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Stark Holborn
Holborn at Worldcon 2024 in Glasgow
Holborn at Worldcon 2024 in Glasgow
OccupationWriter
Genre
Notable works
  • Nunslinger (2014)
  • Triggernometry (2021)
  • The Factus Sequence trilogy (2021–2024)

Stark Fairweather Holborn is a British pseudonymous writer of Western films and science fiction. She is known for her work, Nunslinger (2014)[1] and the British Fantasy Award shortlisted Triggernometry (2021). She was on the judging panel for the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2021 and 2024.[2]

Early life

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Holborn cites influence from Tamora Pierce, J. R. R. Tolkien, Philip K. Dick, Halo Jones, and Alan Garner.[3] She has also cited classic sci-fi films including Aliens and The Thing.[4]

Career

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Holborn started writing at 19. After four years of drafting an unpublished book, she began writing Nunslinger.[5] The novel was first published as a series and later in a single volume.[6] The Guardian praised her work as "Witty and atmospheric, with a cliffhanger every few chapters."[7] She wrote and self published Triggernometry, which was nominated for the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella in 2021.[8] It was followed by Ten Low (2021), and subsequently sequels Hel's Eight (2023) and Ninth Life (2024).[9][10]

Holborn is a games writer for the BBC, Cartoon Network and Adult Swim Games, and the lead writer of Shadows of Doubt.[11] In both 2021 and 2024 she was one of the judges for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.[2][12]

Themes

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Themes in Holborn's work include choices, guilt and redemption, and how decision-making becomes harder under duress,[13] as well as the issues of free will and the 'importance of atonement'.[14] There is a strong feminist theme to her work, and a challenging of traditional gender roles.[15] 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".[15]

Reception

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Holborn's novels have been variously described as Space Westerns,[16] weird fiction, horror, fantasy, and with literary elements.[17] They have been praised for their experimental structure, strong writing and fast-paced style.[18] 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".[19] Author Joanne Harris described Hel's Eight as: 'a wonderful fusion of Firefly and Joanna Russ, with an Ennio Morricone soundtrack'.[16]

Identity

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Since the publication of Nunslinger, Holborn's identity has remained elusive. In 2014, The Guardian speculated that the author was probably male,[7] with The Herald making the same assumption.[20] 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?"[21]

Personal life

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Holborn lives in Bristol with her partner.[22]

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. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ASIN B00J379548.
  • Nunslinger. UK: Hodderscape. 2014. ISBN 978-1444789232. Omnibus Edition

Triggernometry

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Factus Sequence

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References

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  1. ^ Shurin, Jared (16 October 2014). "The Best of the West: Jawin' with Nunslinger Author Stark Holborn". Reactor. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Stark Holborn". Science Fiction Awards Database. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  3. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (30 May 2021). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Interviewing Stark Holborn — Runalong The Shelves". Runalong The Shelves. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  5. ^ Reader, Civilian (8 April 2020). "Interview with STARK HOLBORN". Civilian Reader. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  6. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (30 May 2021). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of Ten Low". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b Baddeley, Anna (30 March 2014). "Meet the nun on the run who's a serial offender". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  8. ^ "2021 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus Online. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (23 June 2024). "Review: Ninth Life by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Ninth Life (The Factus Sequence) By Stark Holborn". Penguin Random House. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  11. ^ "An Interview with Stark Holborn". IZ Digital. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Arthur C. Clarke Award: Shortlist announced for sci-fi book award". SciFiNow. 13 May 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  13. ^ Scalzi, John (31 March 2023). "The Big Idea: Stark Holborn". Retrieved 10 July 2024.
  14. ^ Lough, Carrie Chi (12 July 2021). "Review: Ten Low by Stark Holborn". Grimdark Magazine. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  15. ^ a b Hounsom, Lucy (2 April 2020). "Five questions with Stark Holborn | Breaking the Glass Slipper". Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Hel's Eight by Stark Holborn". BSFA Review #21. British Science Fiction Association. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  17. ^ Lawardorn, Damien (31 March 2023). "Hel's Eight Review: A Thrilling Space Western Hard-Nosed Firefly". The Escapist. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  18. ^ "Book Review: Ten Low, by Stark Holborn". At Boundary's Edge. 29 August 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Ten Low by Stark Holborn". www.publishersweekly.com. 13 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Stark Holborn: Nunslinger (Hodder & Stoughton, £8.99)". The Herald. 27 December 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  21. ^ "Nunslinger by Stark Holborn". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  22. ^ Dumpleton, Elise (30 May 2021). "Q&A: Stark Holborn, Author of 'Ten Low'". The Nerd Daily. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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