The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin is the first book in The Broken Earth trilogy, a groundbreaking work of speculative fiction that won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 2016.
Set on a geologically unstable supercontinent called the Stillness, the story takes place in a world plagued by frequent apocalyptic events, known as Fifth Seasons, which are triggered by catastrophic seismic activity. In this harsh environment, society revolves around surviving these cataclysms, and a unique group of people called orogenes—those with the ability to control seismic activity—are both vital and feared.
Jemisin’s richly imagined world is as complex and volatile as her characters, making the novel both a thrilling and thought-provoking read. The narrative follows three intertwined storylines, each focusing on a different stage in the life of a powerful orogene named Essun. In the present timeline, Essun embarks on a desperate quest to find her daughter after discovering that her husband has murdered their young son upon learning of his orogenic abilities. The other timelines explore the lives of Damaya, a young girl taken to the Fulcrum—a strict institution that trains orogenes—and Syenite, a skilled but oppressed orogene on a mission that reveals the deeper machinations of their society. Through these perspectives, Jemisin explores themes of systemic oppression, the abuse of power, and the resilience of individuals in the face of unimaginable adversity.
What sets The Fifth Season apart is Jemisin’s masterful storytelling and her willingness to challenge traditional fantasy conventions. The novel’s second-person narration, used in parts of Essun’s story, creates a visceral connection between the reader and the character’s experiences, immersing the audience in her pain, rage, and determination. The intricate world-building, which includes a unique magic system rooted in geological phenomena, is both innovative and deeply intertwined with the story’s themes. Jemisin’s prose is evocative and lyrical, capturing the stark beauty and brutality of the Stillness. The Fifth Season is not just a compelling narrative but also a powerful commentary on humanity’s capacity for cruelty and its unyielding drive to survive and rebuild, even in the most hostile of worlds.
author
N.K. Jemisin is a celebrated American author whose groundbreaking contributions to speculative fiction have redefined the boundaries of the genre. Born on September 19, 1972, in Iowa City, Iowa, and raised in Mobile, Alabama, and Brooklyn, New York, Jemisin’s diverse cultural background and experiences heavily influence her writing. Her works often explore themes of power, oppression, identity, and resilience, blending imaginative world-building with deeply human stories. She is known for challenging traditional fantasy and science fiction tropes, creating stories that reflect the complexities of the real world while offering fresh perspectives on race, gender, and social dynamics.
Jemisin made history as the first author to win the Hugo Award for Best Novel three years in a row, for each book in her Broken Earth trilogy: The Fifth Season (2015), The Obelisk Gate (2016), and The Stone Sky (2017). These novels not only showcased her talent for intricate plotting and innovative magic systems but also addressed themes of systemic inequality and environmental collapse in ways that resonated with readers worldwide. Her other works, such as The Inheritance Trilogy and The City We Became, further demonstrate her ability to craft immersive worlds and compelling characters while pushing the boundaries of genre fiction.
In addition to her fiction, Jemisin is an incredible force for good and advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the literary world. Through essays, interviews, and public appearances, she has challenged the status quo in publishing and highlighted the importance of representation in storytelling. Her work has earned her numerous accolades beyond the Hugo Awards, including the Nebula, Locus, and World Fantasy Awards. Jemisin’s influence extends far beyond her novels; she has inspired a new generation of writers to explore untold stories and redefine what speculative fiction can achieve.
art
The incredible John Anthony Di Giovanni is the illustrator on this book (and each in the series) and will be producing 10 full colour images for this edition. John’s painted realism works so well in both Fantasy and Sci-Fi and was the perfect match for the series.
John will be completing two landscape images (Dustjacket and Endpapers) as well as 8 further tipped in portrait pieces.
Both myself and N.K. Jemisin are thrilled with the dustjacket depicting Essun and Tonkee first arriving at Castrima-Under, the town carved from a Geode. I can’t wait to see the rest of the imagery from John as we progress through the year.
This isn’t quite the final image, but it certainly gives you an idea of the picture and the concept behind it. John is a genius!
Limited to 200 copies, the Deluxe Edition is hand-bound in full cream goatskin with large blind-stamped title design on front and back covers. The rounded spine has had two passes of foil stamping and has an amethyst embedded within. Housed in a curved slipcase covered in marbled cloth by Freya Scott of Paperwilds, there are also two labels affixed to slipcase spine.
This edition also comes with illustrated endpapers and 8 full colour plates tipped within the book.
Printed on Munken Rough Cream 120gsm by Nomad Letterpress of Cheltenham and signed by both Author and Artist.
Pre-Order Price: £575
Published Price: £585
Limited to 26 copies, the Lettered Edition comes with a custom hand-made wooden box by expert box maker Peter Canham. The cover has a unique purple piece of agate embedded within the wood as has been laser etched with the author and title.
The lettering on the spine has been carved in and hand aged by Peter, with a piece of amethyst cut into the block. Inside, the box has been lined in finest purple suedel with a ribbon for retrieving the book.
The book inside is handbound of the finest harmattan black leather and has a unique amethyst crystal shard embedded in the cover, with wrap around foil stamping. The boards are 6mm and chamfered, and the book is gilded gold across all three edges. Inside the book there are marbled endpapers by the amazing Freya Scott of Paperwilds and a further 9 tipped in colour plates.
Printed on Magnani Mouldmade Pescia 130gsm by Nomad Letterpress of Cheltenham and signed by both Author and Artist.
Pre-Order Price: £2450
Published Price: £2550
the
series
This is part of the The Broken Earth series. Curious King plans to publish the entire season. Books in this series include:
The Fifth Season
production