Laura Rikono

A naturalist of beings real and fictional

Laura Rikono lives in Malaysian North Borneo. Once a marine scientist, she met a tribesman who wooed her with wild fishing trips in the shadow of a lilac mountain. They settled down and had children, who were far more interesting than fish. Her stories are sci fi and fantasy grounded in the natural sciences.

Message Laura

Secrets

1. Remote expeditions are an unexpected masterclass in human nature

2. My CV has more random plot twists than my 'experimental' teenage fantasy novel

3. Borneo, with its biological and cultural richness, is a cheat sheet for fantastical worlds

Laura Rikono is known inside the Colony as Aethalope

Books

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More About Laura Rikono

When You’re Not Reading Me

1. Joseph Conrad

A master of character and evocative settings

2. Mary Gentle

Arquebusses, Wild Machines, Carthage, Footnotes and Mercenary Captain Ash

3. Ted Chiang

For poignant contemplations of tech and us

What's On My Bedside Table

1. A Lokamade Notebook - Food Paradise

For jotting down 3 am ideas while drooling over Malaysian food illustrations

2. A Piece of Coral

Probably leaf plate Montipora. A fragment from fish bombing.

3. A Pelita Amoi

A vintage kerosene lamp from our off-grid days

I Love Sabah, Malaysian Borneo — Here's Why

Field Journal

Future Abstract: Fights at Night

SATIRE ALERT: The following abstract is entirely fictional and does not represent actual events or scientific research. Tarsiers are not currently at war with pollination...

Danger! Danger!

What is perhaps the most feared creature of the Borneo rainforest, I hear you ask? Who is the King or Queen of the Forest? The...

Huminodun – A Borneo Legend

In the lush landscapes of Sabah, Malaysian North Borneo, dwells the Kadazandusun community, the region's largest indigenous group. Their cultural identity is deeply entwined with...

Future Abstract: Crisp and Squish

SATIRE ALERT: This Future Abstract is entirely fictional and should not be taken as actual scientific research. No plastic was consumed in the making of...

The Moon vs. Brian Cox

Of the many jobs I’ve juggled, my latest presents a unique challenge. Sabah, in Malaysian North Borneo, is popular with Korean tourists. Five hours south...

The Unexpected Pantomime

Deep in tribal territory in Jharkhand, India, three schools — one by a road, one in a forest, and one on a hill — hosted...

Of Straw-Stacks and Sisters

Ten minutes before I left the house, my boss called. “The science class is cancelled today. Take Jisoo and Jennie instead. They need adjective practice.”...