Daína Chaviano (b. Havana, Cuba). In 1979 she received the David Prize for Science Fiction for Los mundos que amo. After this, she published several fantasy and science fiction books. She established the first science fiction literary workshop in Latin America. Later she worked as a screenwriter for television shows for children, youths, and adults. She was a TV and radio emcee, and acted in some independent films. In 1991, she moved to Miami, Florida (USA), where she lives since then. Outside Cuba she has published País de dragones, a short-story collection for young adults; a poetry book, Confesiones eróticas y otros hechizos; and the series of novels «The Occult Side of Havana», consisting of El hombre, la hembra y el hambre; Casa de juegos; Gata encerrada; and La isla de los amores infinitos (The Island of Eternal Love), that has become the most widely translated Cuban novel of all time with editions in 25 languages. Daína Chaviano has received several international recognitions, like the Anna Seghers Award (Berlin Academy of Arts, Germany, 1990); Azorín Prize for Best Novel (Spain, 1998); Goliardos International Award for Fantasy (Mexico, 2003); Guest of Honor at the 25th International Conference for the Fantastic in the Arts (Fort Lauderdale, 2004); and Gold Medal for Best Book in Spanish Language (Florida Book Awards, 2006). Recognized as the most prominent contemporary Cuban author of science fiction and fantasy, Daína Chaviano exercises equal virtuosity in the traditional (mainstream) narrative mode. She melds realistic and historical elements with aspects of science fiction, fantasy, and Gothic literature. Her themes encompass mythology, ancient history, sociology, parapsychology, eroticism, politics, and magic, all developed in a language filled with poetic, sensual imagery. Her works have been described as “wild experiments in genre-busting. It’s as if Ray Bradbury married Michael Ende and frolicked occasionally with Anaïs Nin.” (Críticas Magazine, USA, Jan-Feb. 2004)
