Keith Roberts
| Keith Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 September 1935 Kettering, Northamptonshire |
| Died | 5 October 2000 (aged 65) Salisbury, Wiltshire |
| Pen name | Alistair Bevan, John Kingston, David Stringer |
| Occupation | Novelist, Short story writer, Artist, Graphic designer |
| Genres | Science fiction, Fantasy, Historical fiction, Thriller |
| Notable work(s) | Pavane |
Keith John Kingston Roberts (20 September 1935 – 5 October 2000), was an English science fiction author. He began publishing with two stories in the September 1964 issue of Science Fantasy magazine, "Anita" (the first of a series of stories featuring a teenage modern witch and her eccentric granny) and "Escapism.[1][2]
Several of his early stories were written using the pseudonym Alistair Bevan. His second novel, Pavane, which is a collection of linked stories, may be his most famous work: an alternate history novel in which the Roman Catholic Church takes control of England following the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I.
Roberts wrote numerous novels and short stories, and also worked as an illustrator. His artistic contributions include covers and interior artwork for New Worlds and Science Fantasy, later renamed Impulse. He also edited the last few issues of Impulse although the nominal editor was Harry Harrison.
In later life, Roberts lived in Salisbury. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1990, and died of its complications in October 2000. Obituaries recalled him as a talented but personally 'difficult' author, with a history of disputes with publishers, editors and colleagues.[3][4][5][6]
Contents |
Partial bibliography [edit]
Novels
- The Furies (1966) - a traditional UK disaster tale
- Pavane (1968) - a collection of linked short stories
- Anita (1970) - a collection of linked short stories
- The Inner Wheel (1970) - a collection of linked short stories
- The Boat of Fate (1971) - a historical novel set in Britain at the end of the Roman Empire's power
- The Chalk Giants (1974) - a collection of linked short stories
- Molly Zero (1980) - a novel set in a dystopian future
- Kiteworld (1985) - originally published as linked short stories
- Kaeti & Company (1986) - linked short fiction
- Gráinne (1987) - slipstream fiction
- The Road to Paradise (1989) - a thriller, without fantastic elements
- Kaeti on Tour (1992) - linked short fiction
Collections
- Machines and Men (1973)
- The Grain Kings (1976)
- The Passing of the Dragons (1977)
- Ladies from Hell (1979)
- The Lordly Ones (1986)
- A Heron Caught in Weeds (1987) - poetry collection, edited by Jim Goddard
- Winterwood and Other Hauntings (1989) - ghost story collection, with an introduction by Robert Holdstock
Other
- The Natural History of the P.H. (1988) - short essay about the "Primitive Heroine"
- Irish Encounters: A Short Travel (1989) - essays about a trip to Ireland in 1978
- Lemady: Episodes of a Writer's Life (1997) - autobiography, with fictional elements
Awards and nominations [edit]
Awards [edit]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1982 - Short fiction: "Kitemaster" (Interzone, Spring 1982)[7]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1986 - Short fiction: "Kaeti and the Hangman" (Kaeti & Company)[7]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1986 - Artist: Keith Roberts[7]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1987 - Novel: Gráinne[7]
Nominations [edit]
- Nebula Award 1971 - Best Novella: "The God House" (New Worlds Quarterly #1, 1971)[8]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1980 - Novel: Molly Zero[9]
- Hugo Award 1981 - Best Novelette: "The Lordly Ones" (Fantasy & Science Fiction, March 1980)[10]
- British Science Fiction Association Award 1985 - Novel: Kiteworld[11]
- John W. Campbell Memorial Award 1986 (Joint 3rd place): Kiteworld[12]
- Nebula Award 1987 - Best Novella: "The Tiger Sweater" (Fantasy & Science Fiction, October 1987)[8]
- Arthur C. Clarke Award 1988: Gráinne[13]
References [edit]
- ^ Clute, John; Nicholls, Peter (1993). The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Orbit Books. pp. 1012–1013. ISBN 1-85723-124-4.
- ^ Smith, Curtis C. (1981). Twentieth-Century Science-Fiction Writers. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 0-312-82420-3.
- ^ Holland, Steve (2000-10-16). "Obituary: Keith Roberts". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-08-31.
- ^ Obituary - The Independent (17 October 2000)
- ^ David Langford - Keith Roberts, 1935-2000 Ansible #160 (November 2000)
- ^ David Langford - A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs SFX magazine #73 (January 2001)
- ^ a b c d "British Science Fiction Association Awards - Past Awards". British Science Fiction Association. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- ^ a b "The Nebula Awards". www.literaryawards.co.uk. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "1980 Award Winners & Nominees". icow.com, LLC. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "1981 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "1985 Award Winners & Nominees". icow.com, LLC. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "The John W. Campbell Memorial Award". Center for the Study of Science Fiction, Department of English, University of Kansas. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
- ^ "The Arthur C. Clarke Award 1988". DotNetNuke Corporation. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
External links [edit]
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