Colin Greenland
Encyclopedia
Colin Greenland is a British
science fiction
writer, whose first story won the second prize in a 1982 Faber & Faber competition. His best known novel is Take Back Plenty
(1990), winner of both major British science fiction awards, the 1990 British SF Association
award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award
, as well as being a nominee for the 1992 Philip K. Dick Award for the best original paperback published that year in the US
.
Colin Greenland's first published book was a critical look at the New Wave
, based on his Ph.D thesis, The Entropy Exhibition: Michael Moorcock and the British 'New Wave' in Science Fiction (1983). His most successful fictional work is the Plenty series that starts with Take Back Plenty and continues with Seasons of Plenty (1995), The Plenty Principle (1997) and Mother of Plenty (1998).
Besides his work on fiction, Greenland has continued to write non-fiction books and has been active in the Science Fiction Foundation
, as well as serving on the editorial committee of Interzone
. He has been a guest speaker at four separate Microcon
s: 1988, 1989, 1993 and 1994.
His partner is Susanna Clarke
, with whom he has lived since 1996.
He is good friends with Neil Gaiman
, and is frequently cited among Gaiman's acknowledgments pages.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer, whose first story won the second prize in a 1982 Faber & Faber competition. His best known novel is Take Back Plenty
Take Back Plenty
Take Back Plenty , is a novel by Colin Greenland and is the winner of both major British science fiction awards, the 1990 British SF Association award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award, as well as being a nominee for the 1992 Philip K...
(1990), winner of both major British science fiction awards, the 1990 British SF Association
BSFA award
The BSFA Awards are literary awards presented annually since 1970 by the British Science Fiction Association to honor works in the genre of science fiction. Nominees and winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members...
award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award
Arthur C. Clarke Award
The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. The award was established with a grant from Arthur C. Clarke and the first prize was awarded in 1987...
, as well as being a nominee for the 1992 Philip K. Dick Award for the best original paperback published that year in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Colin Greenland's first published book was a critical look at the New Wave
New Wave (science fiction)
New Wave is a term applied to science fiction produced in the 1960s and 1970s and characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content, a "literary" or artistic sensibility, and a focus on "soft" as opposed to hard science. The term "New Wave" is borrowed from the French...
, based on his Ph.D thesis, The Entropy Exhibition: Michael Moorcock and the British 'New Wave' in Science Fiction (1983). His most successful fictional work is the Plenty series that starts with Take Back Plenty and continues with Seasons of Plenty (1995), The Plenty Principle (1997) and Mother of Plenty (1998).
Besides his work on fiction, Greenland has continued to write non-fiction books and has been active in the Science Fiction Foundation
Science Fiction Foundation
The Science Fiction Foundation is a Registered Charity established 1970 in England by George Hay and others. Its purpose is to "promote science fiction and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science fiction in Britain and the rest of the world." Science fiction...
, as well as serving on the editorial committee of Interzone
Interzone (magazine)
Interzone is an award-winning British fantasy and science fiction magazine. Published since 1982, Interzone is the eighth longest-running science fiction magazine in history and the longest-running British SF magazine...
. He has been a guest speaker at four separate Microcon
Microcon
Microcon is an annual science fiction and fantasy convention, held annually at the University of Exeter in Exeter, Devon, England since 1982, usually over the first weekend in March...
s: 1988, 1989, 1993 and 1994.
His partner is Susanna Clarke
Susanna Clarke
Susanna Mary Clarke is a British author best known for her debut novel Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell , a Hugo Award-winning alternate history. Clarke began Jonathan Strange in 1993 and worked on it during her spare time...
, with whom he has lived since 1996.
He is good friends with Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
, and is frequently cited among Gaiman's acknowledgments pages.
Novels
- Daybreak series
- Daybreak on a Different Mountain. London: Unwin Hyman, 1984. ISBN 0-04-823346-3
- The Hour of the Thin Ox. London: Unwin Hyman, 1987. ISBN 0-04-823341-2
- Other Voices. London: Unwin Hyman, 1988. ISBN 0-04-440165-5
- Plenty series
- Take Back PlentyTake Back PlentyTake Back Plenty , is a novel by Colin Greenland and is the winner of both major British science fiction awards, the 1990 British SF Association award and the 1991 Arthur C. Clarke Award, as well as being a nominee for the 1992 Philip K...
. London: Unwin Hyman, 1990 (paper). ISBN 0-04-440265-1 - Seasons of Plenty. London: HarperCollins, 1995. ISBN 0-00-224208-7
- Mother of Plenty. London: HarperCollins Voyager, 1998 (paper). ISBN 0-00-649907-4
- Take Back Plenty
- Harm's Way. London: HarperCollins, 1993. ISBN 0-00-223916-7
- Spiritfeather. London: Orion, 2000 (paper). ISBN 1-85881-710-2
- Finding Helen. London: Black Swan, 2002 (paper). ISBN 0-552-77080-9
Collections
- The Plenty Principle. London: HarperCollins Voyager, 1997 (paper). ISBN 0-00-649906-6
Non-fiction
- The Entropy Exhibition: Michael Moorcock and the British 'New Wave' in Science Fiction. London: Routledge & Keegan, 1983. ISBN 0-7100-9310-1
- Storm Warnings: Science Fiction Confronts the Future, with Eric S. Rabkin and George E. Slusser. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 1987. ISBN 0-8093-1376-6
- Michael Moorcock: Death is No Obstacle. Manchester: Savoy Books, 1992. ISBN 0-86130-087-4
As editor
- Interzone: The First Anthology, with John CluteJohn CluteJohn Frederick Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who has lived in Britain since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part of science fiction's history."...
and David PringleDavid PringleDavid Pringle is a Scottish science fiction editor.Pringle served as the editor of Foundation, an academic journal, from 1980 through 1986, during which time he became one of the prime movers of the collective which founded Interzone in 1982...
. London: Everyman Fiction, 1985. ISBN 978-0-460-02294-1
External links
- Colin Greenland – an infinity plus profile – accessed 12 September 2005
- SF Hub: Colin Greenland archive – accessed 12 September 2005
- Colin Greenland Bibliography – accessed 12 September 2005
- P-CON III: Guest Profile: Colin Greenland – accessed 12 September 2005