The daughter of Vietnamese immigrants, Lena Nguyen lives with her partner in the alien desert of Arizona. She received her MFA in fiction from Cornell University, where she also taught courses in English, writing, and zombies. Her science fiction and fantasy have won several accolades, and she was a Writers of the Future finalist. When not writing, Lena enjoys editing and game development. We Have Always Been Here is her debut novel.
Praise for We Have Always Been Here We Have Always Been Here is an extraordinary, multifarious debut: a white-knuckle adventure, a wrenching love story, a confounding intellectual puzzle, and a masterful inquiry into the nature of consciousness. Lena Nguyen has done with her first book something that takes most writers decades. It's all in here, and it's all fantastic. -J. Robert Lennon, author of Subdivision Nguyen's debut seamlessly blends the nail-biting pace of a thriller with the detailed set pieces of science fiction, perfect for fans of either genre. -ALA Booklist (starred) Nguyen's is full of precise lines and icy sharpness, creating a world that is simultaneously oppressively expansive and uncommonly claustrophobic. -Bookpage (starred) Nguyen's debut is claustrophobic and dark, full of twisting ship corridors and unreliable characters.... A promising, atmospheric debut. -Kirkus Reviews Nguyen immerses readers in a chilling landscape while effortlessly softening the more sinister moments with wistful, dreamlike flashbacks. This impressive sci-fi thriller marks Nguyen as a writer to watch. -Publishers Weekly An exciting debut that delves into themes of corporate conscription, the definition of humanity, and the complexity of relationships. This science fiction thriller will keep readers guessing and wondering past the final page. -Library Journal There's a real palpable tension and delirium infused into Nguyen's writing that enhances what could have been a straightforward thriller into something much deeper, sharper, and stranger. -The Speculative Shelf