Soul (1991). The Nebula refusal stemmed from Tuttle's objection to organized campaigning during the awards process, particularly efforts by authors John and George Florence-Guthridge to distribute copies of their story "We Remember Babylon" to voters, which she viewed as undermining fair competition. Tuttle withdrew "The Bone Flute" from contention prior to the final ballot in protest, describing her action as a political decision against the process's integrity. Despite the withdrawal, the story was announced as the winner based on preliminary votes, prompting her public refusal—the first and only such instance in Nebula history. The episode fueled debates within the science fiction community: supporters, including George R. R. Martin, praised it as a principled stand against vote manipulation, while critics argued it reflected dissatisfaction with the story's modest ballot support rather than systemic flaws, noting that campaigning had occurred in prior years without similar backlash. No other declined honors are recorded in primary accounts.

References

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