Cadwell Turnbull

Cadwell Turnbull, born in 1987, is an American writer of science fiction and fantasy, hailing from the U.S. Virgin Islands. He pursued his education in Professional Writing and later earned advanced degrees in Creative Writing and English Linguistics from North Carolina State University, where he studied under notable authors. His writing career includes critically acclaimed novels such as "The Lesson" and "No Gods, No Monsters," the latter of which received significant recognition from major publications. Turnbull also contributes to the literary world under the pseudonym "Darkly Lem" in collaboration with other writers. His short fiction has been featured in prominent genre magazines and anthologies, with some pieces being read aloud on the "LeVar Burton Reads" podcast. Many of his narratives are set in his native U.S. Virgin Islands and frequently delve into complex sociopolitical issues like colonialism, climate change, and systemic violence, drawing inspiration from influential writers like Ursula K. Le Guin and Octavia Butler.

Cadwell Turnbull's literary output spans award-winning novels and short stories, often categorized within science fiction and fantasy. His work frequently engages with sociopolitical themes, including the impacts of colonialism and post-colonialism, the experiences of marginalized communities, the realities of climate change, instances of police violence, and concepts of collective ownership. These thematic explorations are often grounded in settings that reflect his origins, with many of his stories partially or wholly taking place in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Turnbull has cited influential writers such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler, Ted Chiang, N. K. Jemisin, Alice Munro, and George Orwell as significant inspirations for his writing.

Born in Maryland in 1987, Cadwell Turnbull relocated to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands during his infancy and was raised there. He pursued higher education at La Roche University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing. His academic journey continued at North Carolina State University for graduate studies, where he focused on Creative Writing, earning an MFA in Fiction, and English, with an MA in Linguistics. He also participated in the Clarion West Writers Workshop in 2016. In addition to his solo work, Turnbull co-authors under the pen name "Darkly Lem" alongside Josh Eure, Craig Lincoln, Ben Murphy, and M. Darusha Wehm.

Turnbull's debut novel, "The Lesson" (2019), garnered award nominations and won the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for speculative fiction. His second novel, "No Gods, No Monsters" (2021), was recognized as a best book of the year by The New York Times, NPR, and other prominent outlets. His third novel, "We Are the Crisis" (2023), also received accolades, being named among the best science fiction and fantasy books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews. His short stories have appeared in publications like Asimov’s Science Fiction and Lightspeed Magazine, with two stories featured on the "LeVar Burton Reads" podcast. His short fiction has also been selected for prestigious anthologies such as "The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2018" and "The Year's Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019."