James Blaylock
Encyclopedia
James Paul Blaylock is an American
fantasy author.
He is noted for a distinctive, humorous style, as well as being one of the pioneers of the steampunk
genre of science fiction.
He was born in Long Beach, California
; studied English at California State University, Fullerton
, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California
, teaching creative writing at Chapman University
. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California
, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism
.
He and his friends Tim Powers
and K. W. Jeter
were mentored by Philip K. Dick
. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless
. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including "The Better Boy", "On Pirates", and "The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook".
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts
, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
for best Short Fiction. "Paper Dragons" won the award in 1986.
.
novels set in Victorian England.
elements, such as the Holy Grail
and the silver coins paid to Judas
, without being overtly or self-consciously "religious."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fantasy author.
He is noted for a distinctive, humorous style, as well as being one of the pioneers of the steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
genre of science fiction.
He was born in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
; studied English at California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
, teaching creative writing at Chapman University
Chapman University
Chapman University is a private, non-profit university located in Orange, California affiliated with the Christian Church . Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media...
. Many of his books are set in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, and can more specifically be termed "fabulism" — that is, fantastic things happen in our present-day world, rather than in traditional fantasy, where the setting is often some other world. His works have also been categorized as magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
.
He and his friends Tim Powers
Tim Powers
Timothy Thomas "Tim" Powers is an American science fiction and fantasy author. Powers has won the World Fantasy Award twice for his critically acclaimed novels Last Call and Declare...
and K. W. Jeter
K. W. Jeter
Kevin Wayne Jeter is an American science fiction and horror author known for his literary writing style, dark themes, and paranoid, unsympathetic characters...
were mentored by Philip K. Dick
Philip K. Dick
Philip Kindred Dick was an American novelist, short story writer and essayist whose published work is almost entirely in the science fiction genre. Dick explored sociological, political and metaphysical themes in novels dominated by monopolistic corporations, authoritarian governments and altered...
. Along with Powers he invented the poet William Ashbless
William Ashbless
William Ashbless is a fictional poet, invented by fantasy writers James Blaylock and Tim Powers.Ashbless was invented by Powers and Blaylock when they were students at Cal State Fullerton in the early 1970s, originally as a reaction to the low quality of the poetry being published in the school...
. Blaylock and Powers have often collaborated with each other on writing stories, including "The Better Boy", "On Pirates", and "The William Ashbless Memorial Cookbook".
Blaylock is also currently director of the Creative Writing Conservatory at the Orange County High School of the Arts
Orange County High School of the Arts
Orange County High School of the Arts , colloquially called "OH-sha", is a 7th–12th grade public charter school located in downtown Santa Ana, Orange County, California. The school caters to middle and high school students with talents in the performing, visual and literary arts...
, where Powers is Writer in Residence.
Awards
Blaylock's short story Thirteen Phantasms won the 1997 World Fantasy AwardWorld Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
for best Short Fiction. "Paper Dragons" won the award in 1986.
The "Balumnia" Trilogy
Whimsical fantasy inspired, according to the author, by Wind in the Willows and The HobbitThe Hobbit
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, better known by its abbreviated title The Hobbit, is a fantasy novel and children's book by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was published on 21 September 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald...
.
- The Elfin ShipThe Elfin ShipThe Elfin Ship was James Blaylock’s first published book. It is the first of three fantasies by Blaylock about a world peopled by elves, dwarves, goblins, and normal people, as well as a smattering of wizards, witches, and other fanciful beings. The world has magic well as pseudo-science...
(1982) - The Disappearing DwarfThe Disappearing DwarfThe Disappearing Dwarf is James Blaylock’s second published book, and the second of the trilogy that started with The Elfin Ship. The characters are mostly drawn from the first book, while the plot revolves around another encounter with the villain Selznak...
(1983) - The Stone GiantThe Stone Giant (Novel)The Stone Giant is James Blaylock’s prequel to his first published book, The Elfin Ship, and thus the end of a loose trilogy of comic fantasy novels including The Disappearing Dwarf....
(1989) - The Man in the MoonThe Man in the Moon (book)The Man in the Moon was James Blaylock’s first completed novel, however it remained unpublished for decades...
(2002) The original manuscript, initially rejected, from which The Elfin Ship was reworked, with commentary and an additional short story.
The "Narbondo" Series
Sharing the character of villain Ignacio Narbondo; the first is contemporary fantasy set in 1960s California, while the remainder are SteampunkSteampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
novels set in Victorian England.
- The Digging LeviathanThe Digging LeviathanThe Digging Leviathan is a science fiction novel written by James Blaylock. It was first published in 1984 by Ace Books. The source was Blaylock's first novel The Chinese Circus, which was never finished.-Plot summary:...
(1984) - Homunculus (1986)
- Lord Kelvin's MachineLord Kelvin's MachineLord Kelvin's Machine is a science fiction novel by author James P. Blaylock. It was released in 1992 by Arkham House in an edition of 4,015 copies. It was the author's first book published by Arkham House. The novel is the third in Blaylock's Steampunk series, following The Digging Leviathan ...
(1992) - The Adventures of Langdon St. Ives (2008), Omnibus of Homunculus, Lord Kelvin's Machine, and four related short stories.
- The Ebb Tide (2009) Novella ISBN 978-1596062283
- The Affair of the Chalk Cliffs (2011) Novella
The "Christian" Trilogy
Present-day fantasy using ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
elements, such as the Holy Grail
Holy Grail
The Holy Grail is a sacred object figuring in literature and certain Christian traditions, most often identified with the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper and said to possess miraculous powers...
and the silver coins paid to Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
, without being overtly or self-consciously "religious."
- The Last Coin (1988)
- The Paper Grail (1991)
- All The Bells On Earth (1995)
The "Ghosts" Trilogy
Present-day Californian ghost stories.- Night Relics (1994)
- Winter Tides (1997)
- The Rainy Season (1999)
Others
- The Complete Twelve Hours of the Night (1986) Joke pamphlet cowritten by Tim Powers and published by Cheap StreetCheap StreetCheap Street Press was a small publishing company started up and operated by the husband-wife duo, George and Jan O'Nale, in their rural home near New Castle, Virginia. Cheap Street concentrated on publishing limited edition books, signed and numbered, of science fiction and fantasy works...
Press - Land of Dreams (1987)
- The Magic Spectacles (1991) Young adult book
- 13 Phantasms (2000) Short story collection
- On Pirates (2001) Short story collection with Tim Powers
- The Devils in the Details (2003) Short story collection with Tim Powers
- In For A Penny (2003) Short story collection
- The Knights of the Cornerstone (2008) ISBN 978-0441016532
- The Shadow on the Doorstep (2009) Short story collection