Robert Holdstock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Holdstock
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Holdstock in Épinal, 2004
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| Born | 2 August 1948 Hythe, Kent, England |
| Died | 29 November 2009 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Novelist |
| Period | 1968–2009 |
| Genre | Fantasy, Science fiction, Horror |
| Notable works | Mythago Wood |
Robert Paul Holdstock (born August 2, 1948 – died November 29, 2009) was an English author. He was best known for his fantasy novels. His stories often explored themes from Celtic, Nordic, Gothic, and Pictish myths. This type of writing is called mythic fiction.
Holdstock started publishing his work in 1968. His science fiction and fantasy books looked at ideas about life, the mind, and woodlands. He won several important awards for his writing. These included three BSFA awards and the World Fantasy Award in 1985.
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Robert Holdstock's Early Life
Robert Holdstock was born in Hythe, Kent, England. He was the oldest of five children. His father was a police officer, and his mother was a nurse. When he was seven, he started attending Gillingham Grammar School.
As a young adult, Robert had many different jobs. He worked on a banana boat, as a construction worker, and even as a slate miner. He later went to University College of North Wales. There, he earned a degree in Zoology (the study of animals). He continued his studies in London, focusing on Medical Zoology. In 1976, he became a full-time writer. He lived in North London for the rest of his life.
Robert Holdstock's Writing Career
Robert Holdstock's first story was "Pauper's Plot." It appeared in a magazine called New Worlds in 1968. His first novel, a science fiction book, was Eye Among the Blind, published in 1976.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Holdstock wrote many fantasy and science fiction novels. He also wrote short stories. Many of these were published using different names, called pseudonyms. Some of his pseudonyms were Robert Faulcon, Chris Carlsen, and Richard Kirk. He even wrote books based on TV shows, like The Professionals. He also wrote a book called Space Wars, Worlds and Weapons. This book explored ideas in science fiction and included amazing artwork.
In 1980, Holdstock wrote Tour of the Universe with Malcolm Edwards. This book later inspired a space shuttle simulation ride. The ride was at the CN Tower and was also called the Tour of the Universe.
Holdstock wrote The Dark Wheel in 1984. This was a short novel that came with the video game Elite. It was one of the first times a book was included with a video game. He also wrote a book based on the film The Emerald Forest.
His most famous novel, Mythago Wood, came out in 1984. This book started the Ryhope Wood series. The series continued with other books, ending with Avilion in 2009.
Between 2001 and 2007, Holdstock wrote a series of three fantasy novels. This series was called the Merlin Codex. It included the books Celtika, The Iron Grail, and The Broken Kings.
Holdstock also wrote or helped with several non-fiction books. These included Alien Landscapes and Horror: 100 Best Novels.
Robert Holdstock's Book Covers
Many different illustrators created the covers for Robert Holdstock's books. The first covers for Mythago Wood were done by Eddi Gornall and Christopher Zacharow. Geoff Taylor illustrated the first UK covers for the Ryhope Wood sequels. Other artists who worked on his book covers included Jim Burns, John Howe, and Alan Lee. John Howe once said that Holdstock was "one of the best Celtic fantasy authors alive today."
Robert Holdstock's Awards
Robert Holdstock won many awards for his writing:
- The short novel Mythago Wood won the BSFA Award for Best Short Story in 1981. It also won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 1982.
- The novel Mythago Wood won the BSFA Award for Best Novel in 1984. It also won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1985.
- Lavondyss won the BSFA Award for Best Novel in 1988.
- The Bone Forest was nominated for the World Fantasy Award in 1992.
- The Ragthorn, which he wrote with Garry Kilworth, won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 1992.
- The Fetch won the HOMer Award for horror novel in 1992.
- The Iron Grail won the Czech Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Award in 2002.
- La Forêt des Mythagos (the Mythago Wood collection) won the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire in 2003.
- His short story "Scarrowfell" won the Imaginales award in 2004.
- Celtika won the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire in 2004.
