George Saunders

"Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial."

George Saunders is the author of nine books, including the No. 1 New York Times bestselling novel Lincoln in the Bardo and the short story collection Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award, won the inaugural Folio Prize (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short-story collection). He has received MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships and the PEN/Malamud Prize for excellence in the short story, and was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he was named one of the world's 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University.

What kinds of books does George Saunders write?

He writes literary short fiction (several short-story collections), at least one novel (Lincoln in the Bardo), and nonfiction/essay books about culture and writing (for example A Swim in a Pond in the Rain). His work often engages big moral and philosophical questions.

Which of his works have won major awards?

Tenth of December was a National Book Award finalist and won the Folio Prize and the Story Prize. Lincoln in the Bardo was a No. 1 New York Times bestseller and won the 2017 Man Booker Prize. Saunders has also received fellowships and prizes such as the MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships and the PEN/Malamud Prize.

Where should a new reader start with his books?

For short fiction, start with Tenth of December. For a single long-form work, try Lincoln in the Bardo. If you are interested in writing and craft, A Swim in a Pond in the Rain is a good introduction.

Are George Saunders's books part of a series or interconnected?

No. His books are primarily stand-alone short-story collections, essays, and novels rather than entries in a continuous series.

How can I approach reading his backlist or decide a reading order?

You can read by format or interest: begin with a celebrated short-story collection like Tenth of December, then explore earlier collections such as Civilwarland in Bad Decline, Pastoralia or In Persuasion Nation, move to the novel Lincoln in the Bardo, and read his nonfiction on craft such as A Swim in a Pond in the Rain afterward.