Politically engaged, speculative fiction at its finest. It comes out in paperback this week, and we asked ken what is is about scotland that brings him, and other writers, back to it as a. Apr 14, 2014 descent is essentially ken macleod s attempt to illuminate a collection of conspiracy theories including, but not limited to, alien abduction, government coverup, secret speciation and the potentially impending perils of privatisation. Apr 23, 2014 it is fairly unusual to come across ufoabduction themed genre fiction in the modern era. Macleod is a glasgow university graduate with a degree in zoology. Ken macleod is the multiple awardwinning author of many science fiction novels, including the fall revolution quartet, the engines of light trilogy cosmonaut keep, dark light, and engine city, and several standalone novels including newtons wake, learning the world, and the restoration game. Ken mcleod born 1948 is a senior western translator, author, and teacher of tibetan buddhism.
He was a trotskyist activist in the 1970s and early 1980s and is married and has two children. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx. Macleod s singular ability to transfer pithy scot s accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game. Nov 19, 2014 ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens when conspiracy theorists take on big brother. Nov 18, 2014 macleods singular ability to transfer pithy scots accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game. Descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit. His novels have won the prometheus award and the bsfa award, and been nominated for the. Ken macleod was born in stornoway, isle of lewis, scotland, on august 2, 1954. Mar 21, 2014 descent, a characterless, purposeless, plotless mess, virtually monochrome, monotonous, racist, misogyistic, and more concerned with the awesomeness of cigarettes than anything within the novel itself. It is fairly unusual to come across ufoabduction themed genre fiction in the modern era. The tetraology a combination of politics and neartofar future science fiction, its has a highly atypical structure that showed an eye for clever, cutting dialogue and plotting. Use the handy links below to get started on your free music odyssey. Macleod was born in stornoway, scotland on 2 august 1954. Ken macleod continues the corporation wars trilogy in this actionpacked science fiction adventure told against a backdrop of interstellar drone warfare, virtual reality, and an a.
Like a nearfuture nick hornby novel with men in black as opposed to. The fall revolution books came out of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with all kinds of echoes of the fall of the. When he returns to the scene, however, evidence of the incident is gone. Sep 29, 2014 ken macleod is the author of 14 novels, from 1995s the star fraction to his latest, descent, which portrays a nearfuture scotland transformed by technical and social change, seen through the. Some of you may have heard my shop mentioned on kens site. The cassini division was a finalist for the nebula award. Descent is essentially ken macleods attempt to illuminate a collection.
Work as if you lived in the early days of a better nation. He has an honours and masters degree in biological subjects and worked for some years in the it industry. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. And the ultimate payoff is dh17, an earthlike planet hundreds of light years from human habitation. The cover illustration of ken macleods new novel, descent, is made up entirely of black, white, and grey. Hes willing to drop by here to sign copies of his books, often with brief dedications, which i then send out in hardback. As a teenager, ryan sinclair has a close encounter with a ufo.
This year i was guest selector for the science fiction strand at the edinburgh international book festival again, an opportunity i greatly appreciated and i hope made the most of. Ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens. Basically, if people would like signed copies of his books, i can supply them. Descent by ken macleod by michael levy strange horizons. Nov 18, 2014 descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit.
It isnt necessary to read the star fraction first, but you will miss one nice little joke if you dont. Psychology, perception, meteorology, astronomyufology can be quite educational if you approach it in the right way, p. Issues included relate to the surveillance environment made possible by technology, the role of journalism, and the complexities of personal relationships. Im especially liking his latest series, the corporation wars.
Royalty free music and creative commons music from kevin macleod. Following the us publication of ken macleods fall revolution series, online magazine joked that macleod was a trotskyite libertarian cyberpunk. Ken macleod is the author of 14 novels, from 1995s the star fraction to his latest, descent, which portrays a nearfuture scotland transformed by technical and social change, seen through the. Ken macleod is an awardwinning scottish author of fantasy and science fiction books. Ken macleod has delivered another interesting nearfuture adventure that touches on political and ethical issues of today in a fictional world. Ken macleod is an awardwinning scottish science fiction writer. Buy descent by ken macleod from amazons fiction books store. His first two novels, the star fraction and the stone canal, each won the prometheus award. He received traditional training mainly in the shangpa kagyu lineage through a long association with his principal teacher, kalu rinpoche, whom he met in 1970.
Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx how far would you go for. Hes written a thesis on biomechanics and worked as a computer programmer. The coming of age journey he narrates is engaging and complete. Ken macleods descent is an alien abduction story for the twentyfirst century set in scotlands nearfuture, a novel about what happens when conspiracy theorists take on big brother. Ken macleod books list of books by author ken macleod. What do you think of ken macleods science fiction books. Descent is essentially ken macleods attempt to illuminate a collection of conspiracy theories including, but not limited to, alien abduction, government coverup, secret speciation and the. It was a big deal in the 1980s, but not so much now. Descent, a characterless, purposeless, plotless mess, virtually monochrome, monotonous, racist, misogyistic, and more concerned with the awesomeness of cigarettes than anything within the novel itself. Author ken macleods complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. The novel is dedicated to the memory of macleods friend iain m. Ken macleod has researched many of the evolving developments in technology. Ken macleod on scotland in science fiction orbit books. If these are the early days of a better nation, there must be hope, and a hope of peace is as good as any, and far better than a hollow hoarding greed or the dry lies of an aweless god.
He graduated from glasgow university with a degree in zoology and has worked as a computer programmer and written a masters thesis on biomechanics. Kenneth macrae macleod born 2 august 1954 is a scottish science fiction writer. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial times ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx how far would you go for the truth. Descent by ken macleod at abbeys bookshop 9781841499420. Ken macleod holds a degree in zoology and has worked in the fields of biomechanics and computer programming. Its effectively the bildungsroman part of many of ken macleods books, in which the protagonist goes through early adulthood in a newly socialist utopia, expanded to novel. His novels have won the bsfa award and prometheus award and some been nominated for the nebula and hugo awards. I see it very much as responding to particular historical contexts. Yeah, its got ken macleod level clever ideas and politicoeconomic preoccupations. Mar 10, 2014 descent is essentially ken macleods attempt to illuminate a collection of conspiracy theories including, but not limited to, alien abduction, government coverup, secret speciation and the. Macleods singular ability to transfer pithy scots accents to print is uncanny, his turn of phrase a sign of a writer at the peak of his game.
Moh kohn is a security mercenary unaware that he holds the key to information which could change the world. Descent by ken macleod meet your next favorite book. Ken macleod has researched many of the evolving developments in technology, science and society and has incorporated them. The fall revolution series 4 primary works 7 total works the reading order listed here is that of the original publication, but because the stories are not exactly sequential and in some cases, overlap, many readers argue they could be read in an alternative order. Set in a nearfuture, postindependence scotland, ken macleods 15th novel weaves deftly through thickets of conspiracy theory, drawing in. Born on the scottish isle of skye, he lives in edinburgh. His novels have won the prometheus award and the bsfa award, and been nominated for the hugo and nebula awards.
Macleod graduated from glasgow university with a degree in. Robots are terraforming a distant solar system for eventual human habitation, when some of them attain consciousness. Royalty free music is what everyone wants, because royalties suck. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands james lovegrove, the financial timesken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfxhow far would you go for the truth. But more than a joke, this is a good description of his early science fiction novels.
Just send us an email and well put the best up on the site. Banks, and one feels that the future of scottish sf is in good hands. Descent by macleod, ken and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He has currently withdrawn from teaching, and no longer conducts classes. Clarke awardnominated intrusion, tells a science fiction story for the twentyfirst century this is what happens when conspiracy theorists meet big brother descent by ken macleod at abbeys bookshop 9781841499420 paperback. Clarke awardnominated intrusion, tells a science fiction story for the twentyfirst century this is what happens when conspiracy theorists meet big brother. More generally, you seem to have arrived at the same point as i have.
Great closure to the main story, with just that final touch to let you know this is a story in a wider universe, not a little closed. Read a sample from descent by ken macleod how far would you go for the truth. Born in stornoway, ken macleod is perhaps scotlands most political of authors. But his fall revolution tetraology eventually opened readers eyes to a new voice capable of evolving, or at least capably extending the field. Ken macleod is not a writer who burst onto the scene. If you want to read macleod, read the fantastic fall revolution books. Buy ebook descent by ken macleod, ebook format, from the dymocks online bookstore. The novel is dedicated to the memory of macleod s friend iain m.
Ken macleod is the modern day george orwell sfx descent is politically engaged, brimming with smart ideas and shot through with a mordant wit. However, the opening chapter hints that theres much more than meets the eye in ken macleods descent. See all books authored by ken macleod, including the years best science fiction twentythird annual collection, and cosmonaut keep, and more on. Ken macleod has beautifully followed up his debut novel the star fraction with another set in the same universe, this with a much wider time frame and setting than the first novel. He graduated from glasgow university with a degree in zoology and has worked as a computer programmer and written a masters. He is married with two grownup children and lives in west lothian.
50 1591 1478 258 81 1468 171 939 910 1049 192 250 1069 1536 97 924 512 17 1361 1259 230 782 286 1027 676 874 1563 331 747 790 388 486 1273 36 765 935 998 1345 1239 1467 1492 627 218 285 1410 1182