Richard Calder (writer)
Encyclopedia
Richard Calder is a notable British
science fiction
writer who lives and works in the East End of London
, but who spent over a decade in Thailand
(1990–1997) and the Philippines
(1999–2002).
He began publishing stories in 1989, and first came to wider notice with the postcyberpunk novel Dead Girls (1992). Dead Girls expanded into an acclaimed trilogy of books, for which he was compared to William Gibson
, J.G. Ballard and Alfred Bester. The Edge said: "Richard Calder's 'Dead' trilogy was perhaps the most extraordinary of the many postcyberpunk science fictions." In 2004 Dead Girls was reportedly under option to a film production company.
Since 1992, he has produced a further nine novels, and about twenty short stories. A notable theme running through his work (most notably the 'Dead' trilogy) is agalmatophiliac male lust for young female gynoid
s, as well as the darker undercurrents of British national culture. His novels and stories have links and plot overlaps between one another, and together form a mythos. His "epic masterpiece" ("Reading Richard Calder", Claude Lalumière
) is said to be Malignos (2000).
He cites as inspirations Angela Carter
and Georges Bataille
, among others. His Dead trilogy is analysed in the third section of the book Alien Constructions: Science Fiction and Feminist Thought by Patricia Melzer (University of Texas Press, 2006). His work is also discussed in the books Consuming Youth: Vampires, Cyborgs and the Culture of Consumption, and The Body's Perilous Pleasures: Dangerous Desires and Contemporary Culture.
He is currently adapting his novel Dead Girls into a graphic novel, which is being illustrated by Filipino artist Leonardo M Giron. The graphic novel is serialised in the quarterly magazine Murky Depths
. Act 1 - The Last of England featured in Murky Depths #9 to #12 and has since been published in full colour as a limited edition (signed and numbered 1 to 100) hardback. Act 2 - The Big Weird is currently running in Murky Depths and started with #16.
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 who lives and works in the East End of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, but who spent over a decade in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(1990–1997) and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(1999–2002).
He began publishing stories in 1989, and first came to wider notice with the postcyberpunk novel Dead Girls (1992). Dead Girls expanded into an acclaimed trilogy of books, for which he was compared to William Gibson
William Gibson
William Gibson is an American-Canadian science fiction author.William Gibson may also refer to:-Association football:*Will Gibson , Scottish footballer...
, J.G. Ballard and Alfred Bester. The Edge said: "Richard Calder's 'Dead' trilogy was perhaps the most extraordinary of the many postcyberpunk science fictions." In 2004 Dead Girls was reportedly under option to a film production company.
Since 1992, he has produced a further nine novels, and about twenty short stories. A notable theme running through his work (most notably the 'Dead' trilogy) is agalmatophiliac male lust for young female gynoid
Gynoid
A gynoid is anything which resembles or pertains to the female human form. It is also used in American English medical terminology as a shortening of the term Gynecoid ....
s, as well as the darker undercurrents of British national culture. His novels and stories have links and plot overlaps between one another, and together form a mythos. His "epic masterpiece" ("Reading Richard Calder", Claude Lalumière
Claude Lalumière
Claude Lalumière is an author, book reviewer and has edited numerous anthologies. A resident of Montreal, he writes the Montreal Gazette's Fantastic Fiction column. He also owned and operated two independent book stores in Montreal. He and Rupert Bottenberg are co-creators of...
) is said to be Malignos (2000).
He cites as inspirations Angela Carter
Angela Carter
Angela Carter was an English novelist and journalist, known for her feminist, magical realism, and picaresque works...
and Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille
Georges Bataille was a French writer. His multifaceted work is linked to the domains of literature, anthropology, philosophy, economy, sociology and history of art...
, among others. His Dead trilogy is analysed in the third section of the book Alien Constructions: Science Fiction and Feminist Thought by Patricia Melzer (University of Texas Press, 2006). His work is also discussed in the books Consuming Youth: Vampires, Cyborgs and the Culture of Consumption, and The Body's Perilous Pleasures: Dangerous Desires and Contemporary Culture.
He is currently adapting his novel Dead Girls into a graphic novel, which is being illustrated by Filipino artist Leonardo M Giron. The graphic novel is serialised in the quarterly magazine Murky Depths
Murky Depths
Murky Depths bylined as "The Quarterly Anthology of Graphically Dark Speculative Fiction" is a British horror and science fiction magazine which began publishing in 2007. The magazine editor-in-chief is Terry Martin and the editor is Anne Stringer. The magazine is published four times a year. It...
. Act 1 - The Last of England featured in Murky Depths #9 to #12 and has since been published in full colour as a limited edition (signed and numbered 1 to 100) hardback. Act 2 - The Big Weird is currently running in Murky Depths and started with #16.