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Sue Burke

Goodreads Author


Born
in Milwaukee, The United States
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Member Since
February 2012

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I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lived briefly in Austin, Texas, y'all, and moved with my husband to Madrid, Spain, in December 1999. Then back to the US, specifically Chicago, in July 2016.

I've worked for fifty years as a journalist, both as a reporter and editor, and I translate from Spanish to English.

I also write poetry, essays, and fiction, especially science fiction.
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Sue Burke I began the research before I thought about writing the novel. It started because one day I discovered that one of my houseplants had killed another p…moreI began the research before I thought about writing the novel. It started because one day I discovered that one of my houseplants had killed another plant -- a pothos had wrapped around another plant, which died from a lack of light. Then a few weeks later another plant tried to sink roots into different plant.

I decided to find out if this was normal plant behavior, and it was. Plants are often aggressive against each other and sometimes against animals, too. They often try to manipulate animals, as well. The more I learned, the more I thought there could be a story to tell.

The research took a while, since every answer led to another question and botany keeps making new discoveries, but the research also gave me more ideas to enrich the story. I now have a shelf of books.

Slowly, the novel began to take shape, although sometimes I had to research a specific detail as I went along, such as the communication scents of the Glassmakers (based on Earth ants) and how plants could duplicate the odors.(less)
Sue Burke Hello Joseph,
Thank you! I really enjoyed writing the books, and I always had in mind a trilogy.
I've just signed a contract for it with Tor books -- bu…more
Hello Joseph,
Thank you! I really enjoyed writing the books, and I always had in mind a trilogy.
I've just signed a contract for it with Tor books -- but due to covid, which has done weird things to publishing, it won't be published as soon as I'd like. I've started it, though, and I hope the story will be exciting.
Thank you again!
Sue(less)
Average rating: 3.89 · 21,391 ratings · 3,024 reviews · 55 distinct worksSimilar authors
Semiosis (Semiosis, #1)

3.91 avg rating — 14,725 ratings — published 2018
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Interference (Semiosis, #2)

3.97 avg rating — 4,123 ratings — published 2019 — 5 editions
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Usurpation (Semiosis, #3)

3.71 avg rating — 691 ratings — published 2024 — 6 editions
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Immunity Index

3.33 avg rating — 596 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions
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Dual Memory

3.68 avg rating — 477 ratings — published 2023 — 9 editions
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Normalized Death

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 2008
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Semiosis: A novel of first ...

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Semiosis Duology

it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
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Usurpation: Semiosis, Book 3

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it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
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West African adire: Dyed an...

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More books by Sue Burke…

“En Paz” — two translations

Because “En Paz” is my husband’s favorite poem, I read it at a recent open mic here in Chicago, along with my two translations. The poem is by Amado Nervo, a Mexican poet, and it’s one of his most beloved poems, published in 1916.

My first translation aimed at keeping the meter and rhyme of the original poem. Then I thought it might be a bit sing-song, and I had to force a few meanings to make it r

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Published on September 03, 2025 08:14
Semiosis Interference Usurpation
(3 books)
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3.91 avg rating — 19,539 ratings

Sue’s Recent Updates

Sue Burke wrote a new blog post

“En Paz” — two translations

Because “En Paz” is my husband’s favorite poem, I read it at a recent open mic here in Chicago, along with my two translations. The poem is by Amado N Read more of this blog post »
Sue Burke and 24 other people liked BJ's review of As You Like It:
As You Like It by William Shakespeare
"Back in high school, I was music director for a summer camp production of As You Like It in a local park. The director—of both play and camp—put us in the 60s, squares versus hippies. I led an onstage rock band through rock’n’roll adaptations of Shak" Read more of this review »
Sue Burke and 25 other people liked Matty's review of Overgrowth:
Overgrowth by Mira Grant
"I finally finished this and it was not an alien invasion story for me,despite the fact that I am all for plants overtaking the world. The story SLOWLY counted down the time to the actual invasion and took 2/3 of the book to get there and then the mai" Read more of this review »
Sue Burke and 12 other people liked Zachary's review of Babel:
Babel by R.F. Kuang
"I loved this book from the very beginning. And I think that's mostly because I loved the tropes. Schools in fantasy books are so cool because I love to learn, and I've never been sure of my path because there are so many cool ways in which life can g" Read more of this review »
Sue Burke liked a quote
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
“In the realm of totalitarian kitsch, all answers are given in advance and preclude any questions. It follows, then, that the true opponent of totalitarian kitsch is the person who asks questions. A question is like a knife that slices through the stage backdrop and gives us a look at what lies hidden behind it. In fact, that was exactly how Sabina had explained the meaning of her paintings to Tereza: on the surface, an intelligible lie; underneath, the unintelligible truth showing through.

But the people who struggle against what we call totalitarian regimes cannot function with queries and doubts. They, too, need certainties and simple truths to make the multitudes understand, to provoke collective tears”
Milan Kundera
Sue Burke wants to read
Dare to Know by James     Kennedy
Dare to Know
by James Kennedy (Goodreads Author)
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Sue Burke rated a book it was amazing
Zoi by Jane Mondrup
Zoi
by Jane Mondrup (Goodreads Author)
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Full disclosure: I was asked to write a blurb for this novel by the publisher, who supplied a copy of the book.

A lot of books are written about first contact with a species alien to Earth. This novel asks an original question — because if we ever get
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Sue Burke rated a book really liked it
Speculative Whiteness by Jordan S. Carroll
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I read this short book before it became a finalist for a Hugo Award for Best Related Work, and it’s a timely choice that deserves the attention the nomination brings.

The author, Jordon S. Carroll, discusses the ways that alt-right/fascist/White natio
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Sue Burke finished reading
Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Shroud
by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Goodreads Author)
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Quotes by Sue Burke  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“I am glad I grew the humor root. I can endure unpleasant situations better.”
Sue Burke, Semiosis

“Equality is not a fact, like the length of days... Equality is an idea, a belief, like beauty.”
Sue Burke, Semiosis

“Each of us needs to be what we are, perhaps even be more of what we are.”
Sue Burke, Semiosis

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics posts views last activity  
SciFi and Fantasy...: Bill the other does all the challenges. Comments ok. 3 222 Jan 05, 2018 07:55PM  
Beyond Reality: Welcome to April 2018! 2 20 Apr 09, 2018 06:18PM  
Beyond Reality: Welcome to May 2018! 1 17 May 01, 2018 10:08AM  
Beyond Reality: Nominations for June 2018 21 64 May 28, 2018 04:46PM  
The Seasonal Read...: This topic has been closed to new comments. Completed Tasks: PLEASE DO NOT DELETE ANY POST IN THIS THREAD 2194 410 May 31, 2018 09:01PM  
Beyond Reality: Welcome to June 2018! 1 18 Jun 01, 2018 05:21AM  
Beyond Reality: Semiosis -- -- Roll Call and First Impressions **NO SPOILERS!** 12 29 Jun 16, 2018 07:55AM  
“Stories only happen to those who are able to tell them.”
Paul Auster

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

“The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness. ”
Michel de Montaigne

“The writer’s job is not to judge, but to seek to understand.”
Ernest Hemingway

“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.”
Ernest Hemingway

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Un grupo para discutir los libros escritos en espanol. Todos son bienvenidos!
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Grupo abierto para charlar sobre El Salto Cuántico y ciencia ficción en general. La premisa es impulsar este género y similares entre autores y lecto ...more
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Grupo abierto para todas aquellas personas que quieran conocer (o dar a conocer) a autoras de fantasía, ciencia ficción y terror.
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Sue Burke Win a free copy of 140 And Counting, a book of Tweet-length poetry, including work by me:

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