For his undergraduate education, Ransom applied to the National Autonomous University of Mexico where he studied dramatic literature and theater at the School of Philosophy and Letters.
At the School of Philosophy and Letters, and during his early career, Roberto Ransom formed close friendships with other young writers such as Ana García Bergua,[8] Tedi López Mills, Ignacio Padilla,[9] and Jennifer Clement.This generation of writers discovered beyond magic realism through work that was only implicitly related to Mexico or Latin America.
[12] Ransom's writing is known for focusing on building atmosphere and ideas,seldom relying on sharp twists or outsized action.
[13] Both his novel Tale of Two Lions (Norton 2007),[14] and the collection of short stories Missing Persons, Animals, and Artists (Swan Isle Press/University of Chicago 2018),[15] have been translated and published in English.
[16] Missing Persons, Animals, and Artists has enjoyed critical acclaim for its translation by Daniel Shapiro, [17] who was awarded grants by PEN America,[18] and the National Endowment for the Arts for its completion.