Wikipedia

Stark Holborn

Stark Fairweather Holborn is a British pseudonymous writer of Western films and science fictions. She is known for her work, Nunslinger (2014)[1] and the British Fantasy Award shortlisted Triggernometry (2021).

Stark Holborn
Stark Holborn at Cymera Festival in 2024
Stark Holborn at Cymera Festival in 2024
OccupationWriter
GenreSci-fi

Space opera

Space Western
Notable worksNunslinger (2014), Triggernometry (2021)

Early life

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Holborn cites influence from Tamora Pierce, J. R. R. Tolkien, Philip K. Dick, Halo Jones, and Alan Garner.[2] She has also cited classic sci-fi films including Aliens and The Thing.[3]

Career

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Holborn started writing at 19. After four years of drafting an unpublished book, she began writing Nunslinger.[citation needed] The novel was first published as series and later in a single volume.[4] The Guardian praised her work as "Witty and atmospheric, with a cliffhanger every few chapters."[5] She wrote and self published Triggernometry, which was nominated for the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 2021.[6] It was followed by Ten Low (2021), and subsequently a sequel, Hel's Eight (2023).[7]

Holborn is a games writer for BBC, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Games, and the lead writer of Shadows of Doubt.[citation needed] In 2024 she was one of the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.[8]

Themes

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Themes in Holborn's work include: choices, guilt and redemption, and how decision making becomes harder under duress,[9] as well as the issues of free will and the 'importance of atonement'.[10] There is a strong feminist theme to her work, and a challenging of traditional gender roles.[11] 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.'[12]

Reception

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Holborn's novels have been variously described as space westerns,[13] weird fiction, horror, fantasy, and with literary elements.[14] They have been praised for their experimental structure, strong writing and fast-paced style.[15] 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.'[16]Author Joanne Harris described Hel's Eight as: 'a wonderful fusion of Firefly and Joanna Russ, with an Ennio Morricone soundtrack'.[17]

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.[5] The Herald makes the same assumption.[18]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?'[19]

Personal life

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Holborn lives in Bristol with her partner.[20]

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

References

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  1. ^ Shurin, Jared (2014-10-16). "The Best of the West: Jawin' with Nunslinger Author Stark Holborn". Reactor. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  2. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  3. ^ "Interviewing Stark Holborn — Runalong The Shelves". Runalong The Shelves. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  4. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ locusmag (2021-09-27). "2021 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  7. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (2024-06-23). "REVIEW: Ninth Life by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  8. ^ "Arthur C. Clarke Award: Shortlist announced for sci-fi book award". SciFiNow. 2024-05-13. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  9. ^ "The Big Idea: Stark Holborn". Whatever. 2023-03-31. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
  10. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (2021-07-12). "REVIEW: Ten Low by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  11. ^ Hounsom, Lucy (2020-04-02). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  12. ^ Hounsom, Lucy (2020-04-02). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  13. ^ "BSFA Review - Hel's Eight by Stark Holborn". www.bsfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  14. ^ Lawardorn, Damien (2023-03-31). "Hel's Eight Review: A Thrilling Space Western Hard-Nosed Firefly". The Escapist. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  15. ^ "BOOK REVIEW: Ten Low, by Stark Holborn". At Boundary's Edge. 2021-08-29. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  16. ^ "Ten Low by Stark Holborn". www.publishersweekly.com. July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "BSFA Review - Hel's Eight by Stark Holborn". www.bsfa.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  18. ^ "Stark Holborn: Nunslinger (Hodder & Stoughton, £8.99)". The Herald. 2014-12-27. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  19. ^ "Nunslinger by Stark Holborn". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
  20. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (2021-05-30). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
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