Torgersen's stories have won the Analog AnLab readers' choice award three different times, and he was a triple finalist in 2012 for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, the Hugo Award for best novelette, and the Nebula Award for best novelette. In addition to short fiction, Torgersen has two published novels, including the 2019 Dragon Award winner, A Star-Wheeled Sky. The Who's Who page for Analog magazine lists him as one of the "leading writers in the genre".[1]
In 2015 Torgensen took charge of the [2][3]Sad Puppies movement, an unsuccessful annual attempt to win awards for a slate of nominees against alleged unfair bias in the voting in the Hugo Awards. He was replaced the following campaign.
Careeredit
Writingedit
Torgersen was born April 6, 1974.[4][5] His first public credit was as an unpaid script writer for locally-produced space opera serial Searcher & Stallion, which broadcast on Salt Lake City community radio KRCL FM in the early 1990s.[6] "Footprints" was published in North Seattle Community College's 2002 Licton Springs Review.[7]
In 2009, his story "Exanastasis" won third place in the third quarter Writers of the Future contest.[8] Torgersen's first professional sale occurred shortly thereafter, when editor Stanley Schmidt bought Torgersen's novelette "Outbound" for Analog Science Fiction and Fact, and the story was selected in the Analog AnLab readers' poll for Best Novelette for 2010.[9] His novelette "Ray of Light" was the cover story on the December 2011 issue of Analog and was nominated for both the Nebula Award[10] and the Hugo Award.[11] He was also nominated for the 2012 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer.
Torgersen received two nominations for the 2014 Hugo Awards: for the novella "The Chaplain's Legacy" and the novelette "The Exchange Officers".[12] "The Chaplain's Legacy" also won the 2014 AML Award for Short Fiction.[13]The Chaplain's War, published by Baen Books in October 2014, took his Analog stories "The Chaplain's Assistant" and the AnLab-winning "The Chaplain's Legacy" and expanded them into a fix-up novel.[14] During the 2015 Hugo nomination and voting period, Torgersen led the Sad Puppies movement,[15] which claimed that popular works were often unfairly passed over by Hugo voters in favor of more literary works, or stories with progressive political themes.[16][17]
He won his third Analog AnLab readers' choice award for the novelette "Life Flight".[18] In December 2018, Baen published A Star-Wheeled Sky, which won the 2019 Dragon Award for "Best Science Fiction Novel".[19] In February 2020 Brad was the Literary Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 38th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything professional science fiction and fantasy arts symposium.[20]
"The Curse of Sally Tincakes" in Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show #28 edited by Edmund R. Schubert (May 2012)
"Peacekeeper" with Mike Resnick in The Mammoth Book of SF Wars edited by Ian Watson and Ian Whates (May 2012, Robinson, ISBN 978-1-78033-040-2)
"Strobe Effect" with Alastair Mayer in Analog Science Fiction and Fact (November 2012, Dell Magazines)
"The Shadows of Titan" with Carter Reid in Space Eldritch edited by Nathan Shumate (December 2012, Cold Fusion Media, ISBN 978-1-4811-7831-0)
"The Exchange Officers" in Analog Science Fiction and Fact edited by Stanley Schmidt (January 2013, Dell Magazines)
"The Bricks of Eta Cassiopeiae" in Beyond the Sun edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt (August 2013, Fairwood Press, ISBN 978-1-933846-38-5)
"Gemini 17" in Lights in the Deep (August 2013, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-074-1)
"Guardian of the Headwaters" in The Crimson Pact: Volume 5 edited by Paul Genesse (August 2013, Iron Dragon Books, ISBN 978-0-9850038-4-5)
"Reardon's Law" in Five by Five 2: No Surrender edited by Kevin J. Anderson (August 2013, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-071-0)
"The Hideki Line" in Spark: A Creative Anthology, Volume IV edited by Brian Lewis (January 2014, Empire & Great Jones Little Press, ISBN 978-0-9888072-9-7)
"Life Flight" in Analog Science Fiction and Fact edited by Trevor Quachri (March 2014, Dell Magazines)
"The Nechronomator" in Galaxy's Edge Issue 7 edited by Mike Resnick (March 2014, Arc Manor/Phoenix Pick, ISBN 978-1-61242-186-5)
"Astronaut Nick" in A Fantastic Holiday Season: The Gift of Stories edited by Kevin J. Anderson and Keith J. Olexa (July 2014, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-202-8)
"Blood and Mirrors" in Racers of the Night: Science Fiction Stories edited by Brad R. Torgersen (August 2014, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-232-5)
"Peacekeeper" in Racers of the Night: Science Fiction Stories edited by Brad R. Torgersen (August 2014, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-232-5)
"Recapturing the Dream" in Racers of the Night: Science Fiction Stories edited by Brad R. Torgersen (August 2014, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-232-5)
"The Flamingo Girl" in Racers of the Night: Science Fiction Stories edited by Brad R. Torgersen (August 2014, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-232-5)
"Sparky the Dog" in Red Tide edited by Larry Niven, Brad R. Torgersen, and Matthew J. Harrington (October 2014, Phoenix Pick, ISBN 978-1-61242-132-2)
"Gyre" in Galaxy's Edge Issue 13 edited by Mike Resnick (March 2015, Arc Manor/Phoenix Pick, ISBN 978-1-61242-260-2)
"The Ghost Conductor of the Interstellar Express" in Trajectories: Stories of Exploration edited by Dave Creek (March 2016, Hydra Publications, ISBN 978-1-942212-36-2)
"Spirits with Visions" in 2113: Stories Inspired by the Music of Rush edited by Kevin J. Anderson and John McFetridge (April 2016, ECW Press, ISBN 978-1-77041-292-7)
"The Diddley Bow Horror" in Redneck Eldritch edited by Nathan Shumate (April 2016, Cold Fusion Media, ISBN 978-0-692-69291-2)
"Mars Court Rules" in Galactic Games edited by Bryan Thomas Schmidt (June 2016, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-4767-8158-7)
"Purytans" in Analog Science Fiction and Fact edited by Trevor Quachri (July–August 2016, Dell Magazines)
"CASPer's Ghost" in A Fistful of Credits edited by Chris Kennedy and Mark Wandrey (June 2017, Seventh Seal Press, ISBN 978-1-942936-70-1)
"The Bride" in Monster Hunter Files edited by Larry Correia and Bryan Thomas Schmidt (October 2017, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-4814-8275-2)
"Hymns of the Mothers" in Forbidden Thoughts edited by Jason Rennie (January 2017, Superversive Press, ISBN 978-0-9945163-7-4)
"The Unsent Letter" in Freedom's Light: Short Stories edited by Lindsay Galloway, Kia Heavey, and Matthew Souders (January 2017, Victory Fiction, ISBN 978-1-5204-0024-2)
"Orphans of Aries" in Rocket's Red Glare edited by James Reasoner (May 2017, Rough Edges Press, ISBN 978-1-5466-7053-7)
"45" in MAGA 2020 & Beyond edited by Marina Fontaine, Jason Rennie, and Dawn Witzke (November 2017, Superversive Press, ISBN 978-1-925645-48-4)
"Old Dogs, New Tricks" in Avatar Dreams: Scientific Visions of Avatar Technology edited by Kevin J. Anderson and Mike Resnick (April 2018, WordFire Press, ISBN 978-1-61475-598-2)
"For Man or Beast" in To Be Men: Stories Celebrating Masculinity edited by Sirius Métier (June 2018, Superversive Press, ISBN 978-1-925645-14-9)
"Scrith" in Man-Kzin Wars XV (February 2019, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-4814-8377-3)
"Salvage: The Judas Gambit" in Salvage Conquest: Tales from the Salvage Title Universe edited by Chris Kennedy and Kevin Steverson (October 2019, Theogony Books, ISBN 978-1-950420-59-9)
"Buffalo Fifteen " in Freehold: Resistance edited by Michael Z. Williamson (December 2019, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-982124-23-6)
"Secondhand Empires" in Trouble in the Wind edited by Chris Kennedy and James Young (December 2019, Theogony Books, ISBN 978-1-950420-75-9)
"A Sword of Damocles" in Through the Gate: More Tales from the Salvage Title Universe edited by Chris Kennedy (June 2020, Theogony Books, ISBN 978-1-64855-036-2)
"All Quiet on the Phantom Front" in Weird World War III edited by Sean Patrick Hazlett (October 2020, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-982124-91-5)
"Stowaway" in The Founder Effect edited by Robert E. Hampson and Sandra L. Medlock (December 2020, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-982125-09-7)
"Azchut" in The Expanding Universe: Volume 7 edited by Craig Martelle (September 2021, CMI, ISBN 978-1-953062-20-8)
"The Eureka Alternative" in Weird World War IV edited by Sean Patrick Hazlett (March 2022, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-982125-96-7)
"The Pinocchio Gambit" in Robosoldiers: Thank You for Your Servos edited by Stephen Lawson (June 2022, Baen Books, ISBN 978-1-982191-90-0)
Awards and recognitionedit
Torgersen has been nominated for and won multiple awards for his various works. He is listed on Analog's Who's Who, a short listing of the "leading writers in the genre" who have been published in Analog.[23]
^"Analog magazine Who's Who". Analog Science Fiction and Fact. September 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
^Barnett, David (April 26, 2016). "Hugo awards shortlist dominated by rightwing campaign". Retrieved September 29, 2018.
^Hurley, Kameron (April 9, 2015). "Hijacking the Hugo Awards Won't Stifle Diversity in Science Fiction". The Atlantic. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
^"Torgersen, Brad R". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. September 6, 2019. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Torgersen, Brad R. (September 9, 2011). "9-11 Ten Years Gone". Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
^ ab"Searcher and Stallion – Audio Dramas". Internet Archive. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^"2014 Hugo Awards". Hugo Awards. 2014. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2014.
^ ab"2014 AML Awards". Association for Mormon Letters. March 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^"SF Signal list of 2013 Penny Publications readers' poll winners". May 18, 2014. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
^Torgersen, Brad R. (February 1, 2015). "SAD PUPPIES 3: the 2015 Hugo slate". Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Anders, Charlie Jane (April 4, 2015). "The Hugo Awards Were Always Political. But Now They're Only Political". io9. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Italie, Hillel (April 17, 2015). "Puppies Attack: Hugo Awards reflect sci-fi/fantasy divide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
^Torgersen, Brad R. (2015). "SF Signal announces winners for Analog and Asimov's readers' choice awards". Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
^ ab"2019 Dragon Award". Locus Magazine Online. September 3, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^"Life, the Universe, & Everything 38: The Marion K. "Doc" Smith Symposium on Science Fiction and Fantasy" (PDF). LTUE Press. February 13, 2020.
^Wallace, Amy (October 30, 2015). "Sci-Fi's Hugo Awards and the Battle for Pop Culture's Soul". Wired. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
^Torgersen, Brad R. (November 2018). ""Axabrast" by Brad R. Torgersen". Baen Books. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
^"Who's Who – Authors Corner". Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
^"Volume 26 – 2010 – Winners". Writers of the Future. Archived from the original on June 15, 2018. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2010 Best Novelette (Analog Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2011 Best Novelette (Analog Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2012 Best Novelette (Hugo Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2012 Best New Writer (John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2012 Novelette (Nebula Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on September 21, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2013 Best Novella (Analog Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2013 Best Novelette (Analog Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2014 Best Novelette (Hugo Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2014 Best Novella (Hugo Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
^"Award Category: 2014 Best Novelette (Analog Award)". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 4, 2019.