The New Yorker – 20 under 40

Book blogs and news sites last year were abuzz with the news that this weeks issue of the New Yorker magazine would focus on the magazine’s selection of 20 authors under 40 who are worth watching. The magazine cover story “Summer Fiction – 20 under 40” promises to share “Twenty young writers who capture the inventiveness and the vitality of contemporary American fiction.”

The authors include some who have one or several books already published and one whose first novel is yet to be published. The authors originally come from all over the world, but now live in America. The magazine offers a piece explaining the selections and the process.

The last time the New Yorker produced an issue like this one was in 1999, when their 20 under 40 included many names who are now some of the most respected in American Contemporary Fiction including: Michael Chabon, Jhumpa Lahiri and Jeffrey Eugenides.

Here are the authors from the list – with links to the catalogue where available. To read more about each author, visit the New Yorker website.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Nigerian born author of Orange Prize winning Half of a Yellow Sun and others.
Chris Adrian, at 39, the oldest author on the list.
Daniel Alarcon
David Bezmozgis: born in Latvia, immigrating to Canada as a child, and now living in New York, Bezmozgis is one of 3 Canadian authors on the list.
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum
Joshua Ferris
Jonathan Safran Foer
Nell Freudenberger
Rivka Galchen: Toronto born author who now lives in New York.
Nicole Krauss
Yiyun Li
Dinaw Mengestu
Philipp Meyer
C.E. Morgan
Tea Obreht: born in 1985, the youngest on the list, with her first novel is due next year.
Z Z Packer
Karen Russell
Salvatore Scibona
Gary Shteyngart
Wells Tower: originally from Vancouver, his debut short story collection was a NY Times notable book last year.