1140:
1110:
629:. The main inspiration for this book was the dream he had which is now one of the scenes in the book. The principal character is Col, who lives in the privileged upper sections of a mountain-sized city-ship. He has been selected to become the next commander of the craft, but is forced to question his world when a girl who has escaped from the lower decks, seeks his help and reveals to him the poverty and exploitation below the elite world of his upbringing. The novel sold to American publisher
542:
from their former animal state, to become oppressive rulers of humankind. The books focus on two children, a brother and sister, whose parents are taken by the wolves, and who subsequently join the "Free Folk" and become key to the success of the rebellion. Harland was long fascinated with wolves. He credits this obsession to a childhood experience in the UK, when he passed an ominous wood named 'Wolves Wood' on daily basis in a school bus. This left a marked impression upon him.
40:
346:, was released 11 years later in 2004. It describes the journey of the hapless Basil Smorta, a multi lingual bank clerk, who is forced into the company of a group of "fundamental Darwinists" because they've imprisoned the object of his undying love, an Australian singer Volusia, in a mobile iron box. The group travel across Eastern Europe during 1894, and encounter
227:, which prevented him making significant headway with novel projects (and also many short stories) for much of the next 25 years. He once attributed his writer's block partly to his belief that he had to write serious literary novels rather than what he found most enjoyable to work on. It was not until writing the
730:
The setting is the far future, when only scattered ruins remain from the civilization of the present. While artificially created beings called "Humen" conduct an endless war against Heaven, descendants of the original human beings have been reduced to a degraded existence, surviving in ignorance in
258:
for the next year, he could not meet the demands of full-time academic life while writing fiction. Despite an uncertain future in a small
Australian publication market—where books with relatively low volume sales were considered best-sellers and there were few full-time writers—he resigned from his
591:, the novel is mostly in the voice of Sassycat, a truly superior cat. She moves to a new home with her mistress/carer, Rebecca, and does not think much of her new animal neighbours. But she has to work with them in order to defeat the ghosts who are invading their territory from a nearby cemetery.
541:
have overrun and enslaved humankind, leaving only a determined resistance, known as the "Free Folk", who shelter in a subterranean refuge and plot to liberate themselves from their overlords. The revelation unfolded over the larger story arc turns upon the mystery of how these creatures have risen
738:
Ferren’s life changes when he sees a "Celestial" shot down and crashing to the Earth. He investigates and finds the angel
Miriael, semi-conscious and awaiting extinction. Feeling pity for his tribe’s supposed enemy, he feeds her mortal food and thereby "corrupts" her spiritual purity, even as he
549:
for the "best children's illustrated work/picture book" category. In awarding the series an
Aurealis, the judges acknowledged the dual work of Harland and his illustrator partner, Peterson: "The illustrations help to bring alive aspects of the story – muscular pictures for a muscular tale. Laura
187:. For several years, he eventually moved away from his studies, as he worked as a singer, songwriter and poet around Sydney. He published poetry and short stories during this period in a number of literary magazines. He returned to academic life in the 1980s through a tutoring position at the
742:
From
Miriael, Ferren learns truths about the nature of his world. Then, after being temporarily exiled by the People, he ventures into the military-industrial complex of the Humen Camp and learns the truth about "military service". In the end, his relationship with Miriael proves crucial in
734:
Fifteen-year-old Ferren belongs to a tribe called "the People". Like other tribes, the People consider themselves allies of the Humen, although they go in fear of them. Especially terrifying are the black-clad
Selectors who select one tribal member for "military service" each year.
680:
which was planned, but never built, in real history), but before the launching of the great city-ships or juggernauts. The principal character is Astor, who starts out from a refined and privileged background and ends up in the incredibly polluted, fog-bound slums of
422:: its influence has spread across the cosmos, but is increasingly threatened by the Anti-Human, an unknown menace. The Anti-Human follows a steady path from the boundaries of the universe towards the core, consuming Terran colonies as it advances.
527:, all published in 2008. Harland wrote the story, and Laura Peterson provided (mostly full page) illustrations for each chapter. Each tale functions as a self-contained narrative, but the series also interlinks as a larger story arc.
697:. The novels tells the story of the triumph of 'gang music' and the rise to popularity of Astor's band. It also contains a subplot to take power by a group of oligarchs, and explores Astor's relationship with the enigmatic Verrol.
484:
lore on the subjects. He was particularly concerned to present angels as awe inspiring, beautiful and numinous beings. He liked to have angels possess personalities that allow for the reader to empathise, yet be far removed from
165:. After he earned his Bachelor's degree, he planned an ambitious doctoral thesis that would focus on a global theory of poetry language, and approached numerous universities around the globe seeking funding for his research.
219:
that won a prominent United
Kingdom competition. He also wrote and distributed stories while at school, exchanging ongoing installments for sweets and other tokens, when other pupils were reluctant to part with legal tender.
642:. Both feature a young male heir to a position of power in an unfair class-based society, with a young woman of the worker class teaming together with the young man to overthrow the cruel establishment.
223:
He is best known for several series of novels, but commenced his novel writing career relatively late in life. He had been eager to write full length tales from late childhood but suffered from
354:
and other comic horror curiosities. The novel shows the origin of the 'vyle' principle, which has descended from the
Marquis of Morbol Villica to the Vicar in the first volume in the series.
115:, United Kingdom and migrated to Australia in 1970. Throughout his authorship career, he has published 17 full-length works of fiction, three academic books, short stories and poems.
279:. He has also admitted to often viewing his fictional worlds as though seen from an elevated distance, something he feels is a common feature among fantasy writers.
362:
as a factual narrative, including fictional footnotes apparently inserted by the book's publishers, who deplore Basil's actions and despise his unheroic qualities.
550:
Peterson has shown attention to detail in all the artwork pertaining to the wolves and helps to support the atmosphere of peril that
Richard Harland has created."
1210:
1220:
1215:
235:(1993) that he managed to conquer this obstacle. However he had published short stories prior to this, some of which (along with poetry) were collected in
576:, but struggles to manifest true werewolf characteristics when the full moon rises. Subsequently visits a doctor hoping to find a cure for his condition.
568:
250:
series. His senior lecturing role was a secure tenured position, much sought after by other professional scholars. However, with his publisher
904:
1230:
1225:
1205:
1180:
379:(although these awards have been administered entirely independently from Chimaera by another organisation since 2004). The novel won an
314:, was Harland's first published novel. When Karl Evans Publishing started distributing the book, he approached individual booksellers in
176:. He migrated to Australia in 1970 to take advantage of this opportunity. He originally only intended to remain in the country until his
1170:
1165:
497:. He returned to this book numerous times since to help with inspiration for all the books in the trilogy. He has also stated that the
1195:
407:
elements. Inspector Eddon Brac, a male detective with traditional sleuth leanings, is partnered with assistant Vail ev
Vessintor, a
685:'. There she falls in with a gang and discovers a talent as a drummer playing a new kind of rhythmical music—which is essentially
207:(Macmillan, UK). He taught at (the University of) Wollongong for ten years before resigning to become a full-time fiction writer.
531:
1135:
415:. Each novel explores the tension between the pair as they confront murder mysteries of unorthodox and surprising origin.
1190:
1062:
259:
academic role in 1997 to concentrate on his fiction. He has written full-time since. For many more years, he remained an
169:
1200:
1185:
1175:
751:
Harland has published over 20 short stories and novellas in magazines and anthologies in the United States, Australia,
649:
in the mid-1990s and took five years to write the novel, passing through 3 complete rewrites. It was first entitled
1031:
958:
672:
For his third steampunk novel, Harland shifted the setting to an earlier period in the same world, later than the
1080:
519:
The series comprises four illustrated fantasy books. They are aimed at older pre-adolescents, commencing with
188:
453:
This trilogy for young adults is set in
Australia 1000 years into the future, and concerns a war between
195:
in 1987. The volume sold well, was received well, and secured him a lecturing position in English at the
20:
1126:
1010:
916:
196:
803:. His shorter fiction has been both nominated for and won Australian speculative fiction awards.
677:
251:
107:
is an Australian fantasy and science fiction writer, academic, and performance artist, living in
290:
series, every novel has been written either for young adults or children, with the exception of
1160:
637:
588:
473:
872:
383:
in both the "Best Horror Novel" and the overarching "Golden Aurealis Best Novel" categories.
375:, a magazine which publishes and promotes Australian speculative fiction, and originated the
366:
849:
1155:
912:
404:
177:
158:
8:
1139:
743:
protecting his tribe through the cataclysmic violence of a great terra-celestial battle.
630:
359:
127:
1109:
275:. He has confessed to a fascination with maps: he states that he sometimes spends hours
263:
in English at Wollongong, and also taught summer courses on YA fantasy fiction there.
939:
887:
830:
713:
481:
433:
in both the "Horror Novel" and" Science Fiction Novel" categories. The third volume,
400:
338:
224:
795:(ed Benoit Domis). Several of his stories have received honourable mentions in the
499:
162:
191:
and continued work on his doctoral thesis, which was published by Methuen (UK) as
1035:
962:
610:
494:
477:
408:
396:
376:
173:
154:
108:
989:
987:(2002-03-31). Atkinson, Frances (compiled by). "Influences – Richard Harland".
800:
546:
486:
430:
380:
334:, something he claims was his original hope and dream when marketing the book.
331:
184:
142:
1120:
1006:
1149:
690:
686:
614:
228:
39:
1131:
1039:
966:
776:
606:
504:
438:
327:
112:
885:
Kuhn, Andrea (17 June 2000). " You're better off working at a checkout ".
193:
Superstructuralism: The Philosophy of Structuralism and Post-Structuralism
276:
216:
755:
and France. His work has been included in 'best of' anthologies such as
716:
YA novel published by IFWG Publishing in 2023, is the first book in the
418:
The series is set against the background of the planet Terra's colonial
694:
464:
In preparation for writing the trilogy, Harland extensively researched
183:
Work on his thesis was slow, and he eventually reduced its scope to a
768:
469:
323:
295:
130:
720:
trilogy and a rewritten version of the novel first published in the
489:
images of sweetness-and-light. The first book he read on angels was
180:
was completed, but after some months decided to settle permanently.
673:
573:
572:
series aimed at teenagers. Walter is a young member of a family of
419:
371:
319:
315:
1115:
1103:
622:
412:
351:
752:
682:
626:
618:
538:
454:
260:
465:
458:
347:
594:
93:
636:
The story bears a resemblance to the plot of the 1927 film
201:
Beyond Superstructuralism: The Syntagmatic Side of Language
850:"Eccentric and Extreme: An Interview with Richard Harland"
828:
Humphries, Glen (29 August 1997). "Beyond the Dark Edge".
472:, including both the mainstream and unorthodox sources of
272:
613:. It was released in May 2009 in Australia, then in the
601:
Harland's series of YA steampunk novels commenced with
294:(2004). Some of his novels have also been adapted into
785:
Year's Best Australian Science Fiction & Fantasy 4
789:
The Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror 2011
905:"Writers on Writing, Richard Harland: An Interview"
739:enables her to live in the terrestrial atmosphere.
507:greatly assisted in creating his vision of heaven.
242:He was still lecturing at Wollongong when he wrote
168:Support was unforthcoming until an offer from the
665:was published globally by the same publishers as
122:science fiction thriller series, the illustrated
1147:
530:The books were launched in association with the
153:Harland completed undergraduate studies for the
870:Van, Ikin (1 March 2003). "Nothing too fancy".
444:
215:He scored an early success in childhood with a
1211:Academic staff of the University of Wollongong
1024:
767:compiled by American editor and anthologist,
1007:"Richard Harland and the Wolf Kingdom books"
1001:
999:
844:
842:
840:
386:
68:BA, English Literature, PhD. Literary Theory
1221:21st-century Australian short story writers
1216:20th-century Australian short story writers
1063:"STARRED Book Review: Ferren and the Angel"
1032:"Aurealis Awards – Winners: Judges' Report"
937:(2005-03-01). "Doctor's fantasy a winner".
899:
897:
824:
822:
820:
818:
816:
746:
553:
148:
1138:
1108:
1060:
953:
951:
949:
799:anthologies, edited by Ellen Datlow &
510:
38:
1061:Ducksworth, Alexandria (31 August 2023).
996:
837:
596:Worldshaker, Liberator, Song of the Slums
1122:Richard Harland reading from Worldshaker
894:
813:
199:. Other academic books he published are
981:
946:
645:Harland began developing the ideas for
411:woman aristocrat with expertise in the
1148:
864:
791:(ed Grzyb and Helene), and in France,
461:. Each book includes an 'angelology'.
1136:Internet Speculative Fiction Database
700:
205:Literary Theory from Plato to Barthes
1231:21st-century Australian male writers
1226:20th-century Australian male writers
1116:Richard Harland Writing Tips Website
909:Viewpoint: On Books for Young Adults
532:Children's Book Council of Australia
358:plays with the notion of the tale's
1206:Australian male short story writers
326:and Sydney to promote it. Although
301:
141:He has been awarded the Australian
13:
1181:Australian science fiction writers
657:before finally being published as
605:, partly inspired by the works of
210:
145:on six occasions for his fiction.
14:
1242:
1171:21st-century Australian novelists
1166:20th-century Australian novelists
1095:
271:Many of Harland's novels contain
1073:
1054:
581:Sassycat: The Night of the Dead
931:
879:
797:Year's Best Fantasy and Horror
783:(ed Hartwell and Cramer, US),
246:, the first instalment in the
126:series for children and three
1:
1196:Australian children's writers
806:
787:(ed Congreve and Marquardt),
560:Walter Wants to Be a Werewolf
437:, was nominated for the 1999
254:'s commission of a sequel to
189:University of New South Wales
161:, and later graduated with a
891:. Weekender Section. Page 3.
852:. Tabula Rasa. February 2002
834:. Weekender Section. Page 4.
773:The Best Horror of the Year,
441:in the Best Novel category.
429:was a finalist for the 1997
111:, Australia. He was born in
51:Huddersfield, United Kingdom
7:
959:"Aurealis Awards – Winners"
876:. Spectrum Section. Page 2.
633:for a substantial advance.
537:A race of talking, bipedal
365:The novel was published by
21:Richard Harland (biologist)
10:
1247:
1191:Australian fantasy writers
993:. Agenda Section. Page 10.
676:invasion of England (by a
330:, it has since attained a
286:, the final volume to his
18:
1201:Australian horror writers
1186:Writers from Huddersfield
1176:Australian male novelists
344:The Vicar of Morbing Vyle
312:The Vicar of Morbing Vyle
282:From the 1999 release of
266:
233:The Vicar of Morbing Vyle
118:He is best known for his
88:
80:
72:
64:
56:
46:
37:
30:
1011:University of Wollongong
747:Shorter works of fiction
554:Other children's fiction
545:The series won the 2008
395:In this series of three
197:University of Wollongong
149:Life and academic career
1067:Independent Book Review
689:—only a century before
399:novels, there are both
252:Pan Macmillan Australia
170:University of Newcastle
19:For the scientist, see
1081:"Ferren and the Angel"
943:. IQ Section. Page 37.
491:A Dictionary of Angels
369:, which also produces
261:Honorary Senior Fellow
135:Worldshaker, Liberator
873:Sydney Morning Herald
781:Year's Best Fantasy 9
367:Chimaera Publications
913:Melbourne University
761:Dreaming in the Dark
710:Ferren and the Angel
631:Simon & Schuster
203:(Routledge, UK) and
159:Cambridge University
765:Ghosts by Gaslight,
1042:on 31 January 2009
969:on 31 January 2009
566:It is part of the
425:The first volume,
310:The first volume,
139:Song of the Slums.
1087:. 26 August 2023.
940:Illawarra Mercury
919:on 28 August 2009
888:Illawarra Mercury
831:Illawarra Mercury
731:isolated tribes.
523:and completed by
493:by American poet
401:detective mystery
356:The Black Crusade
350:, blood donating
339:The Black Crusade
292:The Black Crusade
102:
101:
16:Australian writer
1238:
1142:
1123:
1112:
1107:
1106:
1104:Official website
1089:
1088:
1077:
1071:
1070:
1058:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1038:. Archived from
1028:
1022:
1021:
1019:
1017:
1003:
994:
985:
979:
978:
976:
974:
965:. Archived from
955:
944:
935:
929:
928:
926:
924:
915:. Archived from
901:
892:
883:
877:
868:
862:
861:
859:
857:
846:
835:
826:
722:Heaven and Earth
661:. The sequel to
500:Ghent Altarpiece
447:Heaven and Earth
435:Hidden from View
413:psychic sciences
284:Hidden from View
98:
95:
42:
28:
27:
1246:
1245:
1241:
1240:
1239:
1237:
1236:
1235:
1146:
1145:
1132:Richard Harland
1121:
1102:
1101:
1098:
1093:
1092:
1079:
1078:
1074:
1059:
1055:
1045:
1043:
1036:Aurealis Awards
1030:
1029:
1025:
1015:
1013:
1005:
1004:
997:
986:
982:
972:
970:
963:Aurealis Awards
957:
956:
947:
936:
932:
922:
920:
903:
902:
895:
884:
880:
869:
865:
855:
853:
848:
847:
838:
827:
814:
809:
749:
707:
611:Charles Dickens
599:
556:
525:The Heavy Crown
517:
495:Gustav Davidson
451:
397:science fiction
393:
377:Aurealis Awards
342:, a prequel to
308:
269:
213:
211:Fiction writing
174:New South Wales
151:
109:New South Wales
105:Richard Harland
92:
52:
33:
32:Richard Harland
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1244:
1234:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1144:
1143:
1129:
1118:
1113:
1097:
1096:External links
1094:
1091:
1090:
1085:Kirkus Reviews
1072:
1053:
1023:
995:
990:The Sunday Age
980:
945:
930:
893:
878:
863:
836:
811:
810:
808:
805:
801:Terri Windling
793:TĂ©nebres 2007,
757:Dreaming Again
748:
745:
706:
699:
598:
593:
585:
584:
564:
563:
555:
552:
547:Aurealis Award
516:
509:
450:
443:
431:Aurealis Award
392:
389:Eddon and Vail
385:
381:Aurealis Award
307:
300:
288:Eddon and Vail
268:
265:
248:Eddon and Vail
225:writer's block
212:
209:
150:
147:
143:Aurealis Award
120:Eddon and Vail
100:
99:
94:richardharland
90:
86:
85:
82:
78:
77:
74:
70:
69:
66:
62:
61:
58:
54:
53:
50:
48:
44:
43:
35:
34:
31:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1243:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1161:Living people
1159:
1157:
1154:
1153:
1151:
1141:
1137:
1133:
1130:
1128:
1124:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1111:
1105:
1100:
1099:
1086:
1082:
1076:
1068:
1064:
1057:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1027:
1012:
1008:
1002:
1000:
992:
991:
984:
968:
964:
960:
954:
952:
950:
942:
941:
934:
918:
914:
910:
906:
900:
898:
890:
889:
882:
875:
874:
867:
851:
845:
843:
841:
833:
832:
825:
823:
821:
819:
817:
812:
804:
802:
798:
794:
790:
786:
782:
778:
774:
770:
766:
762:
758:
754:
744:
740:
736:
732:
728:
727:
723:
719:
715:
711:
704:
698:
696:
692:
688:
684:
679:
675:
670:
668:
664:
660:
656:
655:Juggernaught,
652:
648:
643:
641:
640:
634:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
615:United States
612:
608:
604:
597:
592:
590:
587:Published by
582:
579:
578:
577:
575:
571:
570:
569:Aussie Chomps
561:
558:
557:
551:
548:
543:
540:
535:
533:
528:
526:
522:
514:
508:
506:
502:
501:
496:
492:
488:
487:'Disney-fied'
483:
479:
475:
471:
467:
462:
460:
456:
448:
442:
440:
436:
432:
428:
427:The Dark Edge
423:
421:
416:
414:
410:
406:
403:elements and
402:
398:
390:
384:
382:
378:
374:
373:
368:
363:
361:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
340:
335:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
305:
299:
297:
293:
289:
285:
280:
278:
277:studying them
274:
264:
262:
257:
256:The Dark Edge
253:
249:
245:
244:The Dark Edge
240:
238:
234:
230:
226:
221:
218:
208:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
181:
179:
175:
171:
166:
164:
160:
156:
146:
144:
140:
136:
132:
129:
125:
121:
116:
114:
110:
106:
97:
91:
87:
83:
79:
75:
71:
67:
63:
59:
55:
49:
45:
41:
36:
29:
26:
22:
1084:
1075:
1066:
1056:
1044:. Retrieved
1040:the original
1026:
1014:. Retrieved
988:
983:
971:. Retrieved
967:the original
938:
933:
921:. Retrieved
917:the original
908:
886:
881:
871:
866:
854:. Retrieved
829:
796:
792:
788:
784:
780:
777:Ellen Datlow
772:
764:
760:
756:
750:
741:
737:
733:
729:
725:
721:
717:
709:
708:
702:
687:rock 'n roll
671:
666:
662:
658:
654:
650:
646:
644:
638:
635:
607:Mervyn Peake
602:
600:
595:
586:
580:
567:
565:
559:
544:
536:
529:
524:
520:
518:
513:Wolf Kingdom
512:
505:Jan van Eyck
498:
490:
463:
452:
446:
439:Ditmar Award
434:
426:
424:
417:
405:supernatural
394:
388:
370:
364:
355:
343:
337:
336:
328:out of print
311:
309:
303:
291:
287:
283:
281:
270:
255:
247:
243:
241:
236:
232:
229:comic horror
222:
214:
204:
200:
192:
182:
167:
152:
138:
134:
124:Wolf Kingdom
123:
119:
117:
113:Huddersfield
104:
103:
25:
1156:1947 births
683:London Town
663:Worldshaker
659:Worldshaker
647:Worldshaker
603:Worldshaker
360:reliability
332:cult status
217:short story
133:fantasies:
57:Nationality
1150:Categories
1046:2 February
1016:9 February
973:2 February
923:3 February
856:2 February
807:References
695:Bill Haley
674:Napoleonic
639:Metropolis
589:Scholastic
574:werewolves
296:audiobooks
73:Occupation
60:Australian
769:Jack Dann
714:dystopian
667:Liberator
651:Leviathan
474:Christian
470:cosmology
324:Melbourne
237:Testimony
157:major at
131:steampunk
65:Education
653:, later
420:hegemony
372:Aurealis
352:vampires
320:Canberra
316:Brisbane
239:(1981).
76:Novelist
1134:at the
1127:YouTube
779:, US),
724:trilogy
705:trilogy
623:Germany
521:Escape!
478:Islamic
449:trilogy
155:English
89:Website
753:Canada
718:Ferren
703:Ferren
678:tunnel
627:Brazil
619:France
617:, UK,
583:(2005)
562:(2003)
539:wolves
515:series
482:Judaic
466:angels
455:heaven
391:series
348:ghosts
306:series
267:Novels
231:novel
84:Aileen
81:Spouse
691:Elvis
459:Earth
304:Vicar
1048:2009
1018:2009
975:2009
925:2009
858:2009
775:(ed
763:and
712:, a
701:The
693:and
625:and
609:and
511:The
480:and
468:and
457:and
445:The
409:goth
387:The
302:The
273:maps
137:and
47:Born
1125:on
503:by
178:PhD
172:in
96:.au
1152::
1083:.
1065:.
1034:.
1009:.
998:^
961:.
948:^
911:.
907:.
896:^
839:^
815:^
771:,
759:,
669:.
621:,
534:.
476:,
322:,
318:,
298:.
185:MA
163:BA
128:YA
1069:.
1050:.
1020:.
977:.
927:.
860:.
726:.
681:'
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
