Stephen R. Lawhead
Encyclopedia
Stephen R. Lawhead, born July 02, 1950 (age 61), is a best-selling American
writer
known for his works of fantasy
, science fiction
, and more recently, historical fiction
, particularly Celtic historical fiction. He has written over 24 novels and numerous children's and non-fiction books.
. In 1968, Lawhead graduated from Kearney High and entered Kearney State College as an Art major. In 1969, while at Kearney State College, he wrote a weekly humour column for the college newspaper and was a frequent contributor of poetry
and short stories
to The Shore Anthology and The Antler. He paid his way through college largely through playing lead guitar in a college rock band named Mother Rush. Lawhead met Alice Slaikeu in 1971 and married her in 1972. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1973 with B.A.
in Art and then went on to enroll in Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
. During this time Lawhead also enrolled in a number of writing courses at nearby Wheaton College
. In 1980, Lawhead became the manager of the successful Christian rock act Degarmo and Key
and formed his own record company, Ariel Records. The demise of Ariel Records in 1981 prompted the beginning of Lawhead's fiction-writing career.
In 1981, Lawhead began to author novels, initially fantasy and science fiction, completing his first trilogy, the "Dragon King trilogy". In 1986, he moved to Oxford
, England
to do research for The Pendragon Cycle
, a reinterpretation of the legend of King Arthur
in a Celt
ic setting combined with elements of Atlantis
. Heavily rooted in the original Celtic source material which gave rise to the later and more familiar versions of the Arthurian legend, the series has received critical acclaim for its creative retelling of the Arthur legend and historical credibility.
The first book in the series, Taliesin, won the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
's Gold Medallion Award for Fiction in 1988. Lawhead's research for The Pendragon Cycle sparked an interest in Celtic history and culture, especially Celtic Christianity
, topics which have featured prominently in his work ever since.
"The Song of Albion
" trilogy prompted a return to England (Lawhead having left in 1987). This was a series of books set between the Celtic Otherworld
and present-day Britain. In the 1990s, he published Byzantium
, a work of pure historical fiction
, followed by "The Celtic Crusades" trilogy, set at the time of the Crusades
, and then Avalon: The Return of King Arthur, a stand-alone related to the Pendragon Cycle
.
In 2003, Lawhead published the novel Patrick: Son of Ireland, a fictionalized account of the early years of Saint Patrick
. In 2006, he published Hood, the first book in the King Raven Trilogy
- a retelling of the Robin Hood
legend, transferred to Wales, which introduced Lawhead's work to an even larger audience. In 2008, the second book in the trilogy, Scarlet, won a Christy Award
in the category of Visionary Fiction.
His latest project his the Bright Empires series which started with The Skin Map in 2010 and which will consist of five books. The second installment, The Bone House was released September 6, 2011. Lawhead has stated in interviews that Bright Empires has been over 15 years in the making.
Lawhead's family also seem to have a talent for writing. Alice Slaikeu Lawhead co-wrote the Pilgrims Guide to the New Age and has written several works of non-fiction. His eldest son Ross Lawhead released his first book in his 'Ancient Earth' trilogy, called 'The Realms Thereunder'. He was also co-author of the Hero! series. Stephen and Alice have one other son Drake Lawhead, to whom Stephen dedicated The Warlords of Nin, the second book in the Dragon King Trilogy.
In 2003, Stephen received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska in Kearney.
Dragon King trilogy:
Empyrion Saga:
The Pendragon Cycle
:
The Song of Albion
:
The Celtic Crusades:
King Raven Trilogy
Hero (With Ross Lawhead):
Bright Empires:
He has also written several stand-alone novels:
The Howard Books
The Riverbank Series
," which describes the impact Tolkien's writings had on him, is featured in the following titles:
Lawhead has contributed to one fictional compilation, writing a chapter in the serial mystery novel Carnage at Christhaven (1989 - ed. William Griffin).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
known for his works of fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, 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...
, and more recently, historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
, particularly Celtic historical fiction. He has written over 24 novels and numerous children's and non-fiction books.
Biography
He was born to Robert Eugene Lawhead and Lois Rowena Bissell Lawhead at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, NebraskaKearney, Nebraska
Kearney is a city in and the county seat of Buffalo County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 30,787 at the 2010 census. It is home to the University of Nebraska-Kearney....
. In 1968, Lawhead graduated from Kearney High and entered Kearney State College as an Art major. In 1969, while at Kearney State College, he wrote a weekly humour column for the college newspaper and was a frequent contributor of poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
and short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
to The Shore Anthology and The Antler. He paid his way through college largely through playing lead guitar in a college rock band named Mother Rush. Lawhead met Alice Slaikeu in 1971 and married her in 1972. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1973 with B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Art and then went on to enroll in Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary is a seminary located in Lombard, Illinois, USA, near Chicago. It was founded in 1913 by the Second Baptist Church of Chicago to prepare students for church leadership, and it continues to represent a theologically conservative alternative within its...
. During this time Lawhead also enrolled in a number of writing courses at nearby Wheaton College
Wheaton College
Wheaton College may refer to:* Wheaton College , private Christian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois* Wheaton College , private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Norton, Massachusetts...
. In 1980, Lawhead became the manager of the successful Christian rock act Degarmo and Key
DeGarmo and Key
DeGarmo & Key was a Christian Rock group that started professionally in 1978. The primary members were Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key. Eddie played keyboards and sang background vocals , while Dana played lead guitar and did the majority of the lead vocals. Other members included Tommy Cathey on bass...
and formed his own record company, Ariel Records. The demise of Ariel Records in 1981 prompted the beginning of Lawhead's fiction-writing career.
In 1981, Lawhead began to author novels, initially fantasy and science fiction, completing his first trilogy, the "Dragon King trilogy". In 1986, he moved to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to do research for The Pendragon Cycle
Pendragon Cycle
The Pendragon Cycle is a series of fantasy or semi-historical books based on the Arthurian legend, written by Stephen R. Lawhead. They are:*Taliesin *Merlin *Arthur *Pendragon *Grail...
, a reinterpretation of the legend of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
in a Celt
Celt
The Celts were a diverse group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Roman-era Europe who spoke Celtic languages.The earliest archaeological culture commonly accepted as Celtic, or rather Proto-Celtic, was the central European Hallstatt culture , named for the rich grave finds in Hallstatt, Austria....
ic setting combined with elements of Atlantis
Atlantis
Atlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. Heavily rooted in the original Celtic source material which gave rise to the later and more familiar versions of the Arthurian legend, the series has received critical acclaim for its creative retelling of the Arthur legend and historical credibility.
The first book in the series, Taliesin, won the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
The is an international non-profit trade association whose member companies are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide...
's Gold Medallion Award for Fiction in 1988. Lawhead's research for The Pendragon Cycle sparked an interest in Celtic history and culture, especially Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity
Celtic Christianity or Insular Christianity refers broadly to certain features of Christianity that were common, or held to be common, across the Celtic-speaking world during the Early Middle Ages...
, topics which have featured prominently in his work ever since.
"The Song of Albion
Song of Albion
The Song of Albion is a series of books by Stephen Lawhead, consisting of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand and The Endless Knot. The series combines Christian religious themes with Celtic mythology, and tells the tale of a pair of university students who stumble into an alternate world...
" trilogy prompted a return to England (Lawhead having left in 1987). This was a series of books set between the Celtic Otherworld
Otherworld
Otherworld, or the Celtic Otherworld, is a concept in Celtic mythology that refers to the home of the deities or spirits, or a realm of the dead.Otherworld may also refer to:In film and television:...
and present-day Britain. In the 1990s, he published Byzantium
Byzantium
Byzantium was an ancient Greek city, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas . The name Byzantium is a Latinization of the original name Byzantion...
, a work of pure historical fiction
Historical fiction
Historical fiction tells a story that is set in the past. That setting is usually real and drawn from history, and often contains actual historical persons, but the principal characters tend to be fictional...
, followed by "The Celtic Crusades" trilogy, set at the time of the Crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
, and then Avalon: The Return of King Arthur, a stand-alone related to the Pendragon Cycle
Pendragon Cycle
The Pendragon Cycle is a series of fantasy or semi-historical books based on the Arthurian legend, written by Stephen R. Lawhead. They are:*Taliesin *Merlin *Arthur *Pendragon *Grail...
.
In 2003, Lawhead published the novel Patrick: Son of Ireland, a fictionalized account of the early years of Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
. In 2006, he published Hood, the first book in the King Raven Trilogy
King Raven Trilogy
The King Raven Trilogy, by Stephen R. Lawhead, is a series of historical novels based on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead relocates Robin Hood from Sherwood Forest in Nottingham to Wales, and sets the story in the late eleventh century, shortly after the Battle of Hastings to coincide with the Norman...
- a retelling of the Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
legend, transferred to Wales, which introduced Lawhead's work to an even larger audience. In 2008, the second book in the trilogy, Scarlet, won a Christy Award
Christy Award
The Christy Awards are awarded each year to recognize novels of excellence written from a Christian worldview. Awards are given in several genres, including contemporary , historical, romance , suspense, and visionary...
in the category of Visionary Fiction.
His latest project his the Bright Empires series which started with The Skin Map in 2010 and which will consist of five books. The second installment, The Bone House was released September 6, 2011. Lawhead has stated in interviews that Bright Empires has been over 15 years in the making.
Lawhead's family also seem to have a talent for writing. Alice Slaikeu Lawhead co-wrote the Pilgrims Guide to the New Age and has written several works of non-fiction. His eldest son Ross Lawhead released his first book in his 'Ancient Earth' trilogy, called 'The Realms Thereunder'. He was also co-author of the Hero! series. Stephen and Alice have one other son Drake Lawhead, to whom Stephen dedicated The Warlords of Nin, the second book in the Dragon King Trilogy.
In 2003, Stephen received an honorary doctorate from the University of Nebraska in Kearney.
Adult fiction
Many of his books are in series following a common theme:Dragon King trilogy:
- In the Hall of the Dragon King (1982)
- The Warlords of Nin (1983)
- The Sword and the Flame (1984)
Empyrion Saga:
- Empyrion I: The Search for Fierra (1985)
- Empyrion II: The Siege of Dome (1986)
The Pendragon Cycle
Pendragon Cycle
The Pendragon Cycle is a series of fantasy or semi-historical books based on the Arthurian legend, written by Stephen R. Lawhead. They are:*Taliesin *Merlin *Arthur *Pendragon *Grail...
:
- Taliesin (1987)
- Merlin (1988)
- Arthur (1989)
- Pendragon (1994)
- Grail (1997)
The Song of Albion
Song of Albion
The Song of Albion is a series of books by Stephen Lawhead, consisting of The Paradise War, The Silver Hand and The Endless Knot. The series combines Christian religious themes with Celtic mythology, and tells the tale of a pair of university students who stumble into an alternate world...
:
- The Paradise War (1991)
- The Silver Hand (1992)
- The Endless Knot (1993)
The Celtic Crusades:
- The Iron Lance (1998)
- The Black Rood (2000)
- The Mystic Rose (2001)
King Raven Trilogy
King Raven Trilogy
The King Raven Trilogy, by Stephen R. Lawhead, is a series of historical novels based on the Robin Hood legend. Lawhead relocates Robin Hood from Sherwood Forest in Nottingham to Wales, and sets the story in the late eleventh century, shortly after the Battle of Hastings to coincide with the Norman...
- Hood (2006)
- Scarlet (2007)
- Tuck (2009)
Hero (With Ross Lawhead):
- City Of Dreams (2003)
- Rogue Nation (unpublished)
- World Without End (unpublished)
Bright Empires:
- The Skin Map (2010)
- The Bone House (2011)
- The Spirit Well (Forthcoming - 2012)
- The Shadow Lamp (Forthcoming - 2013)
- The Fatal Tree (Forthcoming - 2014)
He has also written several stand-alone novels:
- Dream Thief (1983)
- Byzantium (1996)
- Avalon: The Return of King Arthur (1999) — related to the Pendragon Cycle
- Patrick: Son of Ireland (2003)
Children's fiction
The Brown Ears Books:- Brown Ears: The adventures of a lost-and-found rabbit (1988)
- Brown Ears at Sea: More adventures of a lost-and-found rabbit (1990)
The Howard Books
- Howard Had A Spaceship (1986)
- Howard Had A Submarine (1987)
- Howard Had A Hot Air Balloon (1988)
- Howard Had A Shrinking Machine (1988)
The Riverbank Series
- The Tale of Jeremy Vole (1990)
- The Tale of Timothy Mallard (1990)
- The Tale of Annabelle Hedgehog (1990)
Non-fiction
- The Ultimate College Student Handbook (1989) (later published as The Total Guide to College Life) - With Alice Lawhead
- Rock on Trial: Pop Music and its Role in Our Lives (1989)
- Rock of This Age: The Real & Imagined Dangers of Rock Music (1987)
- Pilgrim's Guide to the New Age (1986) - With Alice Lawhead
- Judge For Yourself (1985)
- The Phoenix Factor: Surviving and Growing Through Personal Crisis (1985) (later published as Up From the Ashes) - With Karl A. Slaikeu
- Turn Back the Night: A Christian Response to Popular Culture (1985)
- Welcome to the Family: How to Find a Home With Other Believers (1982)
- Rock Reconsidered: A Christian Looks at Contemporary Music (1981)
- After You Graduate: A Guide to Life After High School (1978)
- Decisions! Decisions! Decisions! What to do When You Can't Make Up Your Mind (1978)
Books Contributed to
Lawhead has also contributed essays or chapters to several books. His essay "J.R.R. Tolkien: Master of Middle-earthMiddle-earth
Middle-earth is the fictional setting of the majority of author J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy writings. The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings take place entirely in Middle-earth, as does much of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales....
," which describes the impact Tolkien's writings had on him, is featured in the following titles:
- More Than Words: Contemporary Writers on the Works That Shaped Them (2002) (previously published as Reality and the Vision (1990) and The Classics We've Read, The Difference They've Made (1993)) - Compiled by Philip YanceyPhilip YanceyPhilip Yancey is an American Christian author. Fourteen million of his books have been sold worldwide, making him one of the best-selling evangelical Christian authors. Two of his books have won the ECPA's Christian Book of the Year Award: The Jesus I Never Knew in 1996, What's So Amazing About...
, edited by James C. Schaap - Tolkien: A Celebration (1999) - Edited by Joseph Pearce
Lawhead has contributed to one fictional compilation, writing a chapter in the serial mystery novel Carnage at Christhaven (1989 - ed. William Griffin).