Mark Chadbourn
Encyclopedia
Mark Chadbourn is an English
fantasy, science fiction and horror author with fifteen novels (and one non-fiction book) published around the world.
Born in the English Midlands
from a long line of coal miners. he gained a degree in Economic History and went on to become a journalist, working for some of Britain's leading newspapers and magazines including The Times
, The Independent
, and Marie Claire
.
His writing career began in 1990 when his first published short story Six Dead Boys in a Very Dark World won Fear magazine's Best New Author award. It attracted the attention of agents and publishers.
Six of his novels have been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society's
August Derleth Award for Best Novel, and he has won the British Fantasy Award twice, for his novella The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke(2005), and for his short story Whisper Lane(2007).
His novel Jack of Ravens was published in the UK on 20 July 2006. It is the first in a new sequence called Kingdom of the Serpent
. The second book, The Burning Man, was published in April 2008. The final book in the trilogy, Destroyer of Worlds
, has been published in July 2009.
The earlier books include two series, The Age of Misrule
and The Dark Age
.
Mark has been described as 'a contemporary bard - a post-industrial Taliesin whose visionary novels are crammed with remixed mythologies, oneiric set pieces, potent symbols, unsettling imagery and an engaging fusion of genre elements. The author's ambition is sustained by his invention: his work is distinguished by breakneck but brilliantly controlled plots, meticulous research, deft characterisation and a crisp, accessible prose style.'
In addition to his novels he also is a scriptwriter for the BBC drama Doctors
.
Plus numerous short stories including the award winning "Whisper Lane" in BFS – A Celebration anthology in 2006, and "Who Slays the Gyant, Wounds the Beast" in The Solaris Book of New Fantasy
(UK) December 2007
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
fantasy, science fiction and horror author with fifteen novels (and one non-fiction book) published around the world.
Born in the English Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
from a long line of coal miners. he gained a degree in Economic History and went on to become a journalist, working for some of Britain's leading newspapers and magazines including The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, and Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
.
His writing career began in 1990 when his first published short story Six Dead Boys in a Very Dark World won Fear magazine's Best New Author award. It attracted the attention of agents and publishers.
Six of his novels have been shortlisted for the British Fantasy Society's
British Fantasy Award
The British Fantasy Awards are administered annually by the British Fantasy Society and were first awarded in 1971. The membership of the BFS vote to determine recommendations, short-lists and winners of the awards...
August Derleth Award for Best Novel, and he has won the British Fantasy Award twice, for his novella The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke(2005), and for his short story Whisper Lane(2007).
His novel Jack of Ravens was published in the UK on 20 July 2006. It is the first in a new sequence called Kingdom of the Serpent
Kingdom of the Serpent
The Kingdom of the Serpent is the third in a series of trilogies written by Mark Chadbourn. Set in modern-day Britain, it continues from The Age of Misrule and The Dark Age....
. The second book, The Burning Man, was published in April 2008. The final book in the trilogy, Destroyer of Worlds
Kingdom of the Serpent
The Kingdom of the Serpent is the third in a series of trilogies written by Mark Chadbourn. Set in modern-day Britain, it continues from The Age of Misrule and The Dark Age....
, has been published in July 2009.
The earlier books include two series, The Age of Misrule
The Age of Misrule (series)
The Age of Misrule is a three-book modern fantasy novel series, written by Mark Chadbourn. It is set in Britain and the faery Otherworld around the beginning of the third millennium....
and The Dark Age
The Dark Age (series)
The Dark Age is a trilogy by Mark Chadbourn set around the beginning of the third millennium. While the previous series was a clear fantasy story, this has strings of gothic horror and existentialism woven into it.The three books are:...
.
Mark has been described as 'a contemporary bard - a post-industrial Taliesin whose visionary novels are crammed with remixed mythologies, oneiric set pieces, potent symbols, unsettling imagery and an engaging fusion of genre elements. The author's ambition is sustained by his invention: his work is distinguished by breakneck but brilliantly controlled plots, meticulous research, deft characterisation and a crisp, accessible prose style.'
In addition to his novels he also is a scriptwriter for the BBC drama Doctors
Doctors (BBC Soap Opera)
Doctors is a British daytime television soap opera, set in the fictional Midland town of Letherbridge, defined as being close to the City of Birmingham. It was created by Chris Murray; Mal Young drove its development, and Carson Black was the original producer. The first episode was broadcast on...
.
Novels
- Underground (1992)
- Nocturne (1994)
- The Eternal (1996)
- Scissorman (1997)
The Age of Misrule
- World's EndWorld's End (Chadbourn)World's End is a novel written by British author Mark Chadbourn and is the first in the Age of Misrule trilogy. It was first published in Great Britain by Millennium on 14 September 2000...
(1999) - Darkest HourThe Age of Misrule (series)The Age of Misrule is a three-book modern fantasy novel series, written by Mark Chadbourn. It is set in Britain and the faery Otherworld around the beginning of the third millennium....
(2000) - Always ForeverThe Age of Misrule (series)The Age of Misrule is a three-book modern fantasy novel series, written by Mark Chadbourn. It is set in Britain and the faery Otherworld around the beginning of the third millennium....
(2001)
The Dark Age
- The Devil in GreenThe Dark Age (series)The Dark Age is a trilogy by Mark Chadbourn set around the beginning of the third millennium. While the previous series was a clear fantasy story, this has strings of gothic horror and existentialism woven into it.The three books are:...
(2002) - The Queen of SinisterThe Dark Age (series)The Dark Age is a trilogy by Mark Chadbourn set around the beginning of the third millennium. While the previous series was a clear fantasy story, this has strings of gothic horror and existentialism woven into it.The three books are:...
(2004) - The Hounds Of AvalonThe Dark Age (series)The Dark Age is a trilogy by Mark Chadbourn set around the beginning of the third millennium. While the previous series was a clear fantasy story, this has strings of gothic horror and existentialism woven into it.The three books are:...
(2005)
Kingdom of the Serpent
- Jack of RavensKingdom of the SerpentThe Kingdom of the Serpent is the third in a series of trilogies written by Mark Chadbourn. Set in modern-day Britain, it continues from The Age of Misrule and The Dark Age....
(2006) - The Burning ManKingdom of the SerpentThe Kingdom of the Serpent is the third in a series of trilogies written by Mark Chadbourn. Set in modern-day Britain, it continues from The Age of Misrule and The Dark Age....
(2008) - Destroyer of WorldsKingdom of the SerpentThe Kingdom of the Serpent is the third in a series of trilogies written by Mark Chadbourn. Set in modern-day Britain, it continues from The Age of Misrule and The Dark Age....
(July 2009)
Swords of Albion
- The Silver Skull (November 2009, UK (Title: "The Sword of Albion": April 2010)
- "The Scar-Crow Men" (February 2011, UK: April 2011)
- The Devil's Looking Glass (UK: April 2012, US: tbc)
Other works
- The Book of Shadows (2006) (graphic novelGraphic novelA graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
) - Hellboy: The Oddest Jobs - Straight No Chaser (2008)
- Hellboy: The Ice Wolves (October 2009)
Plus numerous short stories including the award winning "Whisper Lane" in BFS – A Celebration anthology in 2006, and "Who Slays the Gyant, Wounds the Beast" in The Solaris Book of New Fantasy
Solaris Books
Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors...
(UK) December 2007
External links
- Official website
- Official blog
- MySpace page
- http://www.thewritefantastic.com/markchadbourn.html
- Mark Chadbourn at Fantasy Literature