Inspirational People: No 3

Julio Cortazar

An Argentine writer, born in Belgium 1914 and died in Paris 1984. There's a mixture! I was curious about the birth, but since discovered his father was a diplomat, perhaps an ambassador, so Belgium it was. Paris? Well, what writer does not want to die in Paris? If I can get there in time for my demise, I will happily use Paris as a gateway to whatever awaits me on the other side. Hopefully, Julio himself.

I was already a committed short story reader and writer when I first came across a story by Julio Cortazar. Ellen Datlow, the fiction editor for Omni Magazine, had just taken one of my own speculative fiction tales and of course I ordered half a dozen copies of the mag. In the same edition I found an absolute gem entitled 'The Most Profound Caress', a Kafka-esk tale of man who begins the day looking forward to his date with his girlfriend in the evening. The problem is, he's slowly sinking into the ground and continues to do so throughout the daylight hours - up to his knees by midday, up to his shoulders by late afternoon and by the time his beloved comes looking for him he is under the street and is only able to reach up and touch the sole of her shoe - the last caress before he sinks forever into the earth. It reads better than my explanation and I admired it most for its simplicity and its inventiveness. I suffered the usual short story writer's agony - I wished I had written it. I was now well and truly hooked as a follower of the Argentine writer, Julio Cortazar.

This introductory story was well enough, but I was unprepared for the absolute joy of finding that his other tales were not just simple and inventive, but blindingly brilliant. 'The Most Profound Caress' was merely a signpost to a golden library. These stories are superb:

House Taken Over

End of the Game

Blow Up (made into a film starring David Hemmings)

We Love Glenda So Much

A Change of Light

The Southern Highway

Hopscotch:

the rest of his tales are merely awe-inspiring.

Now, here I should warn you of spoilers, because I'm going to talk about one or two of the stories above. Myself, I don't mind a spoiler when it's literature. I can reread Poe and Hawthorne time and again when I obviously know the endings of the tales. I read them for the style, structure and originality: the talent and wonder of the writing.

So, I'll start with the second of Cortazar's stories that I read, namely 'We Love Glenda So Much'. This has at its heart a fan club who meet regularly to discuss the films of their idol, Glenda. The scene opens with the fact that Glenda has retired from film making at the height of her career and every film she has made has been perfect. However,  later in life she announces to the world that she's going to make a come-back. The fans are horrified and they meet to discuss this terrible news, certain in their minds that any film she now makes will be bound to have flaws. Thus, they draw lots to choose one of their number to act and though nothing is explicit, one gathers what is going to happen with the last line of the story. 'On the untouchable heights to which we had raised her in exaltation, we would save her from the fall, her faithful could go on adoring her without any decrease; one does not come down from the cross alive.'

My second favourite is 'The Southern Highway' which at certain times has a traffic jam which goes back miles into the countryside south of Paris. The reader is taken onto the highway where traffic has come to a standstill for days. There are people foraging in the fields for food, there are love affaires between the occupants of different vehicles, gangs have been formed to protect themselves against rival gangs. Then suddenly one day things begin to move again and drivers and passengers rush back to their vehicles. The groups and communities shatter and scatter. Lovers part, foragers drop potatoes and cabbages and run for their cars. We follow one of the male lovers who once he enters Paris turns in a different direction to the woman who has been his temporary bedfellow. The sorrow is strong, deep.

The third and the last that I am going to spoil is 'House Taken Over'. This is truly a diamond of speculative fiction. A brother and sister live in a house left them by their parents. They seem content and occupy themselves with their own interests, but always in the same room. One day the brother says, 'They've taken over the back part of the house.' So, they lock the door that leads to that place and go on with their lives, until another room is 'taken over' and the door to that room is locked. Gradually there is no room left that has not been 'taken over' though we never learn who or what has invaded their peaceful lives. They leave, dropping the keys down a drain. Given that it is a brother and sister, my own conclusion is that it involves incest and once the act has soiled a room, entry is then barred to that room - but, I could be totally wrong and it could be aliens or ants.

When asked once by a would-be creative writer, 'How do I start a story?' Julio replied, 'You start in the middle and develop the story into a tornado using concentric circles.' Well, that isn't an actual quote, but I can't find the original and that's how I remember it.

Julio Cortazar was not keen on writing novels: he wrote six in all. Whereas he wrote many, many short stories and essays. He also wrote a wonderful non-fiction work 'Around the Day in 80 Worlds'. In one section he describes a boxing match, one of the combatants, Kid Azteca, being a favourite of his. The feints and dodges of the Kid, he writes, turned his opponent's chaos into a perfect absence by becoming an encyclopedia of holes. Those last four words thrilled me to the core. This man, I thought, is a master of his profession.

Cortazar was one of the founders of the Latin American Boom, along with Marquez and Llosa. A teacher and lecturer his poetic prose was used alongside his extensive knowledge of history to write stories that fill me with yearning to reach up and touch the pen in his hand.

 Inspirational People: No 2

Carson McCullers

It appears that I haven't posted a blog since 2019! The last being my Inspirational People: No1. It's not that I've run out of people who have influenced my life: it's that 'interesting times' have intervened and also I've been immersed in my first love in the writing world, short stories. Since going into lockdown and beyond I've written ten speculative fiction short stories and have enjoyed immensely the freedom of not having to write a novel to keep bread on the table. The bread has been purchased with my two pensions, neither of which are great, but happily bread is still quite inexpensive. There are a few royalties still coming in, in dribs and drabs, and the backlist is still selling to translations abroad. So, being incarcerated has its benefits, but oh, I do miss my travels to cloudless climes and starry skies. A trip to Goa has been paid for and is on hold, a trip to Switzerland, likewise. Then there's my little hideaway in La Herradura, Spain, which is feeling neglected. I stare out of my apartment window in the port of Felixstowe at the mighty container ships going in and out, and dream of exotic lands beyond the cold, grey waves of the North Sea.

However, to get to Carson McCullers, a writer of Southern Gothic tales. Now, you might think that with a name like that you would be looking at a pony express rider of the American west. In fact for those who are not familiar with McCullers she was indeed an American and yes, she was a she and not some dusty cowboy with a fast Pinto. Carson McCullers was an exceptionally brilliant writer of short novels and short stories. She rivals my all-time favourite short story writer, Julio Cortazar, who's next on my list of inspirers.

The first of her short novels which came to my attention is still the one I love the most: Ballad of the Sad Cafe. It's love triangle between a male dwarf (sic) called Cousin Lymon; Miss Amelia, a robust and tough cafe owner, feared by the townspeople; and Marvin Macy, who 'has been to Atlanta'. Macy is a vicious and cruel character who was once married to Miss Amelia. Miss Amelia falls in love with Cousin Lymon, who returns her affections until Marvin Macy comes back to the isolated small town. Almost immediately, Cousin Lymon falls in love with Marvin and his worldliness and keeps repeating, 'Oh, Marvin Macy, he has been to Atlanta.' Macy goes to prison and when he's released he goes back to physically fight with Miss Amelia. Amelia is on the point of winning the contest when Cousin Lymon leaps on her and allows Macy to get the better of her. The two men then ransack and rob the cafe of anything value and then leave the town. It's not the ending I would have chosen, but I am not the writer. What impressed the hell out of me and made me fall in love with the novel is the quality of the writing and the sense of backwoods folklore. It is like no other novel I have read, completely without parallel, and after I put the book down I raised a shrine to McCullers in my head and was determined to read everything she had written.

Carson McCullers was born in Columbus, Georgia, in 1917. Her first novel is The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Again, the characters are a collection of misfits and pariahs in a deep South small town. Next came Reflections in a Golden Eye, which takes place in a military setting. The film starring Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor was excellent. After that The Member of the Wedding, where the reader is allowed to inspect the thoughts and dreams of a young girl attending her brother's wedding. The play of this novel had a long run on Broadway in the early 1950s.

Of her short stories, my favourite is The Jockey.

If you haven't read her, do try. The novels are short, so you don't have to plough through something as long as A Suitable Boy, to discover whether you like her writing. I have recommended her to others who have not found her work to their taste, but of course we all have different mental channels: some lead to marshes and bogs, while others happily lead to wide, blue oceans. I will always have a place in my heart for Carson McCullers' oeuvre and even as I write about those of her novels I read many years ago, I feel a thrill. 

Never without health problems Carson McCullers died at the age of 50 in Nyack, New York.

Ten Inspirational People - No. 1

David Grey Rattray

One of my most treasured possessions is a set of cds entitled 'Day of the Dead Moon' which is the oral recounting of the Battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Islandlwana took place on a day when a solar eclipse occurred, hence the title. These battles were of course those which took place in KwaZulu Natal in 1879 between the British and the AmaZulu nation who had refused to accept British rule. Rorke's Drift is the conflict which is better known to the British public, possibly because this was the fight in which that although the British were not victorious, they managed to fend off enormous odds. The Zulus though are more likely to recall Isandlwana, where their impis were wholly triumphant, massacring almost 2,000 of the invaders of their land, an engagement in which only a handful of British soldiers escaped with their lives. At Isandlwana the British encampment was attacked and eventually overrun by 20,000 Zulus. At Rorke’s Drift, just over 150 regular troops faced up to 4,000 Zulu warriors and managed to hold their ground.

In the late 1990s I began planning two novels which would cover the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The first would concentrate on the events at Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, the second on the final battles ending with the British victory at Ulundi, the Zulu capital and seat of their king, Cetshwayo kaMpande. During the period of my research I acquired fellowship of the Anglo-Zulu War Historical Society and had access to a myriad of books and also the audio tapes of a one David Rattray, a white South African who had grown up with Zulu children and had heard, and had become fascinated by, the stories of Isandlwana. He is the first of the ten people who have been the inspirational writing gurus who I intend depicting in my blog.

In the 1990's David Rattray lived at the site of Rorke's Drift and conducted tours of the battlefields. When I played the tapes (I now have the cds) I was totally mesmerised by this man's gift for oral storytelling. I had never heard anything like his soft powerful voice and the tremendous talent he had for recounting a war between a nation with primitive weapons and an army bearing modern armaments. It was spears and hide shields against Martini-Henry rifles and field artillery. I played those tapes over and over again, absolutely lost in the hynotic retelling of two engagements that took place in the shadow of the Drakensberg Mountains.

In his recounting of the history of these battles, David Rattray took no sides, praising the 24th Foot (later the South Wales Borderers) and the Zulus alike for their courage. He did however state that Isandlwana should not be looked on as a British defeat, but a Zulu victory, a subtlety that impressed me. I am also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and in the early 2000s I was privileged to hear him speak at the society's lecture hall in London. When he visited my grandson's school at Felsted in Essex and gave a talk to the students there, I spoke to the man and shook his hand. Sadly, he was murdered at the age of 48 in his home at Rorke's Drift while being burgled by six men. I understand the person who fired the killing shot was a young Zulu and one wonders whether his killer knew that a great deal of the money David Rattray earned lecturing and guided tours was spent on the education of poor Zulu children.

David Rattray was an inspirational man. Being a teller of tales myself, albeit in print, he filled me with awe and admiration for his storytelling. In 1999 some Welsh troopers visited the battlegrounds and held a memorial service in the chapel at Rorke's Drift. Thousands of Zulus came from their homes to meet their erstwhile enemy and the two groups, both famed for their ability to sing, joined together in a chorus that soared into the surrounding hills. David Rattray was present to witness the event and apparently he stood in the audience and wept. He is survived by a wife, Nicky, who I understand carries on the work he so loved, amongst the people he loved.

(For those interested in the two historical novels I wrote on the Anglo-Zulu War, they are: 

The Scarlet Sash and Dragoons.

I also wrote a poem on Isandlwana:

The Iron Wind

[In 1879 2000 Zulus charged into a hail of

fire from 2000 Martini-Henry rifles.

It was at a place called Isandlwana and after their

total victory the Zulu youths used the battle cry:

‘We are the boys of Isandlwana’.]

We are the boys of Isandlwana

who faced the iron wind.

A furnace wind,

like the Saharan Simoom

or Haboob of Khartoum,

bringing madness on its breath.

No shield can turn it,

no mask,

no magic cloak.

Warriors are whisked away

like broken straws.

Sometimes

it takes our heads clean off.

We are the boys of Isandlwana

who race at the fiery rush,

into the bulleting blast,

for wind is only wind

and tomorrow the enemy

will be calm

and quiet

and utterly still.

What I did on my holiday by Garry Kilworth aged 77 and three quarters.

On the 7th of January, 2019 Annette and I flew to Sri Lanka and set foot on its soil for the first time. (Actually, I had done that in November 1958, but was on my way for a tour in Singapore as an airman and we had simply stopped to refuel the Britania aircraft which was taking us to the Far East). We had booked a cheapish hotel near the airport and were catching the 'Express' to Ella on the next morning from Colombo's Fort Railway Station. We had booked the Observation Car, since the train was travelling through some of the lushest and most beautiful countryside Sri Lanka had to offer.

Big mistake

The Observation Car, which we had expected to be the sort of goldfish bowl you get in the Canadian Rockies. It was not. It was a dilapidated, seedy carriage at the end of an incredibly long train which fishtailed uncomfortably for the whole journey. The glass dome we had expected turned out to be a window at the very end of the carriage through which you could see where you'd been, but of course not where you were going or to the sides. The wonderful green mountains, covered in rainforest, sped by and yes, we did see them through the dirty side windows, but actually the whole thing turned out to be a great disappointment and a very trying ride. The book said the journey from Colombo to Ella would be 7 hours. It was not. It turned out to be 11 really heavy hours which landed us at our destination well after dark had thudded onto the landscape.

Once we had found our homestay, a delightful place called Sita's Heaven, high up in the mountains, overlooking an incredible valley covered in rainforest, our spirits felt lighter. The small town itself had given its soul over to coffee houses, cafes and bars where the young could indulge their palates. There was a beautiful waterfall just outside the town and 625 steps cut into the rockface which took you to a high cave. Annette and I managed 300 of the steep steps, while our Aussie friends, Carolyn and Peter went on to do the rest. (They're younger, dammit). We waited for them in a tiny rock overhang where an enterprising local woman made tea on a Primus shove and pointed out Langer monkeys clambering around in the rocks and trees below.

After two pleasant days of dithering the four us took a car to Tissamaharama to the south, where we hoped to visit Yalla National Park and Bundala National Park. We were staying at Lakeside Cabana, a homestay with four huts on stilts overlooking a wonderful lake full of waders and water birds. It was indeed the sort of venue we'd hoped for and I managed to photograph several birds there including the beautiful scarlet Flameback Woodpecker. I did see a Paradise Flycatcher with its long trailing tail feathers, but it was too quick for my camera. It was ever thus throughout the whole trip with this elusive ball of feathers. Our one day visit to Yalla was disappointing. There were over a hundred jeeps chasing the animals in the park and twice we got hemmed in by vehicles and couldn't move for 20 minutes or more. We had been warned that it would be so, but we'd taken no notice and booked anyway. In fact we didn't see the leopard we wanted to see and it was, as I say, a disappointing trip. Bundala was much better. Only six or seven jeeps and plenty of wildlife, though sadly no leopards in that park. One day out walking I was approached by two young local students who had seen me snapping birds with my Lumix bridge camera. They turned out to be studying local ornithology and took me to three hidden forest places where there were owls to be had. A Jungle Owlet, a pair of Scops Owls and pair of Brown Fish Owls.

After Tissa, Peter and Carolyn left us, to do their own thing at Galle, while we went north again to meet with our 25 year-old grandson, Jordy, who had been in Australia for a few weeks and had agreed to spend some time with the oldies in Sri Lanka on his way home to UK. The sad thing for Jordy was, he is a single good-looking guy and there were many Scandinavian and other continental girls backpacking too, but who was going to look at a young man travelling with his grandparents? Anyway, we met with him at Nuwara Eliya and stayed a couple of nights in the mountains before going south again, to Udawalawe. This was one of our favourite places, where we swam in the river and had a great day in the game park, seeing Crested Eagles, Serpent Eagles, mongooses (yes, not mongeese), many elephants, buffaloes and a fantastic Black-Shouldered Kite. 

At the end of four days, we said goodbye to Jordy, who went north to Ella and Kandy, looking (I hope) for those girls we had been a barrier to. We haven't heard from him since. Annette and I then went to Sinharaja, to a lovely homestay where the owner's son was a rainforest guide. What a wealth of wildlife was in that forest where we trekked the next day! Kangaroo Lizards, rare Blue-Faced Leaf Monkeys, several snakes, kingfishers, Hump-Nosed Lizards, Tarantulas, a Sea Eagle, an air battle between to Black Eagles (the largest eagles in the sky of Sri Lanka), lots more. It was a perfect end to our search for wildlife and we made the most of it.

We finished the tour of south Sri Lanka with three days in Marissa and Galle, where we went whale watching and saw two Blue Whales, the largest mammals on the face of the Earth. Well, truth be told, we saw bits of them, since you only get to witness the curve of their backs and the fluke of course. When I wrote home about it, I said, 'We saw two Blue Whales, but it was just a fluke'. Nobody got it, so far as I knew, because all that came back was, 'How wonderful.' Actually, yes, it was wonderful, the whole trip.

Bibliography plus

This is a bit of an indulgence, but just in case people were searching for one of my books, here's a list of practically everything I've written, plus a few extra bits of information.

Garry Kilworth: Bibliography.

Garry Kilworth's pseudonyms are: Garry Douglas Kilworth, Garry Douglas,

F. K. Salwood, Richard Argent and Kim Hunter.

Novels

IN SOLITARY, 1977, Faber and Faber, (Science Fiction), translated into German, Italian and Polish.   Published in USA.

SPLIT SECOND, 1979, Faber and Faber, (Science Fiction), translated into German, Italian and Portugese.   Published in USA.

GEMINI GOD, 1981, Faber and Faber, (Science Fiction), translated into German and Portugese.

A THEATRE OF TIMESMITHS, 1984, Victor Gollancz, (Science Fiction), translated into German, French and Portugese.  Published in USA.

WITCHWATER COUNTRY, 1986, The Bodley Head, (General Fiction), translated into German.

SPIRAL WINDS, 1987, The Bodley Head, (General Fiction).

CLOUDROCK, 1988, Unwin Hyman, (Science Fiction), translated into German, French and Portugese.

ABANDONATI, 1988, Unwin Hyman, (Dystopia), translated into French.

HUNTER'S MOON (A story of foxes), 1989, Unwin Hyman, (Animal Fantasy), translated into Dutch, German and Russian.   Published in the USA by Doubleday. Published in abridged form by Reader’s Digest.

MIDNIGHT'S SUN (A story of wolves), 1990, Unwin Hyman, (Animal Fantasy), translated into German and Russian.

STANDING ON SHAMSAN, 1992, Harper Collins, (General Fiction).

FROST DANCERS (A story of hares), 1992, Harper Collins (Animal Fantasy) Translated into German and Russian.

ANGEL, 1993, Victor Gollancz, (Supernatural Thriller). Translated into German, Norwegian and Russian.   Sold in USA.

ARCHANGEL, 1994, Victor Gollancz, (Supernatural Thriller). Translated into Norwegian, German, Russian.

HOUSE OF TRIBES, 1995, Bantam Books, (Animal fantasy), Translated into German, Russian and Polish.

THE ROOF OF VOYAGING, 1996, First part of Trilogy The Navigator Kings, Little Brown.  (Polynesian Fantasy) Translated into German, French, Russian and Czech.

A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE, 1996, Bantam Books, (Shakespeare's faires) Translated into French (Gallimard and Mnemos) and German.

THE PRINCELY FLOWER, 1997, Second part of Trilogy The Navigator Kings, Little Brown. (Polynesian Fantasy). Translated into German, French, Russian and Czech.

LAND-OF-MISTS, 1998, Third part of Trilogy The Navigator Kings, Little Brown. (Polynesian Fantasy), Translated into German, French, Russian and Czech.

SHADOW-HAWK, 1999, Orbit (Dyak Indian Fantasy), Translated into Czech, Translated into Russian and German.

Novels (as Kim Hunter)

KNIGHT’S DAWN, 2000, Orbit The Red Pavilions Book 1 (Fantasy), Translated into Russian.

WIZARD’S FUNERAL, 2002, Orbit The Red Pavilions Book 2 (Fantasy),

Translated into Russian.

SCABBARD’S SONG, 2003, Orbit The Red Pavilions Book 3 (Fantasy), Translated into Russian.

Novels (as Garry Douglas or Garry Douglas Kilworth).

HIGHLANDER, 1986, Grafton Books, (Novelisation of SF film), translated into Hungarian.

THE STREET, 1988, Grafton Books, (Horror).

THE DEVIL'S OWN, 1997, HarperCollins, (Historical War Novel) - all the Crossman books have been translated into Norwegian.

THE VALLEY OF DEATH, 1998, HarperCollins, (Historical War Novel)

SOLDIERS IN THE MIST, 1999, HarperCollins, (Historical War Novel)

THE WINTER SOLDIERS, 2002, ConstableRobinson (Historical War Novel). Published in USA by Carrol and Graf.

ATTACK ON THE REDAN, 2003, ConstableRobinson (Historical War Novel).

Published in the USA by Carrol and Graf.

BROTHERS OF THE BLADE, 2004, ConstableRobinson (Historical War Novel).

ROGUE OFFICER, 2006, SevernHouse (Historical War Novel). Audio tape with Isis Publishing, 2007.

KIWI WARS, 2008, SevernHouse (Historical War Novel). Audio cd.

SCARLET SASH,2010, SevernHouse (Historical War Novel). Audio cd.

DRAGOONS, 2011, SevernHouse (Historical War Novel). Audio cd.

THE IRON WIRE, 2014, Infinity Plus Books (Historical Novel).

THE SOMETIMES SPURIOUS TRAVELS THROUGH TIME AND SPACE  OF JAMES OVIT, 2017, Infinity Plus Books, (Science Fiction)

Novels (as F K Salwood).

THE OYSTERCATCHER'S CRY, 1993, Headline Books, (Essex Saga).

THE SAFFRON FIELDS, 1994, Headline Books, (Essex Saga).

THE RAGGED SCHOOL, 1995, Headline Books, (Essex Saga).

Novels (as Richard Argent)

WINTER’S KNIGHT, 2010, Atom Books (Young Adult Historical Fantasy).

Short Story Collections.

THE SONGBIRDS OF PAIN, 1984, Victor Gollancz, (Science Fiction and Contemporary Fantasy), Contains: The Dissemblers, The Rose Bush, Blind Windows, Lord of the Dance, Let's Go To Golgotha!, Sumi Dreams of a Paper Frog, Scarlet Fever, The Man Who Collected Bridges, The Invisible Foe, Almost Heaven, God's Cold Lips, Oubliette, The Songbirds of Pain.  Translated into French.

IN THE HOLLOW OF THE DEEP-SEA WAVE, 1989, The Bodley Head, (General Fiction and Contemporary Fantasy), Contains: Novel - In The Hollow Of The Deep-sea Wave, Filming the Making of the Film of the Making of Fitzcarraldo, Blood Orange, Glory of the Seas, The River-Sailor's Wife, Feral Moon, Thunder of the Captains, Island with the Stink of Ghosts.

IN THE COUNTRY OF TATTOOED MEN, 1993, HarperCollins, (Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror Stories), Contains: Truman Capote's Trilby: The Facts, In the Country of Tattooed Men, Surfing Spanish Style, The Black Wedding, Murderers Walk, Hogfoot Right and Bird-hands, The Men's Room, Dop*elgan*er, 1948, Usurper, Networks, Hobblythick Lane, Giant, Beyond Byzantium, Spiral Sands, On the Watchtower at Plataea, The Wall, Memories of the Flying Ball Bike Shop, x-Calibre, Bronze Casket for a Mummified 

Shrew-mouse.

HOGFOOT RIGHT AND BIRD-HANDS, 1993, Edgewood Press, USA, (Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror Stories, Contains: Spiral Sands, The Looking-Glass Man, Island with the Stink of Ghosts, Truman Capote's Trilby: The Facts, Doppelganger, Inside The Walled City, On The Watchtower at Plataea, 1948, White Noise, Usurper, Murderers Walk, The Vivarium, Hogfoot Right and Bird-hands.

MOBY JACK AND OTHER TALL TALES, 2006, PS Publishing.

The Sculptor,Black Drongo, Bonsai Tiger, Attack of the Charlie Chaplins, Cherub, The Council of Beasts, The Frog Chauffeur, Hamelin Nebraska, Hunter’s Hall, Something’s Wrong with the Sofa, Exploding Sparrows, Death of the Mocking Man, Wayang Kulit, Inside the Walled City, My Lady Lygia, Oracle Bones, Paper Moon, Store Wars, The Megowl, The Silver Collar, Moby Jack.

TALES FROM THE FRAGRANT HARBOUR, 2010, PS Publishing.

Once-told Tales: Chandler’s Coffin, Shoot-out in the New Territories, The Snake-man Cometh, Moon Day, Face, Children of the Volcano, Walking Caged Birds, Triads, The River-sailor’s Wife, Typhoon, Blood Orange, Mr HoTwice-told Tales: Inside the Walled City, The Hungry Ghosts, The Dragon Slayer, The Cave Painting, Island with the Stink of Ghosts, Love Child, Snake Dreams, Waiting by the Corpse, Mirrors, Memories of the Flying Ball Bike Shop.

PHOENIX MAN – 13 ECLECTIC TALES, 2011, Infinity Plus ebooks.

Atlantic Crossing, 12 Men Born of Woman, Murders in the White Garden, Phoenix Man, Sacrificial Anode, Sunday Lunch, The Book of Explorers, On the Eyelids of a Wolf, The Night We Drove the Aliens Back, The Human’s Child, Out Back, Monsters X 3.

THE FABULOUS BEAST,  2013, Infinity Plus Books. The Fabulous Beast, Murders in the White Garden, Stalking Moon, 12 Men Born of Woman, Atlantic Crossing, Sacrificial Anode, On the Eyelids of a Wolf, Moretta, Spice, Out Back, The Farrier’s Wife, Call Centre Incident, The Human’s Child, La Belle Dame Sans Grace, Phoenix Man, Gifts, Monsters X 3, The Elf Killer.

THE BEST SHORT STORIES OF GARRY KILWORTH, 2017, Infinity Plus Books.

Novels for Children and Young Adults.

THE WIZARD OF WOODWORLD, 1987, Dragon Books (Collins), (Science Fiction/Fantasy).

THE VOYAGE OF THE VIGILANCE, 1988, Armada Books (Collins), (Science Fiction/Fantasy).

THE RAIN GHOST, 1989, Hippo Books (Scholastic), (Contemporary ghost).  Published in the USA, translated into French and Dutch.

THE THIRD DRAGON, 1991, Hippo Books (Scholastic), (Mystery). Translated into Norwegian.

THE DROWNERS, 1991, Methuen Childrens' Books, (Historical ghost).  Cassette tape made, Chivers, 1993.

BILLY PINK'S PRIVATE DETECTIVE AGENCY, 1993, Methuen Children's Books (Historical ghost).   Broadcast on BBC Jackanory.

THE PHANTOM PIPER, 1994, Methuen Children's Books (Historical ghost).

THE ELECTRIC KID, 1994, Bantam Books, (Science Fiction). Translated into Italian.  Translated into Russian.  Sold in USA.

THE BRONTE GIRLS, 1995, Methuen Children's Books, (General Fiction).   Translated into Italian.

CYBERCATS, 1996, Bantam Books (Science Fiction). Translated into Russian.

THE RAIDERS,1996, Mammoth Books. (Conservation and Adventure).

THE GARGOYLE, 1997, Mammoth Books, (Fantasy).

THE WELKIN WEASELS: BOOK ONE - THUNDER OAK, 1997, Corgi Books, (Animal Fantasy). Translated into Polish and Russian. Re-translated into Russian by Palmyra Publishers (All six Weasel books).

DRUMMER BOY, 1998, Mammoth Children's Books (Historical fiction).

HEAVENLY HOSTS VERSUS HELL UNITED, 1998, (Graphic novel with artist Mark Oliver) Mammoth Epix.

THE WELKIN WEASELS: BOOK TWO - CASTLE STORM, 1998, Corgi Books, (Animal fantasy).  Translated into Polish and Russian.

THE LANTERN FOX,1998, Mammoth Books, (Fantasy).

THE WELKIN WEASELS: BOOK THREE - WINDJAMMER RUN, 1999, Corgi Books, (Animal Fantasy).  Translated into Polish and Russian.

HEY, NEW KID, 1999, Mammoth Books, (Realist).

THE WELKIN WEASELS BOOK FOUR - GASLIGHT GEEZERS, 2001, (Animal fantasy) Corgin books.  Translated into Russian.

SOLDIER’S SON, 2001, (Historical fiction), A&C Black.

MONSTER SCHOOL, 2001, (Graphic novel), A&C Black. Translated into Korean.

THE WELKIN WEASELS BOOK FIVE - VAMPIRE VOLES, 2002, (Animal fantasy), Corgi Books.  Translated into Russian.  

NIGHTDANCER, 2002, (Polynesian dark fantasy), Dolphin Books.

SPIGGOT’S QUEST, 2002, (Faerieland), Atom Books. Translated into Russian.

THE WELKIN WEASELS BOOK SIX - HEASTWARD HO!, 2003, (Animal fantasy), Corgi Books.  Translated into Russian.

MALLMOC’S CASTLE, 2003, (Faerieland) Atom Books.  Published in Russia.

BOGGART AND FEN, 2004, (Faerieland) Atom Books.

THE SILVER CLAW, 2005, (Animal fantasy set in Venice), Corgi Books.

ATTICA, 2006, (fantasy mystery), Atom Books. Translated into Polish, Portugese, German, Romanian, Korean, Turkish, Thai, Greek, Czech, Lithuania, Russian (Geleos), Italian.  Film rights sold to Initial Entertainment of the Warner Group. Blackstone Audio Books, USA.

JIGSAW, 2007, (Fantasy), Atom Books.  Translated into Lithuanian and Russian (Geleos).

THE HUNDRED-TOWERED CITY,2008, (Time Travel), Atom Books.Translated into Russian (Geleos), into Indonesian (Limkata Pt Niaga Swadaya).

TENNYSON’S GHOST,2015, (Ghost story), e-book only Draft2Digital.

VICCY RULES OK and THE ICEHOUSE BOY, 2015, e-book, Amazon Kindle Direct.

Short Story Collections for Young Adults.

DARK HILLS, HOLLOW CLOCKS, 1990, Methuen Children's Books, (Folklore Fantasy), Contains: Dogfaerie, Dark Hills Hollow Clocks, The Dragon Slayer, The Goblin Jag, Warrior Wizards, The Sleeping Giants, The Hungry Ghosts, Changelings, The Orkney Trows, Scarecrows.

Non-fiction

ON MY WAY TO SAMARKAND, 2012, Memoirs of a travelling writer, Infinity Plus Books.

Poetry

TREE MESSIAH, 1985, Envoi Poets Publication.

POEMS, PEOMS AND OTHER ATROCITIES, 2013, A collection of poems by Garry Kilworth and Robert Holdstock. Stanza Press (PS Publishing).

A RURAL 1950s BOYHOOD, 2017, Wild Hare Books.

ALCHEMY IN REVERSE,2017, Stanza Press.

POEMS WRITTEN IN MY YOUTH, 2017, Wild Hare Books.

Individual Short Stories.

Let's Go To Golgotha!, 1974, Sunday Times Weekly Review (Dec 15th), translated into Polish, Czechoslovakian, Spanish, French and Danish.

The Soul of Colonel 607, 1975, anthologised in Gollancz/Sunday Times Best SF Stories.  No editor, but forward by Brian Aldiss.

Reaching Out, 1976, Science Fiction Monthly (Vol3No3).

A Warrior Falls, 1979, anthologised in Pulsar Two, Penguin Books, Edited by George Hay.

Grenzkrieg, 1979, SF Story Reader, Heyne.  (In German Only).

God's Cold Lips, 1979, anthologised in Aries 1, David and Charles, Edited by John Grant, translated into French.

The Man Who Collected Bridges, 1980, Amazing Magazine USA, (May Vol27No7).  Translated into Czechoslovakian and French.

Lord of the Dance, 1980, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine USA (Nov Vol59No5).  Translated into French.

Toomey's Circus, 1981, Ad Astra Magazine (Vol1No6).

The Rose Bush, 1981, Ad Astra Magazine (Vol3No13), translated into Czechoslovakian and French.

Sumi Dreams of a Paper Frog, 1982, Extro Magazine (Vol1No1).

Scarlet Fever, 1982, Extro Magazine (Vol1No3), translated into Czechoslovakian and French.

Oubliette, 1982, Ambit Magazine, (No90).

Almost Heaven, 1982, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, USA, (Feb Vol62No2). Translated into French.

Blind Windows, 1982, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, USA, (Jul Vol63No1).  Translated into Czech.

The Invisible Foe, 1982, Isaac Asimov's Magazine, USA, (Jan Vol6No1). Translated into French.

Love Child, 1982, anthologised in Fontana Book of Horror Stories, edited by Mary Danby.

The lights of the City, 1982, anthologised in Alien Monsters, Sparrow Childrens' Books, edited by Peter Davidson.

The Dissemblers, 1983, Interzone Magazine, (Vol1No3).   Translated into French.

The Tryst, 1983, anthologised in Fontana Book of Ghost Stories, edited by R Chetwynd-Hayes).

The House that Joachim Jakober Built, 1984, anthologised in Allen and Unwins, Beyond The Lands of Never, edited by Maxim Jakubowski.  Film rights sold to Columbia Pictures.

Image in a Dark Glass, 1985, Twilight Zone Magazine, USA, (Vol5No3).

Spiral Winds (later Spiral Sands), 1985, Interzone Magazine (Autumn No9), translated into French.

The Lost Gardens of Enid Blyton, Lucy Atwell, Beatrix Potter and the Rest of the Lads of the 32nd Parachute Regiment, 1985, Isaac Asmimov's Magazine, USA, (Mar Vol9No3), appeared also in illustrated magazine.

Thunder of the Captains, 1985, Isaac Asimov's Magazine, USA, (Jun Vol9No6).

The Songbirds of Pain, 1985, Omni Magazine, USA, (Aug Vol7No11), translated into Czechoslovakian and French.

The Final Assassin, 1985, Isaac Asimov's Magazine, USA, (Jan Vol9No1). Czeckoslovakian.

Paper Moon, 1986, Omni Magazine, USA, (Jan Vol9No4).

Hobblythick Lane, 1986, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, USA, (Jul Vol71No1).

Angel's Eyes, 1986, Twilight Zone Magazine, USA, (Aug Vol6No3).

The Vivarium, 1986, Interzone Magazine, (Spring No15).

Feral Moon, 1987, The Fiction Magazine, (Jul/Aug Vol6No6).

Doppelganger, 1987, Interzone Magazine, (Autumn No21).

Hogfoot Right and Birdhands, 1987, one of three stories under general title of Tryptychanthologised in Other Edens, Unwin Hyman, edited by Christopher Evans and Robert Holdstock, translated into Japanese and Polish.

The Black Wedding(see Hogfoot Right and Birdhands).

Murderers Walk(see Hogfoot Right and Birdhands).

The Earth is Flat and We're All Like to Drown, 1987, Tales from the Forbidden Planet, Titan Books, edited by Roz Kaveney.

The Looking-glass Man, 1988, Omni Magazine, USA, (Mar Vol10No6).

On the Watchtower at Platæa, 1988, anthologised in Other Edens II, Unwin Hyman, edited by Christopher Evans and Robert Holdstock.   Translated into Polish.

Beyond Byzantium, 1988, anthologised in the World Fantasy Convention Programme Book.

The Cave,1988, Trivial Tales, Novacon 18 Special, BSFG.

The Wall, 1988, Trivial Tales, Novacon 18 Special, BSFG.

Blood Orange, 1989, collected in In The Hollow of The Deep-sea Wave, The Bodley Head.

Glory of the Seas, (see Blood Orange).

The River-sailor's Wife, (see Blood Orange).

Island with the Stink of Ghosts, (see Blood Orange).

The Silver Collar, 1989, anthologised in Blood is not Enough, Morrow USA, edited by Ellen Datlow, translated into Japanese, Czechoslovakian, Finnish and Italian.

Filming the Making of the Film of the Making of Fitzcarraldo, 1989, Omni Magazine, USA, (Mar Vol11No6).

Ifurin and the Fat Man, 1989, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, USA, (Mar Vol76No3).

Dogfaerie, 1989, anthologised in Hidden Turnings, Methuen Books, edited by Dianna Wynne Jones.

Bowmen in the Mist, 1989, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, USA, (Jun Vol76No6).

The Men's Room, 1989, Interzone Magazine, (May/June No29).

White Noise, 1989, anthologised in Zenith, Sphere Books, edited by David Garnett.

Usurper, 1989, anthologised in Dark Fantasies, Legend Books, edited by Chris Morgan.

Snake Dreams, 1989, anthologised in Tarot Tales, Legend Books, edited by Rachel Pollack and Caitlin Matthews.

When the Music Stopped, 1989, anthologised in Other Edens III, Unwin Hyman, edited by Christopher Evans and Robert Holdstock, co-written with Christian Lehmann.

Truman Capote's Trilby: The Facts, 1990, BBR Magazine, (Spring No 15).

Surfing, Spanish Style, 1990, The Gate Magazine, (No2).   Translated into Polish.

X-Calibre, 1990, anthologised in Zenith II, Sphere Books, edited by David Garnett.

Dark Hills, Hollow Clocks, 1990, collected in Dark Hills, Hollow Clocks, Methuen Books.

The Goblin Jag, (see Dark Hills).  Translated into French.

The Orkney Trows, (see Dark Hills).

Scarecrows, (see Dark Hills).

Warrior Wizards, (see Dark Hills).

Changelings, (see Dark Hills).

The Sleeping Giants, (see Dark Hills).

The Hungry Ghosts, (see Dark Hills).

The Dragon Slayer, (see Dark Hills).  Translated into French.

Bronze Casket for a Mummified Shrew-Mouse, 1990, anthologised in Digital Dreams, New English Library, edited by David V Barrett.

The Amorous Adventures of Hogfoot Right, 1990, anthologised in Arrows of Eros, New English Library, edited by Alex Stewart.

Networks, 1990, anthologised in Fantasy Tales Magazine 

(Vol12No5).

Inside The Walled City, 1990, anthologised in Walls of Fear, edited by Kathryn Cramer, Morrow Books, USA.

In The Country of Tattooed Men, 1990, Omni Magazine, USA, (Sep Vol12No12). 

Hamelin, Nebraska, 1991, Interzone Magazine (No48, June).  Translated into FrenchLegendesanthology.

The Woodman's Enigma,1991, Haunting Christmas Tales, Scholastic Books.  (Read by Edward de Suza, BBC5 21 Dec 92) Translated into Norwegian.   Sold in USA.

The Ragthorn,1991, The Whisper of Blood, Morrow (USA), anthology edited by Ellen Datlow.  (Collaboration with Robert Holdstock). Translated into French and Czech. Stand-alone paperback, by Infinity Plus, 2015.

Memories of the Flying Ball Bike Shop, 1992, Isaac Asimov's Magazine, June Issue.

The Sculptor,1992, Interzone Magazine (No 60, June), translated into Czechoslovakian.

Home, 1992, Works.

The Megowl, 1992, Young adults' anthology Chilling Christmas Tales, Scholastic Books.  Translated into Norwegian and Greek.

The Elevator, 1992, Darklands 2, edited by Nicholas Royle, Egerton Press.

My Lady Lygia, 1992, REM Sf and fantasy magazine Issue 2.

The Cave Painting, 1992, Omni Best Science Fiction 2 anthology edited by Ellen Datlow, Omni Books.

1948, 1992, Strange Plasma Magazine, No.5, ed. Steve Pasechnick.

Fossils, 1993, Interzone Magazine, (No 69, March).

Hunter's Hall, 1993, Mysterious Christmas Tales, anthology, Scholastic Books.

Giant, 1993, In The Country of Tattooed Men, collected stories, HarperCollins.

Punctuated Evolution, 1993, CRANK! Magazine, Issue No.1.

Face, 1993, Trafika, International Literary Magazine, Prague,

Autumn, Issue No. One.

Oracle Bones, 1993, Touch Wood (Narrow Houses Vol.2), anthology, Little Brown, edited by Peter Crowther.

Black Drongo, 1994, Omni Magazine, (USA), (Vol.16 No.8), May.

Store Wars,1994, The Anthology of Fantasy and Supernatural, edited by Stephen Jones and David Sutton (Tiger Books).

Nerves of Steel,1994, New Worlds 4 Science Fiction anthology edited by David Garnett (Victor Gollancz).

The Tallow Tree, 1994, Cold Cuts II (More tales of terror) edited by Paul Lewis and Steve Lockley (Alun Books).

Wayang Kulit, 1994, Interzone Magazine (No 90 December Issue) edited by David Pringle.

The House That Jack Built, 1994, 13 More Tales of Horror, (Point Horror) edited by Anne Finnis (Scholastic).

Waiting by the Corpse, 1995, Maelstrom, edited by Malcolme E Wright (Sol Publications).

Cherub, 1995, Heaven Sent, anthology edited by Peter Crowther (Daw Books, USA).  Translated into French.

The Rattan Collar1995, 13 Again (Point Horror), Scholastic Books, edited by Anne Finnis.   Translated into Czech.

Triads, 1995, Heart to Heart, Mammoth Books, Anthology edited by Miriam Hodgson.

Masterpiece, 1995, Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears, Morrow Books, Anthology edited by Ellen Datlow and Terry Windling.

{CENTURY!   100 STORIES PUBLISHED OVER 20 YEARS}

Singing Rock, 1996, Kimota 4 SF Fantasy Magazine, edited by Graeme Hurry.

The Council of Beasts, 1996, Interzone Magazine (September Issue No. 111), edited by David Pringle.

The Goatboy and the Giant, 1966, Fantasy Stories, Anthology edited by Mike Ashley with an Introduction by myself, Robinson Books.

Something's Wrong With The Sofa, 1997, The Edge, edited by Graham Evans.

The Trial of Hansel and Gretel, 1997, Black Swan, White Raven, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, Avon Books.

Attack of the Charlie Chaplins, 1997, New Worlds anthology edited by David Garnett, White Wolf Books.

Moby Jack, 1997, The Edge, edited by Graham Evans.

Mirrors, 1998, Sirens and other Daemon Lovers, Edited by Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow, HarperCollins.

We Are The Music Makers, 1999, Zetnet Internet Website, Keith 

The Frog Chauffeur, 1999, Silver Birch, Blood Moon, anthology by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, Avon Fiction.  Translated into French.

Death of the Mocking Man, 1999, Interzone Magazine No.147 edited by David Pringle.

Bonsai Tiger, 2000, Spectrum SF 1 edited by Paul Fraser.

The Stray, 2000, Spiral Words 5, edited by Mike Stone.

The Sharpshooter,2001, ‘Sword of Honour’ anthology edited by Mike Ashley, Robinson

Elephant Island, 2002, SORTED!, a Rigby Navigator anthology of 3 children’s stories.

Phoenix Man, 2005, ‘Don’t Turn Out The Light’ anthology edited by Stephen Jones.  PS Publishing.

Gifts,2005/6, Broadcast by BBC Radio.

Murders in the White Garden, 2006, Postscripts Magazine, edited by Peter Crowther.

12 Men Born of Woman, 2006, Postscripts Magazine edited by Peter Crowther.

The Human’s Child, 2006, In the Country of Tattooed Men and Other Cyphers, Humdrumming Books.

The Green Man Tennis Club, 2006, In the Country etc., Humdrumming Books.

Alien Embassy, 2006, In the Country etc., Humdrumming Books. [Reprinted in the Penguin ‘Science Fiction Omnibus’ edited by Brian Aldiss].

Sacrificial Anode, 2006, The First Humdrumming Book of Horror Stories, selected by Ian Alexander Martin.

Atlantic Crossing,  2008, Post Scripts 15, edited by Peter Crowther.

Alles in Ordnung, 2009, We Think, Therefore We Are, anthology edited by Peter Crowther.

La Belle Dame Dans San Grace, 2009, The British Fantasy Society Yearbook.

Hats off to Mary, 2010, ‘Requiems for the Departed’ anthology edited by Mike Stone and Gerard Brennan.  Morrigan Books.

Out Back,2010, BFS Convention Programme Booklet, edited by Guy Adams.

Moretta,2011, House of Fear Anthology, edited by Jonathan Oliver, Solaris.

The Fabulous Beast, 2012, BFS Journal edited by Guy Adams, Lou Morgan, Ian Hunter.

Stalking Moon, 2013, ‘The Fabulous Beast’ collection published by Infinity Plus.

Spice,2013, ditto.

Call Centre Incident, Procyon 3, 2013, ditto.

Monsters x 3, 2013, ditto.

The Elf Killer, 2013, ditto.

On the Eyelids of a Wolf, 2013, ditto.

The Farrier’s Wife,2012, ditto.

The Watchers,‘Tales from the Vatican Vaults’, anthology edited by David V Barrett, 2015.

The Secret Atlas, 2015,

Seducing an Angel, 2016, ‘Scarlet Street Magazine’.

43 novels

33 young adult novels

9 collections of short stories

2 Non-fiction books

145 individual short stories

5 Collections of Poetry

Awards and near misses: (Garry Kilworth)

WINNERof the Gollancz/Sunday Times Best SF Prize (short story) for Let's Go To Golgotha!  (1974)

WINNERof the World Fantasy Award (Novella) for The Ragthorn(1992)written with Robert Holdstock.  

WINNERof the Interzone Magazine readers' Short Story Poll for The Sculptor(1992).

WINNERof the British Science Fiction Association award for The Ragthorn(1994) written with Robert Holdstock.

WINNERof the Interzone Magazine readers' Short Fiction Poll for

The Ragthorn(1994) written with Robert Holdstock.

WINNERof The Lancashire County Library/National Westminster Bank Children's Book of the Year Award

for the novel THE ELECTRIC KID, (1995).

WINNER of the Locus online ‘Best SF, Fantasy and Horror of 2006’ (Collections) for MOBY JACK AND OTHER TALL TALES.

WINNER of the Charles Whiting Award for Literature, 2008.

Runner up for the East Anglia 'Angel' Award for Fiction (Novel and short stories) for IN THE HOLLOW OF THE DEEP-SEA WAVE (1990)

Library Association's Carnegie MedalCommendationfor the juvenile novel The Drowners(1992)

Shortlisted for British Science Fiction Association Award (Short Story): four different years for

The Dissemblers(1983), 

Spiral Winds(1985), 

Hogfoot Right and Birdhands(1987),

The Sculptor(1993).

Shortlisted for the Grand Prix de L’Imaginaire for (Short Story, Novella, Novel)

 Abandonati(1992)

The Sculptor (2000)

The Ragthorn(2001)

Shortlisted for World Fantasy Award (Short Story) for Hogfoot Right and Birdhands(1987)

Shortlisted for World Fantasy Award (Short Story Collection) for THE SONGBIRDS OF PAIN. (1984)

Shortlisted for Smarties' Prize for The Drowners(1992)

Shortlisted for World Fantasy Award (Short Story Collection) for 

HOGFOOT RIGHT AND BIRDHANDS(1994).

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal for juvenile novel The Brontë Girls(1996)

Shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book Prize for The Gargoyle(1998).

Shortlisted for the Stockton Children's Book Prize for Drummer Boy(1999).

Longlisted for the Booker Prize for Witchwater Country(1986)

Translated into the following languages:

1. German

2. Polish

3. Japanese

4. Portugese

5. French

6. Dutch

7. Hungarian

8. Czechoslovakian

9. Spanish

10. Danish

11. Finnish

12. Italian

13. Hebrew

14. Norwegian

15. Russian

16. Greek

17. Turkish

18. Thai

19. Korean

20. Romanian

21. Lithuanian

22. Indonesian

23. Belgium’s Walloon and Flemish

Publishers to date

Faber and Faber                                                Knaur (Germany)

Black Lizard (USA)                                         Octobus Books Ltd

The Bodley Head                                              Corvus (USA)

Penguin Books                                                  St Martin’s Press (USA) 

Victor Gollancz                                                Morrow (USA)

Unwin Hyman                                                   Head of Zeus (USA)

Random House                                                 Zebra Books (USA)

Little Brown                                                      Barnes and Noble

Grafton                                                             Creed

Constable Robinson                                          The Book Company

Carrol and Graf                                                Ace Books New York

Harper Collins                                                   Cemetery Dance Publications

Hodder and Stoughton                                      Omni Books (USA)

Collins                                                              Hamlyn

A&C Black                                                        Fontana

Scolastic                                                            Sphere

Reed                                                                  Orbit

Severn House                                                    New English Library

PS Publishing                                                    Avon Books New York

Infinity Plus Books                                           Solaris

Simon and Schuster                                          Bantam Spectra (USA)

Random House                                                 Broken Mirrors Press

Methuen                                                            Dreamhaven Books (USA)

Tor (USA)                                                        Warner Books (USA)

Daw (USA)                                                      Hemiro (Russia)

Weidenfeld and Nicolson (New York)             Rokurin Sha

Berkley Books (New York)                              Le Livre de Poche (France)

Piper (Germany)                                               Geleos (Russia)

Azbooka (Russia)                                            Terre de Brume (France)

Salani Editore (Italy)                                        Mnemos (France)

Mora Fenenc Konyvkiado (Hungary)              Editions de l'Oxymore (France)

Manticore (France)                                         Talpress

Editions Chantecler (Belgium)                       Editions Delta (Belgium)

Forum (Denmark)                                           Blanvalet (Germany)

Caminho (Portugal)                                        Hayakawa (Japan)

Bosch & Kuening (Netherlands)                    Fredhois Forlag (Norway)

White Wolf Publishing                                    David and Charles

Xanadu

Some Reviews of Garry Kilworth's Books

His characters are strong and the sense of place he creates is immediate and strong.  (Sunday Times)

THE SONGBIRDS OF PAIN is excellently crafted . . . Kilworth is a master of his trade.    (Punch Magazine)

Arguably the finest writer of short fiction today, in any genre.   (New Scientist)

SPIRAL WINDS: A subtle, poetic novel about the power of place - in this case the South Arabian Deserts - and the lure of myth.  It haunted me long after it ended.   (City Limits Magazine)

HUNTER'S MOON: The one talking-animal book you must read . . . a thrilling novel.  (White Dwarf Magazine)

ABANDONATI: Full of hope, irony and despair and as moving in its understated way as Riddley Walker, the last post-apocalypse novel worth paying hard cash for.   (Time Out Magazine)

WITCHWATER COUNTRY: Atmospherically overcharged like an impending thunderstorm.  (The Guardian)

THE NIGHT OF KADAR: An utterly original and important work that promotes is author to the first rank . . .  (Newsagent and Bookshop)

A THEATRE OF TIMESMITHS: A convincing display of fine talent. (The Times)

A British writer who shows great versatility and invention . . . Kilworth has a fertile, wideranging imagination.   (Library Journal)

WITCHWATER COUNTRY: Garry Kilworth is a remarkable writer.  (Knave Magazine)

CLOUDROCK: Kilworth [is] one of the most significant writers in the English language.  (Fear Magazine)

HUNTER'S MOON: A rich and beautiful novel, uplifting, exciting . . . intelligent, quick and humorous, the positive praises flow forth unhindered when reading this splendid story.   (Swedish Library Service).

THE DROWNERS: Kilworth achieves a great depth of emotion and storytelling.  (Time Out)

IN THE COUNTRY OF TATTOOED MEN: The tales are haunting, often almost poetic, but still chilling. (Fantasy Zone - Martin Feekins)

IN THE COUNTRY OF TATTOOED MEN: . . . A masterpiece of balanced and enigmatic storytelling . . . Kilworth has mastered the form.

(Times Literary Supplement.)

THE DROWNERS: . . . a gripping story, an array of memorable characters, a sense of period and community in prose that ripples with images from the waterlands. (Viewpoint - Melbourne University)

DARK HILLS, HOLLOW CLOCKS: Children who enjoy rich, evocative language will be well served here: some of Kilworth's (tales), as in the 'The Goblin Jag', are magnificent.  (Times Ed. Supplement).

THE NAVIGATOR KINGS: His characters are both believably heroic and believably flawed; the complex culture of the Polynesians is admirably invoked and the interaction of the world and its gods and spirits is executed with a casual yet precise playfulness. (Paul J McAuley - Interzone Magazine).

A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE: The book's a delight - I love it!' (Fay Weldon - Mail On Sunday).

THE ROOF OF VOYAGING: An absolute delight, based on the myths and legends of the Polynesian peoples.  (Mark Morris - SFX Magazine)

THE PRINCELY FLOWER: Kilworth's enthralling writing transforms myths into reality.  (Sharon Gosling - SFX Magazine).

This is a great, great, great book.  (Roger Swift - Black Tears)

LAND OF MISTS: Rich and detailed legends are woven with myth and fiction in this great fantasy.  The final volume of a wonderful trilogy.  (Aaron Baker -Black Tears)

A beautiful ending to an excellent saga.  (Sharon Gosling - SFX Magazine)

SHADOW-HAWK: This book is wonderful, representing as it does, good fun without complications, and joy without debt.  (David Mathew - Interzone Magazine).

A richly evocative tale (which) examines the cultural interpretation of myths and legends from both European and Borneo perspectives.  (SFX Magazine)

VAMPIRE VOLES: This book is mostly exciting, with hardly an exceptions. (Tim, aged 13 - Cool Reads Magazine)

CASTLE STORM: This is a delightful book, the second in his series for children The Welkin Weasels.  (Lesley Hatch - Vector Magazine).

SPIGGOT’S QUEST: The humour is at times delightfully topical and a nice touch. (Rachel A Hyde - Myshelf.com)

GASLIGHT GEEZERS:  The characters are fascinating and the author weaves a fantastic and colourful image of life in the animal side of Welkin. (Sarah Hutchinson aged 12 - Young Adult Review News)

DARK HILLS, HOLLOW CLOCKS:  One is left in no doubt about the quality of the writing or of Kilworth’s talent . . . (Times Educational Supplement)

THE DEVIL’S OWN: Rip-roaring adventure at the time of the Crimean War . . . military history brought vividly to life.  (Manchester Evening News)

THE SILVER CLAW: A gripping tale of intrigue and menance, plots and counterplots, set within the richness of a watery city . . . a must-read. (Teaching and Learning)

THE SILVER CLAW: a thrilling book of intrigue and dark plots.  (Write Away!)

JIGSAW: Beautifully written and cleverly paced, Jigsaw brings the lost mix of desert islands and peculiar goings-on to a younger audience.  Character interaction gives vital depth to a very satisfying thriller. (The Bookbag, 4^thNovember, 2007).