Justin Richards

Last updated

Justin Richards
Justin Richards.jpg
Richards in the garden of his house in Warwickshire
Born (1961-09-14) 14 September 1961 (age 62) [1]
Epping, Essex, England
OccupationWriter
NationalityBritish
Genre Science fiction
Fantasy
Adventure novel
Children2

Books-aj.svg aj ashton 01.svg  Literatureportal

Justin Richards (born 14 September 1961) is a British writer. He has written science fiction and fantasy novels, including series set in Victorian or early-20th-century London, and also adventure stories set in the present day. He has written many spin-off novels, reference books and audio plays based on the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who , and he is Creative Consultant for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels.

Contents

Life

Richards was born in Epping, Essex, on 14 September 1961. After attending Dean Close School in Cheltenham he obtained a BA (Hons) in English and Theatre at the University of Warwick. [1]

As well as his literary career, Richards has worked as a technical writer, [2] editor, programmer, and user interface designer at IBM, and as an errand boy in a hotel. [3]

Richards is married with two sons, Julian and Chris, and lives in Warwickshire. [1]

Work

Richards' first published novels were based on Doctor Who , published in the Virgin New Adventures , Virgin Missing Adventures and Virgin Decalog series. He continued to write for BBC Books after they resumed publishing Doctor Who stories, and as well as producing numerous novels, audio books, activity books and reference books he is Creative Director for the BBC Books range of Doctor Who novels.

In 2003, Richards began writing a series of crime novels for children ( The Invisible Detective ), whose parallel plots (between the 1930s and the present day) show a fascination with time and temporal paradox that is also evident in the Time Runners series that came out in 200708. More action-oriented books include the Agent Alfie books for younger readers, and a series of action-adventure books for young teens co-written with Jack Higgins. Other books have a more supernatural plot element, including the Department of Unclassified Artefacts novels and the School of Night books.

His book The Chaos Code won the Hull Children's Book Award 2008. [1] Demon Storm (from the School of Night series) has been shortlisted for the Southampton's Favourite Book award 2011. [4] [ needs update ]

Richards has also written audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions, original audiobooks, and has contributed to television including Five's soap opera Family Affairs . In 2011, Richards ventured into electronic publishing through his own publishing company, Braxiatek. His novel The Skeleton Clock was made available later that year in electronic formats only (for the Amazon Kindle and for other Ebook readers). [2]

Books

Books based on the Doctor Who series

For Virgin Books

For BBC Books

For BBC Audiobooks

For Big Finish Short Trips

The Invisible Detective

Set in London in the 1930s, the series recounts the adventures of Arthur (Art) Drake, Jonny Levin, Meg Wallace and Flinch, who invented the "Invisible Detective" Brandon Lake and who investigate all his cases themselves. Each story has a parallel subplot set in the 2000s, where Art's grandson, also named Art, and his friend Sarah have related mysteries to solve. [6]

  1. The Paranormal Puppet Show (2003) (published as Double Life in America)
  2. Shadow Beast (2003)
  3. Ghost Soldiers (2003)
  4. Killing Time (2003)
  5. Faces of Evil (2004)
  6. Web of Anubis (2004)
  7. Stage Fright (2005)
  8. Legion of the Dead (2005)

Chance Twins (Rich and Jade)

(written with Jack Higgins)

Department of Unclassified Artefacts novels

A series of books set in Victorian London (1886) describing the adventures of Eddie Hopkins, Liz Oldfield, Sir William Protheroe of the British Museum's secret 'Department of Unclassified Artefacts' and his assistant George Archer. [7]

Time Runners series

A series of books which chronicle the adventures of schoolboy Jamie Grant who falls through a time break and becomes a Runner along with the mysterious Anna, with power to control time and a duty to protect it from malign interference by the sinister Darkling Midnight. [8]

Agent Alfie

  1. Thunder Raker (2008)
  2. Sorted! (2009)
  3. Licence to Fish (2009)

The School of Night

A supernatural horror series, described by the publisher as "perfect for readers not yet old enough for Darren Shan". [9]

Other novels

Audio plays

Adaptations

Original plays

Gallifrey series

Jago & Litefoot series

Bernice Summerfield series

Counter-Measures series

The Diary of River Song series

The Churchill Years series

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Justin Richards". waterstones.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  2. 1 2 James Whittington (11 June 2011). "Justin Richards". Interviews. Kasterborous: Doctor Who News, Opinions, Reviews & PodKast (kasterborous.com). Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. "Justin Richards". Loewe Verlag. Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  4. "Southampton's Favourite Book Award 2011". 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  5. "Doctor Who: Code of the Krillitanes". BBC Skillswise. Retrieved 12 July 2011.[ dead link ]
  6. "Welcome". The Invisible Detective by Justin Richards. Simon & Schuster (invisible-detective.com). Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 12 July 2011.[ page needed ]
  7. "Welcome". The Parliament of Blood [Justin Richards Parliament of Blood site]. justinrichards.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
  8. "The Official home for all things Justin Richards". timerunners-com [copyright 2013 Justin Richards & Braxiatek Ltd]. Retrieved 12 July 2011.[ page needed ]
  9. School of Night: Demon Storm. ASIN   0571245080.