Leonardo Espinoza Benavides (a.k.a. Leo) is a Chilean physician-writer & editor specialized in science fiction. A dermatologist and venereologist with additional studies in psychodermatology, immunology, and general astronomy, he blends clinical science with speculative literature.

He is best known for Más espacio del que soñamos (2018, Puerto de Escape) and the short novel Adiós, loxonauta (2020, Sietch), recognized as a “book worth your consideration” by the International Latino Book Awards and winner of the Chilean Altísimo Award (Premio Altísimo) 2022. His work also ventures into experimental SF, as in Nomadismos del tiempo trifráctico (2022, Sietch).

Since 2008 his short fiction has been published in Latin America, Europe, the United States, and China. Publishers Weekly highlighted his story “Octobers/October” (anthologized by Crystal Huff) as “vivid” and rooted in Chilean history; “Syphilus, Sisyphus” appeared in Sci Phi Journal; and “La vermuza de la policromata” was translated into Chinese (普通话) and published in Science Fiction World — 科幻世界 (Foreign SF, Apr 2022) as “维缪斯.” Most recently, his work appeared in Future Fiction Magazine (2024), alongside Sara Chen.

He is an editor at Sietch Ediciones (anthologies COVID-19-CFCh & Pacífica), serves as director of the Chilean SF&F Association (ALCIFF), is an associate member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), and is a regular participant in international SFF conventions. In 2025 he was part of the Program Staff of Worldcon Seattle and is an invited mentor at Chongqing's Future Creation Workshop.

He lives in Santiago de Chile with his wife Dani, their son Máximo, and Hulky the dog.

Instagram: @leonardoespinozabenavides
Facebook: /leonardo.espinozabenavides
YouTube: /c/LeonardoEspinozaBenavides
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