Johanna Sinisalo
Johanna Sinisalo (born Aila Johanna Sinisalo; June 22, 1958) is a Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer. Since starting her writing career with science fiction and fantasy short stories, she has become a prominent figure in Finnish literature scene, and in 2022 was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal, a special decoration of The Order of the Lion of Finland, awarded to artists and authors in recognition of outstanding civilian or military merit. Other than for short stories and novels, Sinisalo has written comics, screenplays for TV and radio, and edited anthologies.
Also recorded as Aila Johanna Sinisalo
Johanna Sinisalo

Hreinn Gudlaugsson · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Johanna Sinisalo
- Birth Name
- Aila Johanna Sinisalo
- Born
- 22 June 1958
- Birthplace
- Sodankylä, Finland
- Occupation
- Science fiction and fantasy writer
- Awards
- Atorox Award, Finlandia Prize, The James Tiptree Jr. award, Prometheus Award
- Nationality
- Finland.
- Fields
- literature, science fiction, fantasy literature and children's and young adult literature.
- Education
- University of Tampere.
- Honours
- Finlandia Award, Otherwise Award and Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.
- Languages
- Finnish.
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Johanna Sinisalo (born Aila Johanna Sinisalo; June 22, 1958) is a Finnish science fiction and fantasy writer. Since starting her writing career with science fiction and fantasy short stories, she has become a prominent figure in Finnish literature scene, and in 2022 was awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal, a special decoration of The Order of the Lion of Finland, awarded to artists and authors in recognition of outstanding civilian or military merit. Other than for short stories and novels, Sinisalo has written comics, screenplays for TV and radio, and edited anthologies.
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wikidata · Q2746094 · wikipedia · Johanna Sinisalo
In this article
Biography
Biography
Johanna Sinisalo studied at University of Tampere. The recorded working language is Finnish. The field of work recorded is literature, science fiction and fantasy literature. Residence is recorded at Kangasala. Distinctions recorded are Finlandia Award, Otherwise Award and Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

Johanna Sinisalo, Finnish writer, Helsinki Book Fair 2008.
Teemu Rajala
Sinisalo, Johanna vierailemassa Helsingin Suomalaisessa Yhteiskoulussa
Joel Kujala
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Johanna Sinisalo • Pen Name — Johanna Sinisalo • Birth Name — Aila Johanna Sinisalo • Born — 22 June 1958 • Birthplace — Sodankylä, Finland • Occupation — Science fiction and fantasy writer • Genre — Science fiction, fantasy • Awards — Atorox Award, Finlandia Prize, The James Tiptree Jr. award, Prometheus Award
Personal life
Personal life
Sinisalo was born in Sodankylä, Finland. She majored in literature and drama with side studies in journalism and social psychology, at the University of Tampere. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a copywriter and an executive of an advertising agency. Sinisalo has named the 1967 novel Friday, or, The Other Island by French writer Michel Tournier as a major influence on her career.
Career
Career
Sinisalo started her writing career writing science fiction and fantasy short stories. Her first short stories Kilometripylväät and Jäinen kaupunki were published together in the Finnish original anthology Vuosirengas 74 in 1974. She has won several Atorox Awards for her short stories. Her short story Baby Doll was nominated for the Nebula award in 2009. Sinisalo's first novel, Ennen päivänlaskua ei voi (Not Before Sundown, published in English in 2003) was published in 2000. The book has been translated to several language, and has won the Finlandia Prize, the most prestigious literary award in Finland. The novel also tied the James Tiptree Jr. Award, in 2004. The movie rights to the novel were acquired by Carter Smith in 2006, but the project since fell through and the movie rights have been since been acquired by Tuppence Middleton in 2022. Since her first novel, Sinisalo has written several novels including Linnunaivot (2008, published in English in 2010 titled Birdbrain), Enkelten verta (2011, published in English in 2014 titled The Blood of the Angels), and Auringon ydin (2013, published in English in 2016 titled The Core of the Sun). Her works have been translated to 20 languages. Sinisalo has worked as a screenwriter in several Finnish TV and radio productions. She also worked on the screenwriting team of Iron Sky, a 2012 comic-science-fiction. The movie had the biggest budget of any production in Finnish film history at the time of its release.
Novels
Novels
• Ennen päivänlaskua ei voi (2000), translated as Not Before Sundown, 2003 (American edition Troll — A Love Story, 2004) • Sankarit (2003) • Lasisilmä (2006) • Linnunaivot (2008), translated as Birdbrain (2011) • Möbiuksen maa (2010) • Enkelten verta (2011), translated as The Blood of Angels (2014) • Salattuja voimia (2012) • Auringon ydin (2013), translated as The Core of the Sun (2016). • Iron Sky - Renaten tarina (2018) • Vieraat (2020) • Ukkoshuilu (2021)
Anthologies, multiple authors
Editor
Editor
• Verkon silmässä (2005; a selection of short stories about the internet from several writers) • The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy (2005, translated by David Hackston; a selection of Finnish weird fiction) • Giants at the End of the World: A Showcase of the Finnish Weird (2017, co-edited with Toni Jerrman; a selection of Finnish speculative fiction from the 19th century to the present day)
Television
Television
• Toinen todellisuus, TV2, 1991 • Maa on litteä, TV2, 1992 • Tulevaisuuden kuvia, TV2, 1995 • Ainoa elämä, TV2, 1997 • Elämän suola, TV 2, 1995 • Samaa sukua, eri maata, MTV3, 1997 • SunRadio, TV1, 1998 • Salatut elämät, MTV3 • Kotikatu, TV1 • Käenpesä, MTV3
Comics
Comics
• Tiskivuoro, art by Hannu Mänttäri • Muumimamman vaarallinen nuoruus, art by Ilkka Ruohola • Several Moomin comics, different artists • Pikku eläinpuoti in Oma Ystävä magazine, art by Hannu Mänttäri • Kimppakämppä in Trendi magazine, art by Johanna Rojola
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Kangasala.
Residences
Sodankylä.
Birth place
Short story collections
Kädettömät kuninkaat ja muita häiritseviä tarinoita (2005)
Notable awards and honors
• Finlandia Prize for literature in 2000, for Not Before Sundown • James Tiptree Jr. award in 2004 for Not Before Sundown • Nebula Award nomination in 2009 for Baby Doll • Atorox Award for best Finnish science fiction short story • in 1986 for Suklaalaput • in 1989 for Hanna • in 1993 for Punatähti • in 1994 for Kharonin lautta • in 1997 for Me vakuutamme sinut • in 2001 for Tango Merellä • Prometheus Award for Best Novel for The Core of the Sun • Pro Finlandia Medal, Order of the Lion of Finland in 2022
Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 21 August 2026.
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