Russell Kirkpatrick

Last updated

Russell Kirkpatrick
Russell Kirkpatrick, 2014.jpg
Kirkpatrick, 2014
Born1961 (age 60–61)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • geography lecturer
  • mapmaker
  • photographer
Education University of Canterbury (PhD)
Genre Fantasy
Notable works
  • Fire of Heaven trilogy
  • Husk (or Broken Man) trilogy
Children2

Russell Kirkpatrick (born 1961) is a New Zealand novelist, geography lecturer, mapmaker and photographer. He has contributed to a number of notable atlases, and since 2004 has completed two fantasy trilogies. He is a three-time winner of the award for best novel (adult category) at New Zealand's Sir Julius Vogel Awards. His books were first published in Australia and in the mid-2010s he moved to Canberra, where (as of 2022) he now lectures at the University of Canberra.

Contents

Life and career

Kirkpatrick was born in Christchurch in 1961, and lived there until 1999, [1] when he and his family moved to Hamilton. [2] He became interested in maps and mapmaking at primary school, [3] and in the 1990s was noted as having New Zealand's largest collection of Lego. [4] He holds a PhD in geography from the University of Canterbury, obtained in 1991, [5] and lectured at the University of Waikato in Hamilton from 2000 until 2014. As of 2020 he was based in Canberra, Australia, and working as a sessional lecturer at the University of Canberra. [2] [6] Of his passion for maps, Kirkpatrick has said: [3]

I'm probably a little more obsessive than most. I have this pet theory that there's a common link between my love of maps and the fact that I'm an obsessive Lego collector, a computer programmer, and a science-fiction fantasy lover.

He has worked on a number of atlases, including as deputy editor of the New Zealand Historical Atlas (1998), which won the readers' choice award at the 1998 Montana Book Awards, [1] [7] and as author of the Contemporary Atlas of New Zealand (1999), which had sold more than 20,000 copies as of 2009. [7] His 2000 work Degrees of Deprivation in New Zealand: An Atlas of Socioeconomic Difference was described by Annette King, then the New Zealand Minister of Health, as an "exciting tool" that could be used by the government to ensure health spending was better-targeted. [8] He wrote and provided photographs for a book about New Zealand waterfalls, Walk to Waterfalls (2011). [9] He has said his favourite waterfall in New Zealand is Marokopa Falls. [10]

Kirkpatrick's first novel, Across the Face of the World, was published in Australia in 2004, and was the best-selling fantasy novel in Australia in that year, as well as topping the Dymocks bestseller list for over four weeks. [7] [2] It was followed by two further novels in the Fire of Heaven series. [7] A 2004 review by The New Zealand Herald of Across the Face of the World noted that Kirkpatrick had spent 16 years writing the book, an "investment [which] seems to have paid off" in terms of world-building and the creation of a detailed atlas. The reviewer felt however that despite having "all the key fantasy elements" the book was lacking "enough creative spark to ignite [the reviewer's] imagination". [11] Gerard Campbell for The Press described it as "a solid fantasy world that is worth a look for fans of the genre". [12] In 2008, Across the Face of the World was published in the USA and was the best-selling science fiction or fantasy debut in that year. [13]

Each of the three novels of Kirkpatrick's Husk trilogy has won the award for best novel (adult category) at the Sir Julius Vogel Awards: Path of Revenge in 2008, [7] Dark Heart in 2009, [14] and Beyond the Wall of Time in 2010. [15] Jason Nahrung, reviewing Path of Revenge for The Courier-Mail , noted the praise Kirkpatrick has received for his mapmaking, and said he "has managed to not only paint a working, believable world in this, the first of a new series, but inhabit it with real people as well". [16] Kirkpatrick has described his second trilogy as darker than the first, noting that at the time of writing the first he was training to be a pastor. [17]

Silent Sorrow (2020), the first novel in his planned The Book of Remezov trilogy, was shortlisted for the best novel award at the 2022 Sir Julius Vogel Awards. [18]

Selected works

Fire of Heaven trilogy

Husk or Broken Man trilogy

The Husk trilogy was published as the Broken Man trilogy in the United States and United Kingdom.

The Book of Remezov trilogy

Non-fiction

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Vogel</span> 8th Premier of New Zealand

Sir Julius Vogel was the eighth premier of New Zealand. His administration is best remembered for the issuing of bonds to fund railway construction and other public works. He was the first Jewish prime minister of New Zealand. Historian Warwick R. Armstrong assesses Vogel's strengths and weaknesses:

Vogel's politics were like his nature, imaginative – and occasionally brilliant – but reckless and speculative. He was an excellent policymaker but he needed a strong leader to restrain him....Yet Vogel had vision. He saw New Zealand as a potential 'Britain of the South Seas', strong both in agriculture and in industry, and inhabited by a large and flourishing population.

Nicholas D. Kim is an analytical environmental chemist and cartoonist who currently works as a senior lecturer in applied environmental chemistry, School of Public health, College of Health for Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand. As a cartoonist he is known under his pseudonym Nick. He specializes in environmental chemistry and contamination issues and is certified to practice as an independent hearings commissioner under New Zealand's Resource Management Act. Previously he has acted as a science advisor for the Waikato Regional Council and as a senior lecturer in chemistry at the University of Waikato.

The Sir Julius Vogel Awards are awarded each year at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, horror, and science fiction fandom. They are commonly referred to as the Vogels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandy Hager</span> New Zealand writer

Amanda Hager is a writer of fiction and non-fiction for children, young adults and adults. Many of her books have been shortlisted for or won awards, including Singing Home the Whale which won both the Young Adult fiction category and the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year in the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2015. She has been the recipient of several fellowships, residencies and prizes, including the Beatson Fellowship in 2012, the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship in 2014, the Waikato University Writer in Residence in 2015 and the Margaret Mahy Medal and Lecture Award in 2019.

<i>The Beast Master</i> 1959 novel by Andre Norton

The Beast Master is a science fiction novel by American writer Andre Norton, published by Harcourt in 1959. It inaugurated the Beast Master series, or Hosteen Storm series after the main character. In German-language translation it was published as Der Letzte der Navajos —literally, The Last of the Navajo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Sussex</span> New Zealand writer

Lucy Sussex is an author working in fantasy and science fiction, children's and teenage writing, non-fiction and true crime. She is also an editor, reviewer, academic and teacher, and currently resides in Melbourne, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Knox</span> New Zealand writer

Elizabeth Fiona Knox is a New Zealand writer. She has authored several novels for both adults and teenagers, autobiographical novellas, and a collection of essays. One of her best-known works is The Vintner's Luck (1998), which won several awards, has been published in ten languages, and was made into a film of the same name by Niki Caro in 2009. Knox is also known for her young adult literary fantasy series, Dreamhunter Duet. Her most recent novels are Mortal Fire and Wake, both published in 2013, and The Absolute Book, published in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Jones (writer)</span> New Zealand writer and poet

Tim Jones is a New Zealand writer and poet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Haines (fiction writer)</span> New Zealand-born writer

Paul Haines was a New Zealand-born horror and speculative fiction writer. He lived in Melbourne with his wife and daughter.

<i>Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine</i> Science fiction magazine

Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine or ASIM is a fantasy and science fiction magazine published out of Canberra, ACT, Australia. The publishers of ASIM describe it as "Australia's Pulpiest SF Magazine". The magazine is currently edited by Andromeda Spaceways Publishing Incorporated and is published quarterly. Although originally sold only in Australia, subscriptions for ASIM are now available worldwide through Amazon.com and other online vendors.

Lyn McConchie is a New Zealand writer of speculative fiction, picture books for children, a nonfiction humour series, a number of standalone books and many short stories, articles, poems, opinion pieces, and reviews.

Ken Catran is a children's novelist and television screenwriter from New Zealand.

Anthony Eaton is an Australian writer of fantasy and young adult fiction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nalini Singh (author)</span> New Zealand writer

Nalini Singh is a New Zealand author of Indo-Fijian descent. She has authored numerous paranormal romance novels.

Simon Petrie is a New Zealand-born speculative fiction writer now based in Canberra, Australia. He is predominantly recognised as a writer in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Petrie's stories have appeared in a number of Australian publications including Borderlands, Aurealis and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, in New Zealand publications such as Semaphore Magazine and several Random Static anthologies, and in magazines elsewhere in the English-speaking world such as Redstone Science Fiction, Murky Depths and Sybil's Garage. He is a former member of the Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine collective and has edited five issues of the magazine.

Helen Lowe is a New Zealand novelist. Her first novel, Thornspell, was published in 2008. She has since published the first two books in The Wall of Night quartet, The Heir of Night and The Gathering of the Lost. Lowe is a three-time winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award, and won the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer in 2012.

James Norcliffe is a novelist, short story writer, poet, editor, teacher and educator. His work has been widely published and he has been the recipient of a number of writing residencies. Several of his books have been shortlisted for or won awards, including The Loblolly Boy which won the New Zealand Post Junior Fiction Award in 2010. He lives at Church Bay, Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Botur</span> New Zealand writer

Michael Stephen Botur is a New Zealand author described as "one of the most original story writers of his generation in New Zealand."

Chloe Gong is a Chinese-born New Zealand author of young adult fiction. Her 2020 debut novel, These Violent Delights, was a New York Times best seller.

Lee Murray is a New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer and editor. She is a multiple winner of the Bram Stoker Award and a twelve-time winner of the Sir Julius Vogel Award. She is most noted for her Taine McKenna military thrillers, and supernatural crime-noir series The Path of Ra.

References

  1. 1 2 "Russell Kirkpatrick biography". Fantasy Book Review. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Graham, Ann (28 February 2004). "Flight of fantasy". Waikato Times. p. D4. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 Keene, Howard (28 August 1999). "The world according to Russel". The Press. p. WE3. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Holloway, Bruce (23 August 1999). "Map of New Zealand's heart". Waikato Times. p. 7. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  5. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Russell (1991). "Putting self on the map: An examination of user-driven mapping". Russell Kirkpatrick. doi:10.26021/6323.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ↑ Huntman, Gerry (9 March 2019). "New Title: Silent Sorrow by Russell Kirkpatrick". IFWG Publishing Australia. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Bradley; Lisa (30 March 2008). "Fantasy writer Russell Kirkpatrick". Sunday Star-Times. p. C6. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Adams, Daniel (15 September 2000). "Atlas illustrates NZ poverty". Waikato Times. p. 8. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Kirkpatrick, Russell (27 November 2011). "Chasing NZ's best waterfalls". Stuff. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  10. ↑ Cooper, Tracey (14 January 2012). "Falling stars". Waikato Times. p. YW6. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  11. ↑ Cubey, Mark (25 April 2004). "Russell Kirkpatrick: Across the Face of the World". The New Zealand Herald. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Campbell, Gerard (13 March 2004). "Story Shorts". The Press. p. D11. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  13. ↑ Holman, Tim (14 January 2009). "Bestselling SFF Debuts of 2008". Orbit Books. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  14. ↑ "Sir Julius Vogel Awards". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Walton, Jo (30 August 2010). "The Sir Julius Vogel Awards 2010". Tor. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Nahrung, Jason (10 February 2007). "Three tales deftly told". The Courier-Mail. p. M30. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  17. ↑ Geoff, Taylor (22 March 2008). "Fantasy man's strange new world". Waikato Times. p. E2. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  18. ↑ "2022 Sir Julius Vogel Awards Winners". Locus Magazine. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.