Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of The Fifth Season
Fantasy· United States

The Fifth Season

by N.K. Jemisin
Aggregate Editorial Score78/100
★Hugo Award
Published 20161424 pagesEnglish
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

When N.K. Jemisin published The Fifth Season in 2016, it quickly found its place in the broader tradition of fantasy. On a dying, apocalypse-prone world called the Stillness, a woman searches for her daughter amid continent-spanning catastrophe, while two other narratives unfold in parallel. Jemisin's Hugo Award–winning debut of the Broken Earth trilogy—the first of three consecutive Hugo wins—is a revolutionary work: formally experimental, racially charged, and devastating. Themes of race, climate, apocalypse run through the work. The book has received recognition from Hugo Award 2016.

Book Details

AuthorN.K. Jemisin
Published2016
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Pages1424
Category🐉 Fantasy
ISBN9780316229296
Editorial Score78/100
About the Category

🐉 Fantasy

Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

Explore all Fantasy books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

N.K. Jemisin published The Fifth Season in 2016, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of fantasy from United States. The book's treatment of race, climate, apocalypse, power accounts for much of its enduring reputation. Among its recognitions: Hugo Award 2016. With an editorial score of 78/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. What distinguishes The Fifth Season is how it handles its central concerns — race, climate, apocalypse, power — without reducing them to neat conclusions. The book invites close reading and holds up well to it. N.K. Jemisin's role in the literature of United States is well established. The Fifth Season can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Hugo Award
winner · genre
201663
✍️
About the Author
N.K. Jemisin
United States
View Author →

N.K. Jemisin is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of fantasy.

Happy Employees
The Management Companion
Happy Employees
What Evolution Tells You About Leading People
Lead with human nature, and your team won’t just perform — they’ll thrive.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Lincoln in the Bardo
literary-fiction

Lincoln in the Bardo

George Saunders· 2017
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Mermaid of Black Conch
literary-fiction

The Mermaid of Black Conch

Monique Roffey· 2020
★Women's Prize for Fiction★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Piranesi
fantasy

Piranesi

Susanna Clarke· 2020
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score94/100
Cover of The Tiger's Wife
literary-fiction

The Tiger's Wife

Téa Obreht· 2011
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score85/100
Cover of American Gods
fantasy

American Gods

Neil Gaiman· 2002
★Hugo Award★Bram Stoker Award
Editorial Score79/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Fifth Season about?

On a dying, apocalypse-prone world called the Stillness, a woman searches for her daughter amid continent-spanning catastrophe, while two other narratives unfold in parallel. Jemisin's Hugo Award–winning debut of the Broken Earth trilogy—the first of three consecutive Hugo wins—is a revolutionary work: formally experimental, racially charged, and devastating.

Who wrote The Fifth Season?

The Fifth Season was written by N.K. Jemisin, from United States. First published in 2016.

What awards has The Fifth Season won?

The Fifth Season has received the following awards and honours: Hugo Award 2016.

Is The Fifth Season worth reading?

The Fifth Season is a well-regarded book with solid critical recognition, with an aggregate editorial score of 63/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 1 editorial source. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in race, climate, apocalypse.

Where can I buy The Fifth Season?

You can buy The Fifth Season on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is The Fifth Season?

The Fifth Season is classified as Fantasy. Stories set in imaginary worlds with magical or supernatural elements.

What country is The Fifth Season from?

The Fifth Season originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

🐉More FantasyBrowse all Fantasy books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅2010s BooksPublished in the 2010s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time