Justine Larbalestier ( ) is an Australian young-adult fiction author. She is best known for the Magic or Madness trilogy: Magic or Madness, Magic Lessons and Magic's Child. She also wrote one adult non-fiction book, the Hugo-nominated The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction (Best Related Book, 2003), and edited another, Feminist Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century.
Her surname has been pronounced in several different ways, but the FAQ on her website says that Lar-bal-est-ee-air is correct:
Q: How do you pronounce your surname?
A: Lar-bal-est-ee-air. It can also be pronounced Lar-bal-est-ee-ay or Lar-bal-est-ee-er. Those are all fine by me. Friends at school used to pronounce it: Lavaworm. I have to really like you to let you get away with that one, but.
Larbalestier was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. She now alternates living between Sydney and New York City.
In 2001, Justine married fellow author Scott Westerfeld. They met in New York while she was researching her PhD thesis though they have differing stories on how they met.
The Battle of The Sexes in Science Fiction was nominated for the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award, the William J. Atheling Award and the Hugo Award for Best Related Book in 2003.
Magic or Madness won the 2006 Andre Norton Award for best Young Adult Science Fiction or Fantasy. It was shortlisted for the Ethel Turner Award for 2006, as well as an Aurealis Award for best Australian YA book and a Ditmar Award for best Science Fiction or Fantasy novel. It was also nominated for The Teen Services Division of the Michigan Library Association's Thumbs Up Award.
Magic Lessons was shortlisted for an Aurealis Award for best Australian YA book as well as a Locus award.
Daughters of Earth was shortlisted for a British Science Fiction Award and won the Susan Koppelman Award as well as the William Atheling Jr. Award.