Ian Patterson is an award winning author of science fiction, horror, and poetry. His work aims to critique capitalism, inequality, and environmental destruction by centering philosophical discussions in the trappings of fast-paced, genre-bending narratives. He believes all people should have bodily autonomy, equality, freedom, and that a more just future can be built on compassion and empathy. He can usually be found on his bike somewhere in the mountains of Colorado, or spending time with his family and his two cats.

To learn more, please visit his website: https://ianpattersonbooks.com/

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Get to know Ian!

What’s your favorite reading format?

If I have time to sit down it’s a paperback, preferably a tattered, used one that fits in my back pocket and is lined with someone else’s notes. Since I never do though, it’s probably an audiobook.

Favorite contemporary author?

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah – Chain Gang All Stars is a modern dystopian masterpiece and a continued source of inspiration for me.

Favorite historical author?

Oscar Wilde – specifically for The Picture of Dorian Gray, and how infinitely quotable he is.

Who do you wish you could read one more story by?

John le Carré, though I am glad his son is continuing where he left off. Nick is also a great writer in his own right.

What story do you wish you could read again for the first time?

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski. What a wild ride!

What character do you wish was real?

Gideon Nav from The Locked Tomb series – no character has ever made me laugh so much or as hard.

What fictional world do you wish you could inhabit?

The world of Becky Chamber’s Monk and Robot series. It’s so charming, peaceful, and heartfelt.

What are your favorite qualities in a story?

Prose that arrests me, a presence of theme that shows a clear vision, and a passion that slaps me in the face.

What’s your go to reading snack/drink?

Black coffee! I’m a snob, so it’s probably made from single origin beans, ground immediately before, and made in a pour-over.

Where do you like to read?

Somewhere in public where it’s loud, but I can sit apart from it. Coffee shops and pubs are my favorite. I also love listening to audiobooks on long bike rides.

What story fundamentally changed you?

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, among so many others.

What genre would you like to write in that is outside your comfort zone?

Spy Fiction! I’m a huge fan of John le Carré’s blend of character-driven, highly political, and intricate stories. I’d love to try writing one someday.

What’s your favorite sentence or quote from this (your Shiraki Press) story?

“If the world can change this much by listening to one woman, imagine what would happen if it listened to all of them. I think we’ll see that world soon enough.”

What’s your idea of happiness?

A day that combines an inspiring morning of writing with a grueling, vision-quest mountain bike ride on excellent trails. They don’t happen often, but what a treat!