Kenneth Oppel
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Oppel is a Canadian
author. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia
, he spent his childhood in Victoria
, British Columbia
and Halifax
, Nova Scotia
. He has also lived in Newfoundland and Labrador
, England
and Ireland
.
Oppel's first published book, Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985), was written while he was a high school student at St. Michaels University School
in Victoria, which he attended at the same time as actors Andrew Sabiston
and Leslie Hope
, fellow writers John Burns and Bert Archer
, and just before the NBA's Steve Nash
and Flickr
founder Stewart Butterfield
. Oppel forwarded the newly completed manuscript to a family friend, that knew Roald Dahl
, who in turn recommended it to his agent. Oppel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies
and English
at Trinity College
in the University of Toronto
, writing The Live-Forever Machine (1992) during his final year. Oppel moved to England and wrote a number of books during that period, gleaning several ideas while working at typing students' papers. Oppel worked as an editor at Quill and Quire, the trade magazine of the Canadian publishing industry, from 1995 to 1996.
He is probably best known for his trilogy of Silverwing
, Sunwing
, and Firewing
. A fourth entry, Darkwing
, serves as a prequel to the trilogy.
Another recent series is Airborn
(2004), its sequel, Skybreaker (2005), and Skybreaker's sequel, Starclimber
(2008). They are set in a parallel Earth of dirigible travel, following the adventures of the main characters Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries. Starclimber
, the third book in the series, was released in Canada in September 2008, in the United States in December 2008, and in the United Kingdom in May 2009.
Oppel has won numerous literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award
for English language children's literature, a Printz Honor Award from the American Library Association (both for Airborn) and The Times
Children's Novel of 2005 (for Skybreaker, named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association
).
His latest novel, Half Brother, will be published in September 2010 by HarperCollins Canada, Scholastic Press (US); in January 2011 in the UK by David Fickling Books, a division of Random House UK.
Oppel is married to Philippa Sheppard, and has three children, Sophia, Nate and Julia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
author. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, he spent his childhood in Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. He has also lived in Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, 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...
and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
Oppel's first published book, Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985), was written while he was a high school student at St. Michaels University School
St. Michaels University School
St. Michaels University School is a private day and boarding school in the municipality of Saanich, which is a suburb of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The school is currently under the direction of headmaster Robert Snowden...
in Victoria, which he attended at the same time as actors Andrew Sabiston
Andrew Sabiston
Andrew Sabiston is a Canadian actor, theatre and television writer and lyricist. He went to St. Michaels University School in Victoria, British Columbia, graduating in 1982, the same year as classmate Leslie Hope. Both had been cast in their final year in the Paul Almond movie, Ups & Downs, which...
and Leslie Hope
Leslie Hope
Leslie Ann Hope is a Canadian actress, best known for her role as Teri Bauer in the Fox show 24 where she played the wife of the main character Jack Bauer.-Life and career:...
, fellow writers John Burns and Bert Archer
Bert Archer
Bert Archer is a Canadian author, journalist, travel writer, essayist and critic.Archer was born in Montreal and lived in Calgary and Vancouver before attending St. Michael's University School in Victoria, British Columbia, the University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, and...
, and just before the NBA's Steve Nash
Steve Nash
Stephen John "Steve" Nash, OC, OBC is a South African-born Canadian professional basketball player who plays point guard for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association . Nash enjoyed a successful high-school basketball career, and he was eventually given a scholarship by Santa Clara...
and Flickr
Flickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
founder Stewart Butterfield
Stewart Butterfield
Stewart Butterfield is a Canadian-born entrepreneur and businessman. He co-founded the photo sharing website Flickr and its parent company Ludicorp with then-wife Caterina Fake. In March 2005 Ludicorp was acquired by Yahoo!, where Butterfield continued as the General Manager of Flickr until he...
. Oppel forwarded the newly completed manuscript to a family friend, that knew Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
, who in turn recommended it to his agent. Oppel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies
Filmmaking
Filmmaking is the process of making a film, from an initial story, idea, or commission, through scriptwriting, casting, shooting, directing, editing, and screening the finished product before an audience that may result in a theatrical release or television program...
and English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
at Trinity College
University of Trinity College
The University of Trinity College, informally referred to as Trin, is a college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1851 by Bishop John Strachan. Trinity was intended by Strachan as a college of strong Anglican alignment, after the University of Toronto severed its ties with the Church of...
in the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, writing The Live-Forever Machine (1992) during his final year. Oppel moved to England and wrote a number of books during that period, gleaning several ideas while working at typing students' papers. Oppel worked as an editor at Quill and Quire, the trade magazine of the Canadian publishing industry, from 1995 to 1996.
He is probably best known for his trilogy of Silverwing
Silverwing (novel)
Silverwing is a best-selling children's novel, written by Kenneth Oppel, first published in 1997 by HarperCollins. It tells the story of a colony of silverwing bats. The tone and artistic ambition of this series of bestsellers has been compared to the classic animal novel Watership Down...
, Sunwing
Sunwing
Sunwing is a popular children's book written in 1999 by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It is the second book in the Silverwing series, preceded by Silverwing and succeeded by Firewing.- Part I :...
, and Firewing
Firewing
Firewing is a children's book written by the Canadian author, Kenneth Oppel. It is the third book in the series including two others: Silverwing, and Sunwing. There is also a fourth book in the series called Darkwing, which is a prequel to Silverwing.-Plot:The novel begins with the introduction of...
. A fourth entry, Darkwing
Darkwing
Darkwing is a novel by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It is the prequel and fourth addition to the Silverwing series, and takes place 65 million years before the events of the first book, Silverwing...
, serves as a prequel to the trilogy.
Another recent series is Airborn
Airborn (novel)
Airborn is a 2004 young adult novel by Kenneth Oppel. The book won the Canada's Governor General's Award. Airborn is set in a time where the primary form of air transportation are airships...
(2004), its sequel, Skybreaker (2005), and Skybreaker's sequel, Starclimber
Starclimber
Starclimber is the third book in the Matt Cruse fantasy series, written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel."-Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries go higher than ever when they take part in the very first expedition to outer space -- and the journey turns out to be even more thrilling, perilous, and deadly,...
(2008). They are set in a parallel Earth of dirigible travel, following the adventures of the main characters Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries. Starclimber
Starclimber
Starclimber is the third book in the Matt Cruse fantasy series, written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel."-Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries go higher than ever when they take part in the very first expedition to outer space -- and the journey turns out to be even more thrilling, perilous, and deadly,...
, the third book in the series, was released in Canada in September 2008, in the United States in December 2008, and in the United Kingdom in May 2009.
Oppel has won numerous literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award
Governor General's Award
The Governor General's Awards are a collection of awards presented by the Governor General of Canada, marking distinction in a number of academic, artistic and social fields. The first was conceived in 1937 by Lord Tweedsmuir, a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction who created the Governor...
for English language children's literature, a Printz Honor Award from the American Library Association (both for Airborn) and 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...
Children's Novel of 2005 (for Skybreaker, named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
).
His latest novel, Half Brother, will be published in September 2010 by HarperCollins Canada, Scholastic Press (US); in January 2011 in the UK by David Fickling Books, a division of Random House UK.
Oppel is married to Philippa Sheppard, and has three children, Sophia, Nate and Julia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.
The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein series
- This Dark Endeavor (2011)
- Such Wicked Intent (forthcoming - 2012)
The Silverwing Saga
- SilverwingSilverwing (novel)Silverwing is a best-selling children's novel, written by Kenneth Oppel, first published in 1997 by HarperCollins. It tells the story of a colony of silverwing bats. The tone and artistic ambition of this series of bestsellers has been compared to the classic animal novel Watership Down...
(1997) - SunwingSunwingSunwing is a popular children's book written in 1999 by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It is the second book in the Silverwing series, preceded by Silverwing and succeeded by Firewing.- Part I :...
(1999) - FirewingFirewingFirewing is a children's book written by the Canadian author, Kenneth Oppel. It is the third book in the series including two others: Silverwing, and Sunwing. There is also a fourth book in the series called Darkwing, which is a prequel to Silverwing.-Plot:The novel begins with the introduction of...
(2002) - DarkwingDarkwingDarkwing is a novel by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. It is the prequel and fourth addition to the Silverwing series, and takes place 65 million years before the events of the first book, Silverwing...
(2007) (known as Dusk in UK)
Airborn series
- AirbornAirborn (novel)Airborn is a 2004 young adult novel by Kenneth Oppel. The book won the Canada's Governor General's Award. Airborn is set in a time where the primary form of air transportation are airships...
(2004) - Skybreaker (2005)
- StarclimberStarclimberStarclimber is the third book in the Matt Cruse fantasy series, written by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel."-Matt Cruse and Kate de Vries go higher than ever when they take part in the very first expedition to outer space -- and the journey turns out to be even more thrilling, perilous, and deadly,...
(2008)
Barnes and the Brains
- A Bad Case of Ghosts (1993)
- A Strange Case of Magic (1994) (also known as A Bad Case of Magic)
- A Crazy Case of Robots (1994) (also known as A Bad Case of Robots)
- An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs (1994) (also known as A Bad Case of Dinosaurs)
- A Weird Case of Super-Goo (1997) (also known as A Bad Case of Super-Goo)
- A Creepy Case of Vampires (2002)
Other
- Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985)
- Cosimo Cat (1990)
- Follow That Star (1992)
- Cosmic Snapshots (1993)
- Galactic Snapshots (1993)
- Emma's Emu (1995)
- Peg and the Whale (2000)
- Peg and the Yeti (2004)
- The King's Taster (2009)