Online Encyclopedia
James Blaylock
James P. Blaylock (born September 20, 1950) is an American fantasy author.
Blaylock is noted for his distinctive style. He writes in a humorous way: His characters never walk, they clump along, or when someone complains (in a flying machine) that flight is impossible, the other characters agree and show him why he's right!
He was born in Long Beach, California; studied English at California State University, Fullerton, receiving an M.A. in 1974; and lives in Orange, California, teaching creative writing at Chapman University.
He invented the poet William Ashbless along with Tim Powers.
Novels
A number of Blaylock's novels can be arranged in groups of three by sharing a common setting, characters or style but all his books stand alone and there are no strict literary trilogies amongst them.
- The "Balumnia" Trilogy
Perhaps best described as children's stories for adults.
- The Elfin Ship (1982)
- The Disappearing Dwarf (1983)
- The Stone Giant (1989)
- The "St. Ives" Trilogy
Steampunk-ish — the latter two are set in Victorian England.
- The Digging Leviathan (1984)
- Homunculus (1986)
- Lord Kelvin's Machine (1992)
- The "Christian" Trilogy
Present-day fantasy using Christian elements — such as the Holy Grail and the silver coins paid to Judas — without being in any way "religious".
- The Last Coin (1988)
- The Paper Grail (1991)
- All The Bells On Earth (1995)
- The "Ghosts" Trilogy
Present-day Californian ghost stories.
- Night Relics (1994)
- Winter Tides (1997)
- The Rainy Season (1999)
- Others
- Land of Dreams (1987)
- Thirteen Phantasms (2000) Short story collection
- The Man in the Moon (2002) Original manuscript of The Elfin Ship
- The Devils in the Details (2003) Short story collaboration with Tim Powers
- In For A Penny (2003) Short story collection
External links:
- Website and discussion forum about Blaylock's writing http://www.sybertooth.com/blaylock/