Ryka Aoki

Ryka Aoki is an award-winning Japanese American transgender author, composer, and professor. Her groundbreaking novel "Light from Uncommon Stars" blends science fiction, fantasy, and music in a story about violin prodigies, soul-selling demons, and refugee starship captains in Los Angeles. The book earned widespread acclaim, winning the Alex Award and appearing on numerous best-of-year lists. Aoki's other works include the novel "He Mele a Hilo" and poetry collection "Seasonal Velocities." Her writing explores themes of identity, belonging, and transformation with humor and heart. She is a two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist and continues to break new ground in speculative fiction.