Yaroslav Barsukov, an author with a unique background in physics and software engineering, has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of speculative fiction. Born in Cold War-era Moscow and educated at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and Austria’s Vienna University of Technology, Barsukov initially pursued a career in software engineering. His entry into the literary world was serendipitous, stemming from his involvement in game development where he translated a companion tale to a game’s mythology. This experience marked the beginning of his journey as a writer, and he started crafting short stories in English around 2014.Barsukov's work is celebrated for its innovative blend of fantasy and science fiction elements, diverging from the traditional hard-science SF model. His acclaimed novella "Tower of Mud and Straw" was shortlisted for the Nebula Award and received a Kirkus Star, demonstrating his prowess in weaving narratives that explore the human condition through a speculative lens. His stories, characterized by high-fantasy filigree and physics reminiscent of alchemy, have appeared in renowned publications such as Galaxy’s Edge, Nature: Futures, and StarShipSofa. Barsukov's literary influences span from Russian maestros like Leo Tolstoy to American science fiction authors, shaping his unique storytelling style that transcends genre boundaries.

"Mind-expanding fantasy and SF"—Kirkus (starred review) "Simply put, this is the most impressive debut novel I have encountered since Simon Jimenez’s The Vanished Birds."—Locus Magazine"Somewhere in the slipstream between science fiction and fantasy—a little to the left of early Chiang, a few degrees south of Miéville—Yaroslav Barsukov has word-painted a world I can see when I close my eyes."—Peter Watts (Hugo Award-winning author of Blindsight)"Masterful. It is action-packed and emotionally rich, delightfully grim and unsettling at times. At the end, I could only sit back and say, “Wow.”"—Beth Cato (author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge)"Dreamy and precise, huge in scope and very personal, this is a towering achievement and a genre-busting tour de force."—Daily Mail"A literary masterpiece"—Before We Go Blog"Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is a surreal and ambitious undertaking, surprising at every turn. From the moment the tower appears on the page, a steady sense of dread and wonder builds toward a staggering conclusion, one that may just change the way you think."—Andrea Stewart (bestselling author of The Bone Shard Daughter)

Yaroslav Barsukov, an author with a unique background in physics and software engineering, has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of speculative fiction. Born in Cold War-era Moscow and educated at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and Austria’s Vienna University of Technology, Barsukov initially pursued a career in software engineering. His entry into the literary world was serendipitous, stemming from his involvement in game development where he translated a companion tale to a game’s mythology. This experience marked the beginning of his journey as a writer, and he started crafting short stories in English around 2014.Barsukov's work is celebrated for its innovative blend of fantasy and science fiction elements, diverging from the traditional hard-science SF model. His acclaimed novella "Tower of Mud and Straw" was shortlisted for the Nebula Award and received a Kirkus Star, demonstrating his prowess in weaving narratives that explore the human condition through a speculative lens. His stories, characterized by high-fantasy filigree and physics reminiscent of alchemy, have appeared in renowned publications such as Galaxy’s Edge, Nature: Futures, and StarShipSofa. Barsukov's literary influences span from Russian maestros like Leo Tolstoy to American science fiction authors, shaping his unique storytelling style that transcends genre boundaries.

"Mind-expanding fantasy and SF"—Kirkus (starred review) "Simply put, this is the most impressive debut novel I have encountered since Simon Jimenez’s The Vanished Birds."—Locus Magazine"Somewhere in the slipstream between science fiction and fantasy—a little to the left of early Chiang, a few degrees south of Miéville—Yaroslav Barsukov has word-painted a world I can see when I close my eyes."—Peter Watts (Hugo Award-winning author of Blindsight)"Masterful. It is action-packed and emotionally rich, delightfully grim and unsettling at times. At the end, I could only sit back and say, “Wow.”"—Beth Cato (author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge)"Dreamy and precise, huge in scope and very personal, this is a towering achievement and a genre-busting tour de force."—Daily Mail"A literary masterpiece"—Before We Go Blog"Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is a surreal and ambitious undertaking, surprising at every turn. From the moment the tower appears on the page, a steady sense of dread and wonder builds toward a staggering conclusion, one that may just change the way you think."—Andrea Stewart (bestselling author of The Bone Shard Daughter)