Ken macleod is not a writer who burst onto the scene. Macleod graduated from glasgow university with a degree in. Nov 18, 2014 macleods singular ability to transfer pithy scots accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game. Ken macleod has beautifully followed up his debut novel the star fraction with another set in the same universe, this with a much wider time frame and setting than the first novel. Nov 19, 2014 ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens when conspiracy theorists take on big brother. Like a nearfuture nick hornby novel with men in black as opposed to. Ken macleod is an awardwinning scottish science fiction writer. Ken macleod books list of books by author ken macleod. I see it very much as responding to particular historical contexts. Politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest. He graduated from glasgow university with a degree in zoology and has worked as a computer programmer and written a masters thesis on biomechanics. The tetraology a combination of politics and neartofar future science fiction, its has a highly atypical structure that showed an eye for clever, cutting dialogue and plotting. Sep 29, 2014 ken macleod is the author of 14 novels, from 1995s the star fraction to his latest, descent, which portrays a nearfuture scotland transformed by technical and social change, seen through the. Fall revolution the star fraction the stone canal the cassini division the sky road engines of light cosmonaut keep dark light engine city corporation wars trilogy dissidence insurgence emergence novels the human front newtons wake learning the world the execution channel the restoration game intrusion descent.
If these are the early days of a better nation, there must be hope, and a hope of peace is as good as any, and far better than a hollow hoarding greed or the dry lies of an aweless god. The novel is dedicated to the memory of macleod s friend iain m. Macleod is a glasgow university graduate with a degree in zoology. See all books authored by ken macleod, including the years best science fiction twentythird annual collection, and cosmonaut keep, and more on. Descent by ken macleod by michael levy strange horizons. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands. Hes willing to drop by here to sign copies of his books, often with brief dedications, which i then send out in hardback.
Yeah, its got ken macleod level clever ideas and politicoeconomic preoccupations. Macleod was born in stornoway, scotland on 2 august 1954. Born on the scottish isle of skye, he lives in edinburgh. Ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit. Descent by ken macleod at abbeys bookshop 9781841499420. Ken macleod has researched many of the evolving developments in technology, science and society and has incorporated them. Its effectively the bildungsroman part of many of ken macleods books, in which the protagonist goes through early adulthood in a newly socialist utopia, expanded to novel. Ken macleod has delivered another interesting nearfuture adventure that touches on political and ethical issues of today in a fictional world.
Descent, a characterless, purposeless, plotless mess, virtually monochrome, monotonous, racist, misogyistic, and more concerned with the awesomeness of cigarettes than anything within the novel itself. Ken macleod on scotland in science fiction orbit books. He has an honours and masters degree in biological subjects and worked for some years in the it industry. Ken macleod was born in stornoway, isle of lewis, scotland, on august 2, 1954. If you want to read macleod, read the fantastic fall revolution books.
He received traditional training mainly in the shangpa kagyu lineage through a long association with his principal teacher, kalu rinpoche, whom he met in 1970. Buy ebook descent by ken macleod, ebook format, from the dymocks online bookstore. The fall revolution books came out of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with all kinds of echoes of the fall of the. Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. He is married with two grownup children and lives in west lothian. He graduated from glasgow university with a degree in zoology and has worked as a computer programmer and written a masters. Descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. Read a sample from descent by ken macleod how far would you go for the truth. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx how far would you go for the truth. Mar 21, 2014 descent, a characterless, purposeless, plotless mess, virtually monochrome, monotonous, racist, misogyistic, and more concerned with the awesomeness of cigarettes than anything within the novel itself. Issues included relate to the surveillance environment made possible by technology, the role of journalism, and the complexities of personal relationships.
Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx how far would you go for. Royalty free music and creative commons music from kevin macleod. It comes out in paperback this week, and we asked ken what is is about scotland that brings him, and other writers, back to it as a. However, the opening chapter hints that theres much more than meets the eye in ken macleods descent. His novels have won the prometheus award and the bsfa award, and been nominated for the hugo and nebula awards. Ken macleod holds a degree in zoology and has worked in the fields of biomechanics and computer programming. The fall revolution series 4 primary works 7 total works the reading order listed here is that of the original publication, but because the stories are not exactly sequential and in some cases, overlap, many readers argue they could be read in an alternative order.
Ken macleod continues the corporation wars trilogy in this actionpacked science fiction adventure told against a backdrop of interstellar drone warfare, virtual reality, and an a. It isnt necessary to read the star fraction first, but you will miss one nice little joke if you dont. He has currently withdrawn from teaching, and no longer conducts classes. Great closure to the main story, with just that final touch to let you know this is a story in a wider universe, not a little closed. Mar 10, 2014 descent is essentially ken macleods attempt to illuminate a collection of conspiracy theories including, but not limited to, alien abduction, government coverup, secret speciation and the. Descent by ken macleod meet your next favorite book. Ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens when conspiracy theorists take on big brother. The cover illustration of ken macleods new novel, descent, is made up entirely of black, white, and grey. But his fall revolution tetraology eventually opened readers eyes to a new voice capable of evolving, or at least capably extending the field. Ken macleod is the author of 14 novels, from 1995s the star fraction to his latest, descent, which portrays a nearfuture scotland transformed by technical and social change, seen through the. Clarke awardnominated intrusion, tells a science fiction story for the twentyfirst century this is what happens when conspiracy theorists meet big brother descent by ken macleod at abbeys bookshop 9781841499420 paperback. Nov 18, 2014 descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit. Author ken macleods complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. Descent by macleod, ken and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
This year i was guest selector for the science fiction strand at the edinburgh international book festival again, an opportunity i greatly appreciated and i hope made the most of. Macleods singular ability to transfer pithy scots accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game. The cassini division was a finalist for the nebula award. Moh kohn is a security mercenary unaware that he holds the key to information which could change the world. His novels have won the bsfa award and prometheus award and some been nominated for the nebula and hugo awards. Basically, if people would like signed copies of his books, i can supply them. Im especially liking his latest series, the corporation wars. Following the us publication of ken macleods fall revolution series, online magazine joked that macleod was a trotskyite libertarian cyberpunk. Ken macleod has researched many of the evolving developments in technology.
Work as if you lived in the early days of a better nation. Royalty free music is what everyone wants, because royalties suck. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial timesken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfxhow far would you go for the truth. The novel is dedicated to the memory of macleods friend iain m. Buy descent by ken macleod from amazons fiction books store. Hes written a thesis on biomechanics and worked as a computer programmer. Apr 23, 2014 it is fairly unusual to come across ufoabduction themed genre fiction in the modern era. Some of you may have heard my shop mentioned on kens site. Born in stornoway, ken macleod is perhaps scotlands most political of authors. When he returns to the scene, however, evidence of the incident is gone. Set in a nearfuture, postindependence scotland, ken macleods 15th novel weaves deftly through thickets of conspiracy theory, drawing in. Ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens. It is fairly unusual to come across ufoabduction themed genre fiction in the modern era. He was a trotskyist activist in the 1970s and early 1980s and is married and has two children.
But more than a joke, this is a good description of his early science fiction novels. Robots are terraforming a distant solar system for eventual human habitation, when some of them attain consciousness. And the ultimate payoff is dh17, an earthlike planet hundreds of light years from human habitation. His first two novels, the star fraction and the stone canal, each won the prometheus award. As a teenager, ryan sinclair has a close encounter with a ufo. Apr 14, 2014 descent is essentially ken macleod s attempt to illuminate a collection of conspiracy theories including, but not limited to, alien abduction, government coverup, secret speciation and the potentially impending perils of privatisation. More generally, you seem to have arrived at the same point as i have. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx. Use the handy links below to get started on your free music odyssey. Macleod s singular ability to transfer pithy scot s accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game. Clarke awardnominated intrusion, tells a science fiction story for the twentyfirst century this is what happens when conspiracy theorists meet big brother. What do you think of ken macleods science fiction books.