Johnston, E K
Entry updated 11 December 2023. Tagged: Author.
(? - ) Canadian archaeologist and author, active in fan fiction (see Fandom) from 2002; she has specialized in Young Adult fantasy from her first series, the Dragon Slayer of Trondheim sequence beginning with The Story of Owen (2014) and the Thousand Nights sequence beginning with A Thousand Nights (2015), which retells material from the Nights [for Arabian Fantasy see The Encyclopedia of Fantasy under links below] and in particular revisits the story of Scheherezade (and her profound iconicity as a Teller of Story) in a non-Arabian-Fantasy context. Though not explicitly YA, her contributions to the Star Wars Universe (see Star Wars) beginning with Ahsoka (2014), which focus where appropriate in this context on gender issues, convey a similar appeal.
Johnston is of sf interest for her second singleton, That Inevitable Victorian Thing (2017), set in an Alternate History world where a British monarchy has preserved itself through some judicious Exogamy, leading to a same-sex romance in clement Ontario, though genetic complications intervene. [JC]
Johnston is primarily of sf interest for her singletons. That Inevitable Victorian Thing (2017), whose Steampunk gear and tonality are somewhat modified by the tale's placement two centuries after Queen Victoria's wisdom (and some judicious Exogamy on the part of the British monarchy) has put an end to the traditional Imperialism of the British Empire, generating an Alternate History in which race (see Race in SF) is no longer an issue. The tale is told by characters immersed in the Genetic Engineering-based mating games characteristic of the benign empire in its late flowering (see also Eugenics). The Young Adult Aetherbound (2021) Equipoises Space Opera and Magic, carrying its young protagonist, who is a "gene mage", into romance and rebellion involving twin brothers on a Space Habitat where life is complicated. [JC]
Emily Kate Johnston
born Huron East, Ontario
works
series
Dragon Slayer of Trondheim
- The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, 2014) [Dragon Slayer of Trondheim: hb/]
- Prairie Fire (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Carolrhoda Books, 2015) [Dragon Slayer of Trondheim: hb/]
A Thousand Nights
- A Thousand Nights (New York: Disney Hyperion, 2015) [Thousand Nights: hb/Peter Strain]
- Spindle (New York: Disney Hyperion, 2016) [Thousand Nights: hb/Peter Strain]
Star Wars Universe
- Ahsoka (Glendale, California: Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2016) [tie to the Star Wars Universe: Star Wars: hb/Wojtek Fus]
- Queen's Shadow (Glendale, California: Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2019) [tie to the Star Wars Universe: Star Wars: hb/Tara Phillips]
- Queen's Peril (Glendale, California: Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2020) [tie to the Star Wars Universe: Star Wars: hb/]
- Queen's Hope (Los Angeles, California: Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2022) [tie to the Star Wars universe: Star Wars: hb/]
- Crimson Climb (Los Angeles, California: Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2023) [tie to the Star Wars universe: Star Wars: hb/]
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
- Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: The Road To Neverwinter (New York: Random House Worlds, 2023) [Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: pb/]
- The Druid's Call (New York: Random House Worlds, 2023) [Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: hb/]
individual titles
- Kingdom of Sleep (London: Macmillan Children's Books, 2016) [pb/]
- That Inevitable Victorian Thing (New York: Dutton, 2017) [hb/]
- The Afterward (New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2019) [hb/Sebastian Ciaffaglione]
- Aetherbound (New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2021) [hb/]
links
- E K Johnston
- Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- The Encyclopedia of Fantasy: Arabian Fantasy
- Picture Gallery
previous versions of this entry