Neal Asher
Encyclopedia
Neal Asher is an English science fiction
writer. Both his parents are educators and science fiction fans. Although he began writing Science Fiction and Fantasy in secondary school, Asher did not turn seriously to writing till he was 25. He worked as a machinist and machine programmer from 1979 to 1987 and as a gardener from 1979 to 1987. He published his first short story in 1989. His novel, Gridlinked
was published in 2001, the first in a series of novels made up of Gridlinked, The Line of Polity
, Brass Man
, Polity Agent
, and Line War
.
The majority of Asher's novels and most of his short fiction, are all set within one future history, known as the "Polity" universe. The Polity encompasses many classic science fiction tropes including world-ruling artificial intelligence
s, androids, hive minds
, aliens
and time travel
. His novels are characterized by fast paced action and violent encounters. While his work is frequently epic in scope and thus nominally space opera
, its graphic and aggressive tone is more akin to cyberpunk
. When combined with the way that Asher's main characters are usually acting to preserve social order or improve their society (rather than disrupt a society they are estranged from), these influences could place his work in the subgenre known as postcyberpunk.
He is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, in the UK. He is published by Tor Books
in the United States.
Agent Cormac series
Spatterjay series
Stand alone Polity novels
In internal chronological order
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...
writer. Both his parents are educators and science fiction fans. Although he began writing Science Fiction and Fantasy in secondary school, Asher did not turn seriously to writing till he was 25. He worked as a machinist and machine programmer from 1979 to 1987 and as a gardener from 1979 to 1987. He published his first short story in 1989. His novel, Gridlinked
Gridlinked
Gridlinked is Neal Asher's first novel, published by the Macmillan Publishers imprint Pan Books in 2001. It contains elements of the technological inventiveness of hard science-fiction with a more contemporary political plotline...
was published in 2001, the first in a series of novels made up of Gridlinked, The Line of Polity
The Line of Polity
The Line of Polity is a 2003 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the second novel in the Gridlinked sequence. In this novel, Earth Central Security agent Ian Cormac is placed at the center of a civil war on the planet Masada, where an elite Theocracy lives in cylindric habitats in orbit...
, Brass Man
Brass Man
Brass Man is a 2005 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the third novel in the Gridlinked sequence.-References:*Cassada, Jackie. "Brass Man." Library Journal 132.1 : 100-100.*"Brass Man." Publishers Weekly 253.45 : 38-39....
, Polity Agent
Polity Agent
Polity Agent is a 2006 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the fourth novel in the Gridlinked sequence....
, and Line War
Line War
Line War is a 2008 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the fifth and final novel in the Gridlinked sequence, although other novels exist in the same universe outside this sequence....
.
The majority of Asher's novels and most of his short fiction, are all set within one future history, known as the "Polity" universe. The Polity encompasses many classic science fiction tropes including world-ruling artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
s, androids, hive minds
Group mind (science fiction)
A group mind, hive mind or group ego in science fiction is a single consciousness occupying many bodies. Its use in literature goes back at least as far as Olaf Stapledon's science fiction novel Last and First Men ....
, aliens
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
and time travel
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
. His novels are characterized by fast paced action and violent encounters. While his work is frequently epic in scope and thus nominally space opera
Space opera
Space opera is a subgenre of science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. The term has no relation to music and it is analogous to "soap...
, its graphic and aggressive tone is more akin to cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
. When combined with the way that Asher's main characters are usually acting to preserve social order or improve their society (rather than disrupt a society they are estranged from), these influences could place his work in the subgenre known as postcyberpunk.
He is published by Tor, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, in the UK. He is published by Tor Books
Tor Books
Tor Books is one of two imprints of Tom Doherty Associates LLC, based in New York City. It is noted for its science fiction and fantasy titles. Tom Doherty Associates also publishes mainstream fiction, mystery, and occasional military history titles under its Forge imprint. The company was founded...
in the United States.
Polity universe
In order of publicationAgent Cormac series
- GridlinkedGridlinkedGridlinked is Neal Asher's first novel, published by the Macmillan Publishers imprint Pan Books in 2001. It contains elements of the technological inventiveness of hard science-fiction with a more contemporary political plotline...
(2001) - The Line of PolityThe Line of PolityThe Line of Polity is a 2003 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the second novel in the Gridlinked sequence. In this novel, Earth Central Security agent Ian Cormac is placed at the center of a civil war on the planet Masada, where an elite Theocracy lives in cylindric habitats in orbit...
(2003) - Brass ManBrass ManBrass Man is a 2005 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the third novel in the Gridlinked sequence.-References:*Cassada, Jackie. "Brass Man." Library Journal 132.1 : 100-100.*"Brass Man." Publishers Weekly 253.45 : 38-39....
(2005) - Polity AgentPolity AgentPolity Agent is a 2006 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the fourth novel in the Gridlinked sequence....
(2006) - Line WarLine WarLine War is a 2008 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the fifth and final novel in the Gridlinked sequence, although other novels exist in the same universe outside this sequence....
(2008)
Spatterjay series
- The SkinnerThe SkinnerThe Skinner is a 2002 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the first novel in the Spatterjay sequence.-Plot:The Skinner tells the story of three individuals who have journeyed to the 'line-world' of Spatterjay, a hostile mostly aquatic world with ferocious native lifeforms.The planet...
(2002) - The Voyage of the Sable KeechThe Voyage of the Sable KeechThe Voyage of the Sable Keech is a 2006 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the second novel in the Spatterjay sequence....
(2006) - OrbusOrbusOrbus is a 2009 science fiction novel by Neal Asher. It is the third novel in the Spatterjay sequence....
(2009)
Stand alone Polity novels
- Prador MoonPrador MoonPrador Moon is a science fiction novel in Neal Asher's Polity series. It describes the First Contact between the Prador and Polity and some of the battles in the ensuing war....
(2006) - HilldiggersHilldiggers-Plot introduction:The novel describes the initial diplomatic contact between the Polity and the isolated planets of Sudoria and Brumal who had been at war for nearly a century...
(2007) - Shadow of the ScorpionShadow of the ScorpionShadow of the Scorpion is a novel by Neal Asher, published by the Macmillan Publishers imprint Tor Books in 2008. The novel introduces Ian Cormac and is therefore a prequel...
(Prequel to Gridlinked, 2008) - The Technician (2010)
In internal chronological order
- Prador Moon
- The Shadow of the Scorpion
- Gridlinked
- The Line of Polity
- Brass Man
- Polity Agent
- Line War
- The Technician
- The Skinner
- The Voyage of the Sable Keech
- Orbus
- Hilldiggers
The Owner Trilogy
- The Departure (2011)
- Zero Point (2012)
- Jupiter War (tentative title, forthcoming)
Novellas
- Mindgames: Fool's Mate (1992)
- The Parasite (1996)
- Mason's Rats (1999)
- Africa Zero (2001), originally as two novellas: Africa Zero and Africa Plus One
Short story collections
- The Engineer (1998) - Containing novella of the same title, and short stories.
- Runcible Tales (1999)
- The Engineer ReConditioned (2006) - Reprint of The Engineer with three additional stories.
- The Gabble: And Other Stories (2008) - short story collection
Short fiction
| Title | Year | First published in | Reprinted in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptogenic | 1992 | Threads 2 | The Gabble and Other Stories (Tor, 2008) |
| Watch Crab | 2003 | Rick Kleffel's The Agony Column | |
| Snow in the desert | 2002 | Spectrum SF 8 | Year's Best SF 8 Year's Best SF 8 Year's Best SF 8 is a science fiction anthology edited by David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer that was published in 2003... (2003) The Gabble and Other Stories (Tor, 2008) |
Awards
- British Fantasy Society Award nomination, 1999, for stories "Sucker" and "Mason's Rats III";
- SF Review Best Book designation, 2002, for The Skinner.
External links
- Neal Asher's personal website
- Neal Asher's blog
- Neal Asher's online fiction at Free Speculative Fiction Online
- Infinity Plus profile
- The ZONE interview