Read an interview with Stephen Donaldson | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
FACT FILE
Name: Stephen Donaldson
Born: 13 May, 1947, Cleveland, Ohio.
Where is he to be found?: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Website: http://www.stephenrdonaldson.com/
What does he write?: Donaldson is the author of a number of critically acclaimed, and immensely popular, series of fantasy and science fiction epics, beginning with perhaps his most famous work, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. This was soon followed by The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the fairytale-esque Mordant’s Need and epic science fiction saga The Gap Cycle. Donaldson’s works are particularly notable for their complexity, both in terms of plot and the moral ambiguity they frequently portray. His characters and the conflicts in which they find themselves seldom, if ever, conform to black and white notions of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ prevalent in much fantasy fiction.
Who was he influenced by?: Donaldson emerged as one of a crop of fantasy authors who found success in the wake of The Lord of the Rings, though unlike many of his contemporaries Donaldson – a student of literature – displays a far wider range of influences than Tolkien, or even science fiction and fantasy, alone. Joseph Conrad, Henry James, William Faulkner and Roger Zelazny are all influences visible in Donaldson’s work while his Gap series is heavily based upon the operas of Richard Wagner’s The Ring Cycle.
Awards: Donaldson’s debut novel, Lord Foul’s Bane won the World Fantasy Award, while the author himself collected the John W. Campbell award for Best New Writer. Since then Donaldson has won the Balrog Award three times, two Science Fiction Book Club Awards, and a Saturn Award – all in the category of best novel for various works over 30 years.
Read an interview with Stephen Donaldson | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5
For a summary of Stephen’s books, click here.
Other Links: Stephen Donaldson’s Website | Death Ray Magazine
