Mercurio lives in the Bronx in New York City. He has worked as a litigator in Manhattan and as a compliance officer for a large multinational bank. He plays paddleball every weekend and considers himself a “food junkie,” who enjoys sampling different cuisines (although he can’t cook worth a lick). He grew up reading and collecting comics books, and considers himself a Trekkie and “I Love Lucy” aficionado. He speaks fluent Spanish.
Mercurio recently established the NERD COUNT podcast with co-host Matthew Kressel in which they interview spec-fic writers and discuss writing and all facets of “nerd-dom.”
Mercurio’s mosaic novel, WERGEN: THE ALIEN LOVE WAR explores the complex and ethically ambiguous concept of an alien species biologically compelled to be deeply infatuated with humans. The novel was nominated for the Arthur C. Clarke Award and has been described as “mindblowing science fiction,” “an extraordinary achievement” and “deeply moving.”
His novelette, “Beyond the Tatttered Veil of Stars” was turned into a podcast by Dust Studios performed by Gillian Jacobs (of Community), Justin Kirk (of Weeds), Asif Ali, and Helen Sadler. In the story, “a reporter profiling a bio-tech bigwig learns the secret project she’s been working on holds the key to ending all human suffering– sickness, natural disasters, climate change. But at what cost?”
His short fiction has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award and won Reader’s Choice Awards for Asimov’s Science Fiction and Interzone magazines, respectively. Rivera’s stories have also appeared in markets such as Analog Science Fiction & Fact, Lightspeed, Black Static, Nature, Abyss and Apex, “year’s best” collections such as THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, VOL. 5 and VOL. 6, edited by Neil Clarke, YEAR’S BEST SF 34, edited by Gardner Dozois, YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION 17, edited by Hartwell & Cramer, UNPLUGGED: THE WEB’S BEST SF AND FANTASY, edited by Rich Horton, and anthologies such as Other Worlds Than These, edited by John Joseph Adams, Solaris Rising 2, Paradox: Stories Inspired by the Fermi Paradox, and Crises and Conflicts, all edited by Ian Whates.
Tor.com called his collection ACROSS THE EVENT HORIZON (Newcon Press), “weird and wonderful,” with “dizzying switchbacks,” “a revelation” with “twists followed by more twists heightening a powerful sense of alienation and menace.” Learn more about Across the Event Horizon here.
Many of his stories have been podcast at Escape Pod, StarshipSofa, Transmissions From Beyond, Beam Me Up and Kaleidocast. StarshipSofa devoted a two-part installment to his stories. To access these various podcasts, click here.
His tales “Longing for Langalana” and “Tethered” (both about the alien Wergens) and “Dance of the Kawkawroons” have been taught in lit courses and writing workshops at (i) San Francisco University, (ii) Columbia College Chicago, (iii) the New School (NYC) and (iv) the Instituto Pedagógico de Caracas, respectively.
His stories have been translated and published in China, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland and Spain.
Mercurio is a long-time member of the highly regarded Manhattan writing group Altered Fluid.
Recent Stories:
“Threat Assessment” – a sci-fi novella co-written with Matthew Kressel is forthcoming in 2025 from a major market to be announced soon.
“Beyond the Tattered Veil of Stars” – ASIMOV’S SCIENCE FICTION selected for THE YEAR’S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, Vol. 6, edited by Neil Clarke, THE YEAR’S BEST SF AND FANTASY, edited by Rich Horton, and THE YEAR’S TOP HARD SCIENCE FICTION STORIES 5, edited by Allan Kaster.
“In the Stillness Between the Stars” – ASIMOV’S SCIENCE FICTION (Sept./Oct 2019) selected for THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF THE YEAR, Vol 5, edited by Neil Clarke (2020). WINNER of the Asimov’s Readers Choice Award.
“Those Brighter Stars” – LIGHTSPEED selected for YEAR’S BEST SF 34, edited by Gardner Dozois (2017)
“Tu Sufrimiento Shall Protect Us” — BLACK STATIC #18 – Nominated for the 2011 World Fantasy Award – Free download here