Wikipedia

Draft:Stark Holborn

Stark Holborn
Stark Holborn at Cymera Festival in 2024
Stark Holborn at Cymera Festival in 2024
Pen nameStark Holborn
OccupationAuthor, games writer
GenreSci-fi

Space opera

Space Western
Notable worksNunslinger, Triggernometry

Stark Fairweather Holborn[1] is a pseudonymous[2] British writer of Westerns and western-inspired science fiction, best known for the 2014 digital serial, Nunslinger, and the British Fantasy Award-shortlisted Triggernometry series.[3]

Early life

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Holborn says of her childhood: 'When I was a kid my dad – who took a lot of acid when he was young, and used to play bass for Dr. Feelgood before they were famous – read to me a lot, usually whatever he was reading at the time, everything from Aldiss to Burroughs.'[4] Holborn cites as early influences Tamora Pierce,[5] as well as Tolkien and Alan Garner,[6] Philip K. Dick, Halo Jones and classic sci-fi movies like Aliens and The Thing.[7]

Career

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Holborn says in interview that she first considered a career as an author when she was nineteen and visiting Australia. After writing one unpublished novel, she sold the idea for Nunslinger to Hodder 'based on the first installment.'[8]

Holborn's first published novel, Nunslinger, was Hodder's first digital serial – consisting of twelve novella-sized installments and 180,000 words[9] - which was published as a series over two years, then republished as a single volume.[10] The Guardian praised it in 2014 as: 'Witty and atmospheric, with a cliffhanger every few chapters.'[11]

This was followed by Triggernometry and Advanced Triggernometry, which were both self-published, Holborn having commissioned Philip Harris, who created the original Nunslinger artwork, for the book jackets.[12] Triggernometry subsequently earned a British Fantasy Award nomination for Best Novella in 2021.[13] Also in 2021 came Ten Low, described by FanFiAddict as: 'the definitive sci-fi spaghetti western, setting the bar for genre-bending speculative fiction,'[14] with the sequel, Hel's Eight, in 2023, and the third volume in the Factus series, Ninth Life, in 2024.[15]

Holborn is also a games writer for the BBC, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, and is currently a lead writer on the science fiction detective game, Shadows of Doubt.[16]

Holborn has spoken in interview about coming to 'writing interactive fiction via a prose background', and the challenges of worldbuilding in this medium.[17] She has also spoken of the importance of ambiences and soundscapes during her writing process, and says that Ten Low was written to a soundtrack of 'desert wind through trees.'[18]

In 2024 Holborn was one of the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.[19]

Themes

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Themes in Holborn's work include: choices, guilt and redemption, and how decision making becomes harder under duress,[20] as well as the issues of free will and the 'importance of atonement'.[21] There is a strong feminist theme to her work, and a challenging of traditional gender roles.[22] On this topic she says: 'Maybe it's because the concept of the frontier has, for so long, been portrayed as a male-dominated space.... Female characters have also been used in the past as shorthand in the concept of manifest destiny: men deal with threats, often violently, clearing the way for women to bring the "civilising" concept of home and procreation to establish the future of a community.'[23]

Reception

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Holborn's novels have been variously described as space westerns,[24] weird fiction, horror, fantasy, and with literary elements.[25] They have been praised for their experimental structure, strong writing and fast-paced style.[26] Publishers Weekly describes Triggernometry as: 'a crisply written space western brimming with hard living, villainy, and the search for redemption,' and praises Holborn's ability to create 'an immersive world.'[27]Author Joanne Harris described Hel's Eight as: 'a wonderful fusion of Firefly and Joanna Russ, with an Ennio Morricone soundtrack'.[28]

Identity

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Since the publication of Nunslinger, Holborn's true identity has remained elusive. In 2014, The Guardian speculated that the author was probably male.[11] The Herald makes the same assumption.[29]The Irish Times commented on Holborn's mysterious identity, saying: 'What is it with creatives from Bristol...? First Banksy, now Stark, hiding their true identities? Mind you, with work this good, who cares?'[30]

Personal life

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Holborn lives in Bristol with her partner.[31]

Bibliography

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Nunslinger

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  • Nunslinger. UK: Hodderscape. 2013. ASIN B00H4EP884.
  • Nunslinger 2: The Good, the Bad and the Penitent. UK: Hodderscape. 2013. ASIN B00GIUG3VQ.
  • Nunslinger 3: A Pilgrim and a Stranger. UK: Hodderscape. 2013. ASIN B00GIUG5C8.
  • Nunslinger 4: The Habits of Strangers. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00FRKPEI6.
  • Nunslinger 5: Litany For the Brave. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00FRKPE04.
  • Nunslinger 6: The Judgement of Abraham. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00FRKPI8C.
  • Nunslinger 7: Westward Order. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00HW2EKOQ.
  • Nunslinger 8: The Brother of Bone Orchard. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00HW2EKSW.
  • Nunslinger 9:Homily For the Damned. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00HW2EL1I.
  • Nunslinger 10: Gospel Sharp. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00J3797E6.
  • 'Nunslinger 11: Ninth-Hour at Noon. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00J379A4S.
  • 'Nunslinger 12: West of Absolution (2014). UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00J379548.
  • Nunslinger. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ISBN 978-1444789232. Omnibus Edition

Triggernometry

  • Holborn, Stark (2020). Triggernometry. UK: Rattleback Books. ASIN B086JXRSZK.
  • Holborn, Stark (2021). Advanced Triggernometry. UK: Rattleback Books. ASIN B08Y5PW5H2.

Factus Sequence

Awards

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2021 British Fantasy Award for Best Novella (nominee) : Triggernometry

References

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  1. ^ "Triggernometry by Stark Holborn #BookReview". CriminOlly. 2020-04-08. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ Baddeley, Anna (2014-03-30). "Meet the nun on the run who's a serial offender". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  3. ^ "sfadb : Stark Holborn Awards". www.sfadb.com. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  4. ^ Reader, Civilian (2020-04-08). "Interview with STARK HOLBORN". Civilian Reader. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  5. ^ Hive, The Fantasy (2020-04-08). "Author Spotlight - STARK HOLBORN". Fantasy-Hive. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  6. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  7. ^ "Interviewing Stark Holborn — Runalong The Shelves". Runalong The Shelves. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  8. ^ Reader, Civilian (2020-04-08). "Interview with STARK HOLBORN". Civilian Reader. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  9. ^ Reader, Civilian (2020-04-08). "Interview with STARK HOLBORN". Civilian Reader. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  10. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  11. ^ a b Baddeley, Anna (2014-03-30). "Meet the nun on the run who's a serial offender". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  12. ^ Hounsom, Lucy (2020-04-02). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  13. ^ locusmag (2021-09-27). "2021 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  14. ^ Armitage, Frasier (2023-03-02). "Author Q&A: Stark Holborn (Ten Low, Hel's Eight) | FanFiAddict". fanfiaddict.com. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  15. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (2024-06-23). "REVIEW: Ninth Life by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  16. ^ "An Interview with Stark Holborn". IZ Digital. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  17. ^ "An Interview with Stark Holborn". IZ Digital. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  18. ^ Shurin, Jared (2014-10-16). "The Best of the West: Jawin' with Nunslinger Author Stark Holborn". Reactor. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  19. ^ "Arthur C. Clarke Award: Shortlist announced for sci-fi book award". SciFiNow. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  20. ^ "The Big Idea: Stark Holborn". Whatever. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  21. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (2021-07-12). "REVIEW: Ten Low by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  22. ^ Hounsom, Lucy (2020-04-02). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  23. ^ Hounsom, Lucy (2020-04-02). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  24. ^ "BSFA Review - Hel's Eight by Stark Holborn". www.bsfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  25. ^ Lawardorn, Damien (2023-03-31). "Hel's Eight Review: A Thrilling Space Western Hard-Nosed Firefly". The Escapist. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  26. ^ "BOOK REVIEW: Ten Low, by Stark Holborn". At Boundary's Edge. 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  27. ^ "Ten Low by Stark Holborn". www.publishersweekly.com. July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "BSFA Review - Hel's Eight by Stark Holborn". www.bsfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  29. ^ "Stark Holborn: Nunslinger (Hodder & Stoughton, £8.99)". The Herald. 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  30. ^ "Nunslinger by Stark Holborn". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  31. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
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