In this episode I speak with award winning author Paolo Bacigalupi about his newly released literary fantasy novel titled Navola.

Four Corners Arts Forum

In this episode I speak with Paolo Bacigalupi, best selling science fiction author of The Water Knife and The Windup Girl. His writing has also won a Hugo and Nebula award, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award and is a three time winner of the Locus award. He has also written short stories and the young adult novel Ship Breaker, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. His science fiction work has also been recognized internationally in Japan, Spain, Germany and France. After years of writing about apocalyptic climate fiction it began to take its toll leaving him feeling burnt out and without inspiration causing him to lose his desire to write for almost a decade. During a trip to Italy with a friend however he rediscovered his joy for writing through fantasy fiction. His most recent book Navola which was released in July 2024 is a literary fantasy and a brilliant feat of world building in an era that echoes Renaissance Italy where a young boy is poised to inherit his family’s vast empire. A fossilized dragon’s eye is at the center of the di Regulai family saga. Trust and deceit are themes throughout the story which is set in the city state of Navola. Paolo grew up in Paonia, Colorado where he wrote for High Country News as well as many other regional publications which sparked his interest in pursuing novel writing. To find out more about Paolo you can visit his website at www.windupstories.com. There will be an author event and book signing on Tuesday August 20th from 6 - 8pm at Maria’s Bookshop at 960 Main Avenue in Durango where you can meet Paolo. To find out more you can visit their website at www.mariasbookshop.com.