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R.I.P., Leslie Fish: The Prometheus-winning writer-musician’s stories and songs poetically embodied resistance to tyranny 

Leslie Fish, a Prometheus-winning author, writer and musician, has passed.

Leslie Fish, playing the guitar and singing her songs (Creative Commons license)

Fish (1953-2025) died Nov. 29 at age 72, while in hospice care at her home.

She won a Special Prometheus Award in 2014 for her fantasy novella “Tower of Horses” and related song, “The Horsetamer’s Daughter.” Both focus on peace, freedom, community and resistance to tyranny.

Fish’s Prometheus Award was the first time – and still the only example – within the history of the awards that a song was recognized, and that a paired song and novella have received a joint award.

Like “Tower of Horses,” many of Fish’s stories and songs embody anarchist, anti-war and anti-taxation themes affirming both individualism and community.

Continue reading R.I.P., Leslie Fish: The Prometheus-winning writer-musician’s stories and songs poetically embodied resistance to tyranny 

Self-reliance, liberty and sf: The Prometheus interview with author-singer-songwriter Leslie Fish

“(In sf fandom), the Prometheus is now considered third place after the Hugo and Nebula.” — author-songwriter Leslie Fish

Here is the first part of the Prometheus Blog interview with Leslie Fish, the Prometheus-winning author and songwriter.
Fish, interviewed by journalist and blog editor Michael Grossberg, won a 2014 Special Prometheus Award for her novella “Tower of Horses” and related filk-song “The Horseman’s Daughter.”

LFS: You’ve said a lot of your stories and songs contain libertarian themes. What attracts you to such themes and what kinds of stories do you find best reflect those themes?

Fish: It’s more a case of the ideas being part of me and therefore coloring all my work. I’ve noticed the nostalgic medievalism of most published Fantasy stories, and the socialistic assumptions of a lot of Science Fiction, and it tends to annoy me, so I tend to write songs and stories that push in the opposite direction. I’m surprised by how much of my own work is reactive, in this way.

Continue reading Self-reliance, liberty and sf: The Prometheus interview with author-singer-songwriter Leslie Fish

A song of community and resistance to tyranny, and the novella it inspired: An appreciation of Leslie Fish’s “The Horsetamer’s Daughter” and “Tower of Horses,” the 2014 Special Prometheus Award winner

Here is an appreciation of writer-songwriter-singer Leslie Fish’s song “The Horseman’s Daughter” and related novella “Tower of Horse,” together recognized with a 2014 Special Prometheus Award.

By Steve Gaalema and Michael Grossberg

“Tower of Horses,” Leslie Fish’s rich Darkover novella, may be one of the most libertarian stories ever recognized with a Prometheus Award.

With its very believable and human characters, suspenseful plot and resonant coming-of-age and temptations-of-power themes, Fish’s fantasy novella is certainly one of the most satisfying, and emotionally involving.

Together with Fish’s epic folk-song “The Horsetamer’s Daughter,” the novella received a Special Prometheus Award in 2014 – the first time within the history of the awards that a song was recognized, and the first time that a paired song and novella have received a joint award.

Continue reading A song of community and resistance to tyranny, and the novella it inspired: An appreciation of Leslie Fish’s “The Horsetamer’s Daughter” and “Tower of Horses,” the 2014 Special Prometheus Award winner