C.J. Cherryh is a prominent American author, well-known for her science fiction and fantasy novels. She was born on September 1, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up primarily in Lawton, Oklahoma. Cherryh is a prolific writer, having created and authored several popular series, including the Alliance-Union universe, the Chanur Saga, Merovingen Nights series, Fortress/Tristen series, and the Foreigner series.
Her writing style is distinctive, as she narrates the story from a third-person perspective, focusing solely on the thoughts and experiences of the main character. This approach allows readers to become deeply immersed in the narrative and develop a strong connection with the protagonist. Cherryh's work often explores themes of politics, militarism, and the challenges faced by outsiders attempting to adapt to new and unfamiliar cultures. She currently resides near Spokane, Washington, sharing her life with fellow science fiction and fantasy author and artist, Jane Fancher.
Cherryh's interests and expertise extend far beyond writing, showcasing her diverse range of skills and knowledge. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, and watching Mariners baseball. She has also taken up figure skating as a late passion, with the goal of competing in the adult USFSA track. In her younger years, Cherryh spent a decade teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level before transitioning to full-time writing.
In addition to her writing and teaching experience, Cherryh has studied various academic subjects, including planetary geology, weather systems, natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology. She also has a keen interest in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. Despite her many interests, Cherryh remains dedicated to her writing, constantly working on new projects and conducting research primarily on the internet. She has written more than forty novels and has several books waiting to be written. Her personal passions also include caring for her cats, maintaining a marine tank, and plumbing. Cherryh's unwavering optimism and fascination with history, science, and technology shine through in her thought-provoking and inspiring novels.