Graham Joyce
Encyclopedia
Graham Joyce is an English writer of speculative fiction
and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories. He grew up in a small mining village just outside of Coventry to a working class family. After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester
in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete
to write his first novel, Dreamside
. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Presently, Graham Joyce resides in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Ella and Joseph. He teaches Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University
.
, science fiction
, horror
, and mainstream literature—with some even overlapping genres. Joyce utilizes a wide variety of settings and character perspectives. Settings include Scotland, The English Midlands, Greece, the Middle East, and the jungles of Thailand. He has penned for both adult and juvenile protagonists, with an emphasis on strong female characters. The greater unity in Joyce's works, however, lies in their thematic and philosophical topics. Bill Sheehan, who wrote the introduction for Partial Eclipse, states:
The mystical or supernatural often play a pivotal role in Joyce's works. For this, he taps the mythical or folkloric associations of his settings. Joyce's treatment of these experiences is what distinguishes his novels from genre fiction. The supernatural is not seen as a conflict or an obstacle to be overcome, but rather an integral part of a natural order that a character must accept and integrate. Running parallel to these phenomena is the possibility of a rational or psychological explanation. This literary approach is influenced in part by Joyce's experiences with his own family:
This particular quality has prompted some critics to classify Joyce as a magic realist in the vein of such Latin writers as Gabriel García Márquez
or Julio Cortázar
. Joyce disagrees with this, feeling that his lineage is tied more closely to writers of the English “weird tale” such as Arthur Machen
or Algernon Blackwood
. He calls his style of writing “Old Peculiar.”
, The Tooth Fairy, and Dark Sister have all been optioned. "Dreamside", "Do the Creepy Thing" (Joyce scripting) and "The Silent Land " (UK publishing date November 17, 2010) are in development.
.
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories. He grew up in a small mining village just outside of Coventry to a working class family. After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
to write his first novel, Dreamside
Dreamside (novel)
Dreamside is a fantasy novel by Graham Joyce first published in the United Kingdom by Pan Books in 1991. It was later reprinted in the United States by Tor Books in 2000. The novel's primary theme is the power of the subconscious and the futility of attempting to escape the past.-Plot...
. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Presently, Graham Joyce resides in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Ella and Joseph. He teaches Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University
Nottingham Trent University is a public teaching and research university in Nottingham, United Kingdom. It was founded as a new university in 1992 from the existing Trent Polytechnic , however it can trace its roots back to 1843 with the establishment of the Nottingham Government School of Design...
.
Style and themes
Both publishers and critics alike have found difficulty in classifying Joyce as a writer. His novels have been categorized as fantasyFantasy
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...
, horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, and mainstream literature—with some even overlapping genres. Joyce utilizes a wide variety of settings and character perspectives. Settings include Scotland, The English Midlands, Greece, the Middle East, and the jungles of Thailand. He has penned for both adult and juvenile protagonists, with an emphasis on strong female characters. The greater unity in Joyce's works, however, lies in their thematic and philosophical topics. Bill Sheehan, who wrote the introduction for Partial Eclipse, states:
The mystical or supernatural often play a pivotal role in Joyce's works. For this, he taps the mythical or folkloric associations of his settings. Joyce's treatment of these experiences is what distinguishes his novels from genre fiction. The supernatural is not seen as a conflict or an obstacle to be overcome, but rather an integral part of a natural order that a character must accept and integrate. Running parallel to these phenomena is the possibility of a rational or psychological explanation. This literary approach is influenced in part by Joyce's experiences with his own family:
This particular quality has prompted some critics to classify Joyce as a magic realist in the vein of such Latin writers as Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel García Márquez
Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez is a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. He is considered one of the most significant authors of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in...
or Julio Cortázar
Julio Cortázar
Julio Cortázar, born Jules Florencio Cortázar, was an Argentine writer. Cortázar, known as one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, influenced an entire generation of Spanish speaking readers and writers in the Americas and Europe.-Early life:Cortázar's parents, Julio José Cortázar and...
. Joyce disagrees with this, feeling that his lineage is tied more closely to writers of the English “weird tale” such as Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
or Algernon Blackwood
Algernon Blackwood
Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE was an English short story writer and novelist, one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the history of the genre. He was also a journalist and a broadcasting narrator. S. T...
. He calls his style of writing “Old Peculiar.”
Film
Currently, there are no films based on Joyce's novels or shorts. However, the film rights to DreamsideDreamside (novel)
Dreamside is a fantasy novel by Graham Joyce first published in the United Kingdom by Pan Books in 1991. It was later reprinted in the United States by Tor Books in 2000. The novel's primary theme is the power of the subconscious and the futility of attempting to escape the past.-Plot...
, The Tooth Fairy, and Dark Sister have all been optioned. "Dreamside", "Do the Creepy Thing" (Joyce scripting) and "The Silent Land " (UK publishing date November 17, 2010) are in development.
Games
On January 16, 2009 the site Computer and Video Games reported that Graham Joyce had been hired by ID Software to "help develop the storyline potential" of Doom 4Doom 4
Doom 4 is the upcoming multi-platform installment of the Doom series by id Software. The game will use the company's new id Tech 5 engine and is slated for simultaneous release on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
.
Novels and short story collections
| Name | Published | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreamside Dreamside (novel) Dreamside is a fantasy novel by Graham Joyce first published in the United Kingdom by Pan Books in 1991. It was later reprinted in the United States by Tor Books in 2000. The novel's primary theme is the power of the subconscious and the futility of attempting to escape the past.-Plot... |
1991 | ISBN 978-0-312-87546-6 | |
| Dark Sister | 1992 | ISBN 978-0-312-87254-0 | British Fantasy Award winner, 1993 |
| House of Lost Dreams | 1993 | ISBN 978-0-7472-4248-2 | |
| Requiem Requiem (novel) Requiem is a novel by the American writer A. E. Fisher set during the Great Depression in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.It tells the story of a week in the life of a family of six struggling to survive.... |
1995 | ISBN 978-0-312-86452-1 | British Fantasy Award winner, 1996; World Fantasy Award nominee, 1996 |
| The Tooth Fairy | 1996 | ISBN 978-0-312-86833-8 | British Fantasy Award winner, 1997 |
| The Stormwatcher | 1997 | ISBN 978-1-892389-36-7 | British Fantasy Award nominee, 1999 |
| The Web: Spiderbite | 1997 | ISBN 978-1858815275 | young adult |
| Indigo | 1999 | ISBN 978-0-671-03937-0 | British Fantasy Award winner, 2000 |
| Smoking Poppy | 2001 | ISBN 978-0-671-03939-4 | British Fantasy Award nominee, 2002 |
| The Facts of Life | 2002 | ISBN 978-0-7434-6342-3 | World Fantasy Award winner, 2003; British Fantasy Award nominee, 2003 |
| Partial Eclipse and Other Stories | 2003 | ISBN 978-1-931081-62-7 | collection |
| The Limits of Enchantment | 2005 | ISBN 978-0-7434-6344-7 | World Fantasy Award nominee, 2006 |
| TWOC | 2005 | ISBN 978-0-571-22513-2 | young adult Angus Award "winner" |
| Do the Creepy Thing | 2006 | ISBN 978-0-571-23035-8 | young adult; released in the US as The Exchange (2008) ISBN 978-0-670-06207-2 |
| Three Ways to Snog an Alien | 2008 | ISBN 978-0-571-23951-1 | young adult |
| Memoirs of a Master Forger | 2008 | >as William Heaney; | |
| The Devil's Ladder | 2009 | ISBN 978-0-571-24247-4 | young adult |
| The Silent Land | 2011 | ISBN 978-0-385-53380-5 | World Fantasy Award nominee, 2011; British Fantasy Award nominee, 2011 |
Short stories
- Monastic Lives (1992)
- The Careperson (1992)
- Last Rising Sun (1992)
- The Ventriloquial Art (1993)
- The Apprentice (1993)
- Under the Pylon (1993)
- Gap-Sickness (1993)
- Eat Reecebread (1994) with Peter F. Hamilton
- The Reckoning (1994)
- Black Ball Game (1995)
- A Tip from Bobby Moore (1996)
- The White Stuff (1997) with Peter F. Hamilton
- Pinkland (1997)
- The Mountain Eats People (1998)
- As Seen on Radio (1998)
- Leningrad Nights (1999)
- Candia (1999)
- Incident in Mombassa (1999)
- Horrograph (1999)
- Partial Eclipse (2000)
- Xenos Beach (2000)
- Coventry Boy (2001)
- Leningrad Nights (2002)
- The Coventry Boy (2002)
- First, Catch Your Demon (2002)
- Black Dust (2002)
- An Ordinary Soldier of the Queen (2009)
Articles
- Working Class Monster (June 2000)
- Greek Virtues
- The Great God Pan
- Two weeks, three couples and six kids equals hell