About
Makana Yamamoto was born on the island of Maui. Splitting their time between the Mainland and Hawaiʻi, Makana grew up on beaches and in snowbanks. Always a scientist at heart, Makana fell in love with sci-fi as a teen–they even led the science fiction and fantasy interest house at their college. A writer from childhood, fiction became the perfect medium for them to explore their interests as well as reconnect with their culture, coalescing into a passion for diverse sci-fi. They love writing multicultural settings and queer characters, as well as imagining what the future might look like for historically marginalized communities. In their free time, Makana likes to hoard dice for their Dungeons & Dragons games, defeat bosses with their guildmates, and get way too invested in reality competition shows. They currently live in Boston with their wife and two cats.
Books
Makana's books include Hammajang Luck, a cyberpunk lesbian space heist, and two further titles in the same universe. Click through for more information.
Hammajang Luck
HAMMAJANG | adjective. Definition: In a disorderly or chaotic state; messed up. Chiefly in predicative use, esp. in all hammajang. Etymology: A borrowing from Hawaiian Pidgin. Source: Oxford English Dictionary.Edie is done with crime. Eight years behind bars changes a person - costs them too much time with too many of the people who need them most.And it's all Angel's fault. She sold Edie out in what should have been the greatest moment of their lives. Instead, Edie was shipped off to the icy prison planet spinning far below the soaring skybridges and neon catacombs of Kepler space station - of home - to spend the best part of a decade alone.But then a chance for early parole appears out of nowhere and Edie steps into the pallid sunlight to find none other than Angel waiting - and she has an offer.One last job. One last deal. One last target. The trillionaire tech god they failed to bring down last time. There's just one thing Edie needs to do - trust Angel again - which also happens to be the last thing Edie wants to do. What could possibly go all hammajang about this plan?Ocean's 8 meets Blade Runner in this trail-blazing debut science fiction novel and swashbuckling love letter to Hawai'i about being forced to find a new home and striving to build a better one - unmissable for fans of Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.Content Warnings:
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Praise for Hammajang Luck
"Yamamoto draws on their Hawaiian background while giving Ocean’s 8 a space opera twist in their entertaining debut... This is a blast.” - Publisher's Weekly"Like an Ocean’s movie set in space, Hammajang Luck will charm readers looking for a smooth ride with a lovable cast." - Book Page"Hammajang Luck has more to say than Ocean’s 8, the setting is more thoughtful and relevant than Blade Runner, and you still get the heist you came looking for! Seriously. What more could you ask for?" - Lightspeed Magazine“Hammajang Luck features all the best SF has to offer…between the lovable, queer cast of characters, the Hawaiian representation, and the action-packed heist, Yamamoto will leave readers excited for their next book.” - Starred Review from Booklist“Makana Yamamoto’s debut... is a splendid addition to the genre. With queer and trans characters, an is-this-a-romance, excellent team banter, and an exasperated sibling for Edie, all on top of a daring and audacious heist, there is an enormous amount to love...” - Locus Magazine"It possesses all the sterling attributes of the classic heist narrative, and adds in romance elements, plus the topic of familial bonds. The resulting blend is wholly organic and effective." - Locus Magazine 2024 Retrospective"...Yamamoto makes great use of each word, saying so much with a modest selection of words... Hammajang Luck is a master class on the “tempo” of writing compelling scenes." - Soapberry Review
Press
Hammajang Luck is featured on Den of Geek's Umissable Debuts of 2025
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Hammajang Luck is reviewed in Locus Magazine's 2024 in Review Issue
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Makana was interviewed for Hawaiʻi Public Radio about Hammajang Luck
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Hammajang Luck is one of Men's Health's 25 Best and Most Anticipated SFF Books of 2025!
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Hammajang Luck is included in this Locus Mag's 2024 Recommended Reading List!
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Hammajang Luck is included in this Reactor roundup of January 2025 SFF releases!
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Hammajang Luck is one of CrimeReads' Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2025!
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Hammajang Luck is one of Bookriot's 13 Best New Queer Books out in January!
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Hammajang Luck is one of Lithub's Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books to Look Forward to in 2025!
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Hammajang Luck is one of Goodreads' Most Anticipated Books of 2025!
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Hammajang Luck is one of Autostraddle's 48 Most Anticipated Queer Books of January 2025!
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Hammajang Luck is featured in LGBTQ Reads as one of their most anticipated titles!
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Hammajang Luck is The Bookseller's Book of the Month! Read the interview with Katie Fraser at the link below!
News
Hammajang Luck is listed on Locus Magazine's 2024 Recommended Reading List!
News
Hammajang Luck is The Bookseller's Book of the Month! Read the interview with Katie Fraser at the link below!
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Hammajang Luck is coming to North America with Harper Voyager! It is now available to preorder on most retail sites.
Events
Makana will be a panelist at Bow Market Book Fair's Writing as an Act of Resistance Panel on March 22nd! Note: the event is free, but the panel is a ticketed event.
Events
Makana will be leading the workshop Planet Queer about infusing queerness into stories through plot, worldbuilding, and character at Panethnic Pourovers on February 5th at 6pm.
Events
Makana will be celebrating the launch of Hammajang Luck at Brookline Booksmith on January 14th, 2025!
Events
Makana will be a panelist at WriteHive Con 2024. Their panel is called Monsters and Robots: Queer Reclamation. A recording of the panel will be available on Youtube soon.
Contact
If you need to reach Makana, they are available through this form.