L.R. Lam
Laura Lam is represented by Juliet Mushens
Originally from sunny California, L.R. Lam now lives in cloudy Scotland.
Lam is a Sunday Times Bestselling author whose work includes the acclaimed near-future space thriller, Goldilocks, feminist space opera Seven Devils (co-written with Elizabeth May), BBC Radio 2 Book Club selection False Hearts, the companion novel Shattered Minds, and the award-winning Micah Grey series: Pantomime, Shadowplay, and Masquerade.
Lam’s short fiction and essays have appeared in anthologies such as Nasty Women, Solaris Rising 3, Cranky Ladies of History, Scotland in Space, and more. Lam lectures part-time at Edinburgh Napier University on the Creative Writing MA.
The first book in L’s new fantasy trilogy, Dragonfall, was published in the UK and US in May 2023 and the second book, Emberclaw, was published in the UK and US in June 2024.
Praise for Goldilocks:
‘Goldilocks grabs your attention from the first page and doesn't let go - a thought-provoking, imaginative call-to-arms featuring brilliant female characters and a terrifying premise’ — Katie Khan, author of Hold Back the Stars
‘Through the novel's fascinating premise Lam gives us plenty of food for thought about gender dynamics in our own world. The image of five women taking back what's rightfully theirs from five less-qualified men, and literally freezing them in time to do so, is a symbol that will stick with me for some time. The viral pandemic that plays out off-page also feels eerily prescient’ — USA Today
‘The end of our world is well-trod territory for science fiction but Golidlocks tackles it with startling relevance, fusing together our social and political anxieties in a tense, taut adventure with rich characterization and care. Interstellar's brain with The Handmaid Tale's heart.’ — Chuck Wendig, author of The Wanderers
‘Looking for a thrilling ecofeminist sci-fi space opera to keep you glued to your seat during this pandemic? You've found it with this Handmaid-esque journey through space where five women attempt to save the human race’ — Ms. Magazine
‘A compelling, character-led science fiction tale. With a perfect balance of beauty, thrills and hope, Goldilocks conjures up the twisty claustrophobia of space-travel, untrustworthy relationships and what we're doing to the planet.’ — Nick Clark Windo, author of The Feed
‘I was rooting for them the whole way, even as secrets and alternate motives corroded the mission. I couldn't help but feel like this was the way the real-life Mercury 13 story should have really gone, and it was satisfying to watch these women take what they knew they deserved’ — Chicago Review of Books
‘Lam makes the personal political in this tense near-future family drama that's fuelled by the climate crisis. Lam expertly evokes the claustrophobia of both tight spaces and taut relationships in the evolving struggle between Naomi and Valerie for the soul of the mission... [A] deeply felt space opera.’ — Publishers Weekly
‘A fascinating cast of characters, which from the very start of the story hook you in. Surprisingly dark’ — James Oswald, author of the Inspector McLean series
‘The unexpected ending will leave satisfied readers searching for read-alikes in its wake. A slow-burning fire of a novel that begs the reader to keep turning the page.’ — Kirkus
‘A more beautiful than usual work of science fiction. Come for the superbly researched escape from a dying plane, stay for the cast of characters and the emotional heart.’ — Rhys Thomas, author of The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway
Rights sold:
False Hearts: Tor (Macmillan, UK), Bragelonne (France), Heyne (Germany), Fanucci (Italy)
Shattered Minds: Pan Macmillan (UK)
Goldilocks: Headline (UK), Orbit (US), Les Editions ActuSF (France), Alexandra (Hungary), Droemer (Germany), and Çinar Yayinlari (Turkey)
Seven Devils & Seven Mercies (with Elizabeth May): Orion (UK), DAW (US)
Dragonfall: Hodder & Stoughton (UK), DAW (US), Gribaudo (Italy), Filia (Poland) and Nemira (Romania)