Mark Chadbourn

Mark Chadbourn
BornAshby-de-la-Zouch, England[1]
Pen nameJames Wilde
OccupationAuthor and Scriptwriter[2]
Period1990–present
GenreFantasy, horror, science fiction, historical fiction
Website
markchadbourn.co.uk

Mark Chadbourn is an English fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, and horror author with more than a dozen novels (and one non-fiction book) published around the world.

Born in the English Midlands from a long line of coal miners.[3] he gained a degree in Economic History[1] and went on to become a journalist, working for some of Britain's leading newspapers and magazines including The Times,[3] The Independent, and Marie Claire.[2]

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.[4] 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 (2003), and for his short story "Whisper Lane" (2007).[5]

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.'[1]

He also writes historical novels under the pseudonym "James Wilde". He announced on Twitter that his novel Pendragon was shortlisted for Best Published Novel in the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Award, the result to be announced in September 2018. Chadbourn was a runner-up. But a year later the best-selling adventure writer Wilbur Smith, who established the award, contacted Chadbourn and asked if he would like to collaborate on a novel, as mentioned on both authors' websites. The result, The New Kingdom, is a historical fantasy set in Ancient Egypt and will be published in September 2021.

In addition to his novels he also is a scriptwriter for the BBC drama Doctors.[2] In 2014, he announced on his website that his contemporary thriller TV series Shadow State had been optioned by Clerkenwell Films.

Works

Novels

  • Underground (1992)
  • Nocturne (1994)
  • The Eternal (1996)
  • Scissorman (1997)

The Age of Misrule

The Dark Age

Kingdom of the Serpent

The Ghost Warrior

  • Lord of Silence (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)

Hereward (as James Wilde)

  • Hereward (July 2011)
  • Hereward: The Devil's Army (July 2012)
  • Hereward: End of Days (July 2013)
  • Hereward: Wolves of New Rome (July 2014)
  • Hereward: The Immortals (July 2015)
  • Hereward: The Bloody Crown (July 2016)

Dark Age (as James Wilde)

  • Pendragon (July 2017)
  • Dark Age (October 2018)
  • The Bear King (January 2020)
  • The New Kingdom (with Wilbur Smith) (September 2021)

Novellas

Non fiction

  • Testimony (1996)

Other works

  • The Book of Shadows (2006) (graphic novel)
  • Hellboy: The Oddest Jobs – Straight No Chaser (2008)
  • Hellboy: The Ice Wolves (October 2009)

Screenwriting

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

References

  1. ^ a b c Hedgecock, Andrew. "Letting The Subconscious Do Its Job". Zone-SF.com. Retrieved 28 April 2007.
  2. ^ a b c Mark Chadbourn – Blake Friedmann Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Paul Dale (3 July 2006). "MARK CHADBOURN Writer of Book of Shadows & The Age of Misrule". jazmaonline.com. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
  4. ^ Auden, Sandy (2005). "Computer Viruses in Books An Interview with Mark Chadbourn". the SF Site. Retrieved 10 December 2007.
  5. ^ The British Fantasy Society – The BFS Awards 2008 Archived 2007-12-11 at the Wayback Machine