Jonathan Carroll
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Samuel Carroll is an American
author
primarily known for novel
s, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy. He also writes short stories
.
to Sidney Carroll
, a film writer whose credits included The Hustler
, and June Carroll
(née Sillman), an actress and lyricist who appeared in numerous Broadway shows and two films. He is the half brother of composer Steve Reich
and nephew of Broadway producer Leonard Sillman
. His parents were Jewish but Carroll was raised in the Christian Science
religion. A self-described "troubled teenager," he finished primary education at the Loomis School in Connecticut and graduated with honors from Rutgers University in 1971, marrying artist Beverly Schreiner in the same year. He relocated to Vienna
, Austria
a few years later and began teaching literature at the American International School
, and has made his home in Austria ever since.
His first novel, The Land of Laughs
(1980), is indicative of his general style and subject matter. Told through realistic first person narration, the novel concerns a young schoolteacher searching for meaning through researching the life of a favorite children's book author of his youth, which involves meeting the author's daughter. Everything seems fine until the dog begins talking to him, as the line between the fantasy world created by his research subject and the reality of the schoolteacher's life, while the reader begins to wonder just how much trust can be placed in this narrator. Subsequent novels would expand on these themes, but often contain unreliable narrators in a world where magic is viewed as natural. (One commentator claimed in The Times
that "if he were a Latin American writer with a three-part name, his books would be described as magical-realist".)
. His novel, Outside the Dog Museum won the British Fantasy Award
and his collection of short stories won the Bram Stoker Award
. The short story "Uh-Oh City" won the French Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire
. His short story "Home on the Rain" was chosen as one of the best stories of the year by the Pushcart Prize
committee. Apart from the above honors, Carroll has gotten on the short-list for other World Fantasy Awards, the Hugo
and British Fantasy Awards.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
primarily known for novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s, which can be characterized as magic realist, slipstream or modern fantasy. He also writes 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...
.
Life and work
Carroll was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Sidney Carroll
Sidney Carroll
Sidney Carroll was a film and television screenwriter. Although Carroll wrote most frequently for television, he is perhaps best remembered today for writing the screenplay for The Hustler for which he was nominated for an Academy Award...
, a film writer whose credits included The Hustler
The Hustler (film)
The Hustler is a 1961 American drama film directed by Robert Rossen from the 1959 novel of the same name he and Sidney Carroll adapted for the screen...
, and June Carroll
June Carroll
June Carroll was an American lyricist, singer and actress.Born June Sillman in Detroit, Michigan, Carroll appeared in the Broadway musical New Faces of 1952, singing the Murray Grand standard, Guess Who I Saw Today, as well as two songs that she also wrote: Penny Candy and Love is a Simple...
(née Sillman), an actress and lyricist who appeared in numerous Broadway shows and two films. He is the half brother of composer Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
and nephew of Broadway producer Leonard Sillman
Leonard Sillman
Leonard Sillman was an American Broadway producer. Born in Detroit, Michigan on May 9, 1908, he was the brother of June Carroll, the brother-in-law of Sidney Carroll and the uncle of Steve Reich and Jonathan Carroll...
. His parents were Jewish but Carroll was raised in the Christian Science
Christian Science
Christian Science is a system of thought and practice derived from the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the Bible. It is practiced by members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist as well as some others who are nonmembers. Its central texts are the Bible and the Christian Science textbook,...
religion. A self-described "troubled teenager," he finished primary education at the Loomis School in Connecticut and graduated with honors from Rutgers University in 1971, marrying artist Beverly Schreiner in the same year. He relocated to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
a few years later and began teaching literature at the American International School
American International School of Vienna
The American International School Vienna is a non-profit school international school made up structurally of the parents of each student at the school, and located in Vienna, Austria. The school operates, in part, under the sponsorship of the United States Ambassador to Austria and awards the...
, and has made his home in Austria ever since.
His first novel, The Land of Laughs
The Land of Laughs
The Land of Laughs is fantasy novel by Jonathan Carroll. It was first published by Viking Press in 1980 and is the author's first novel. The novel was notably reprinted by Orion Books in 2000 as volume 9 of their Fantasy Masterworks series.-Plot summary:...
(1980), is indicative of his general style and subject matter. Told through realistic first person narration, the novel concerns a young schoolteacher searching for meaning through researching the life of a favorite children's book author of his youth, which involves meeting the author's daughter. Everything seems fine until the dog begins talking to him, as the line between the fantasy world created by his research subject and the reality of the schoolteacher's life, while the reader begins to wonder just how much trust can be placed in this narrator. Subsequent novels would expand on these themes, but often contain unreliable narrators in a world where magic is viewed as natural. (One commentator claimed in The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
that "if he were a Latin American writer with a three-part name, his books would be described as magical-realist".)
Awards
Carroll's short story, "Friend's Best Man", won the 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...
. His novel, Outside the Dog Museum won the British Fantasy Award
British Fantasy Award
The British Fantasy Awards are administered annually by the British Fantasy Society and were first awarded in 1971. The membership of the BFS vote to determine recommendations, short-lists and winners of the awards...
and his collection of short stories won the Bram Stoker Award
Bram Stoker Award
The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing. The awards have been presented annually since 1987, and the winners are selected by ballot of the Active members of the HWA...
. The short story "Uh-Oh City" won the French Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire
Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire is a French award for speculative fiction. It originally had the word "science fiction" in the name, but this has since been dropped.-French novel:* 1974 : Michel Jeury, Le Temps incertain...
. His short story "Home on the Rain" was chosen as one of the best stories of the year by the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
committee. Apart from the above honors, Carroll has gotten on the short-list for other World Fantasy Awards, the Hugo
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
and British Fantasy Awards.
Novels
- The Land of LaughsThe Land of LaughsThe Land of Laughs is fantasy novel by Jonathan Carroll. It was first published by Viking Press in 1980 and is the author's first novel. The novel was notably reprinted by Orion Books in 2000 as volume 9 of their Fantasy Masterworks series.-Plot summary:...
(1980) - Voice of Our Shadow (1983)
- The Answered Prayers Sextet
- Bones of the MoonBones of the MoonBones of the Moon is a novel by Jonathan Carroll, depicting the real and dream life of a young woman, Cullen James. Like many of Carroll's works, this work straddles the horror and fantasy genres.-Plot introduction:...
(1987) (slightly revised US edition, 1988) - Sleeping in FlameSleeping in FlameSleeping in Flame is a novel by the American writer Jonathan Carroll. Originally published in 1988, the novel was nominated for a World Fantasy Award the following year.-Explanation of the novel's title:...
(1988) -- World Fantasy Award nominee, 1989 - A Child Across the Sky (1989, Washington Post Book of the Year) -- BSFA nominee, 1989; WFA and Clarke nominee, 1990
- Outside the Dog Museum (1991) -- British Fantasy Award winner, WFA nominee, 1992
- After Silence (1992)
- From the Teeth of Angels (1993), -- New York Times Book Review Notable Book; WFA nominee, 1995
- Bones of the Moon
- The Crane's View TrilogyThe Crane's View TrilogyCrane's View was a trilogy of novels written by American author Jonathan Carroll from 1997 to 2001. The books received reviews that ranged from average to good...
- Kissing the BeehiveKissing the BeehiveKissing the Beehive is a fantasy novel by Jonathan Carroll, published by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday in late December 1997. When the novel was published in Great Britain the following year, Carroll added a three-page epilogue at the request of its publisher, Victor Gollancz. It is the first novel of...
(1997) -- British Fantasy Award nominee, 1999 - The Marriage of Sticks (2000) -- British Fantasy Award nominee, 2000
- The Wooden Sea (2001, New York Times Book Review Notable Book) - Locus and World Fantasy Awards nominee, 2002
- Kissing the Beehive
- White Apples (2002) -- Locus and World Fantasy Awards nominee, 2003
- Glass Soup (2005)
- Oko Dnia (Eye Of The Day) (2006, Polish languagePolish languagePolish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
edition) - The Ghost in Love (2008)
Novellas and short novels
- "Black CocktailBlack CocktailBlack Cocktail is a fantasy novella by American author Jonathan Carroll.-Plot introduction:The novel follows the activities of Ingram York, a disc-jockey in Los Angeles. The book deals with the Platonian concept that everyone was originally joined to another human being and spends their lives...
" (1990) - The Heidelberg Cylinder (2000) [1000 copy limited edition, signed by Jonathan Carroll and cover artist Dave McKeanDave McKeanDavid McKean is an English illustrator, photographer, comic book artist, graphic designer, filmmaker and musician....
. A few remaining copies left over from the print run were sold without signatures.]
Short story collections
- Die Panische Hand (1989) (German language edition)
- The Panic Hand (1995) [expansion of the 1989 German language edition; the 1996 US edition adds the novella Black Cocktail]
Interviews
- Interview with Jonathan Carroll on wotmania.com
- A conversation with Jonathan Carroll on SF Site
- The Complete Rain Taxi Interview with Jonathan Carroll
- Jonathan Carroll interview on the Critique Magazine website
- One on One interview with Jonathan Carroll by Barnes and Noble Studio
External links
- Official Jonathan Carroll Website and daily blog
- Glass Soup - the official website for his novel, art design by Ryder Carroll--- www.rydercarroll.com
- Jonathan Carroll at Bold Type Author essay titled "New Year's Resolutions"; Book excerpt from "Kissing the Beehive."