I'm a UK fantasy author best known for my mercenary-turned-world-saving band, The Raven. They've appeared in six heroic fantasy action novels that have been published in the UK, across Europe and are available throughout the world.
Elsewhere, I'm engaged in stage- and screen-writing projects and preparing for my first feature film role (small but beautifully formed) in a Brit-pic which is slated to shoot in March 2007.
In chronological order, the Raven books are titled:
Dawnthief, Noonshade, Nightchild, Elfsorrow, Shadowheart, Demonstorm
I've also written a novella in the same medieval-style fantasy world, called Light Stealer which is available through the excellent PS Publishing
My latest novel, published in the UK by Gollancz as are all of my full length novels is Cry of the Newborn. It is book one of a duology called The Ascendants of Estorea. The series is set in a Roman-esque world where a great civilisation is threatened by its own over-expansion. And while the legions seek to conquer new territories, in the heart of the empire, four unique children are born. The first Ascendants, able to mould the elements and who will bring to the empire for the first time, the wonder and terror of magic.And now, to buff my ego up to a dazzling shine...
'James Barclay writes with power, pace and a wonderful sense of humour. Better than that, he creates novels you want to read again and again' David Gemmell
Of The Raven:
'The fantasy equivalent of The Magnificent Seven.' SFX
'Quite simply spectacular storytelling' amazon.co.uk
'Truly excellent heroic fantasy' sfsite.com
'Story telling at its very best' VECTOR
'Brings a genuine aesthetic to the fantasy action novel'
Stan Nicholls, Time Out
And of The Ascendants of Estorea:
"Cry of the Newborn has Barclay entering a new phase of his career, upping the stakes, reaching further than he ever has before and offering readers a novel of staggering scope and such skilful storytelling that I honestly could have happily read on for another 800 pages. The Cry of the Newborn is a massive and epic work and looks likely to (deservedly) cement Barclay's place amongst the UK's very best fantasy story tellers." John Berlyne, sfrevu.com.
'A most extraordinary and impressively ambitious novel beginning a new series from James Barclay. A sprawling empire on the edge of catastrophe; a world as tactile and authentic as any in fiction; and a story driven by a cogent, clear-eyed narrative that is wonderfully confident in its fearlessness – what more could you ask for? To those who think fantasy literature is without relevance to our world, this series is sure to open their eyes. Added to that, a tax-collecting hero is, without doubt, pure genius – wish I’d thought of it.' Steven Erikson
For more on me and to join my personal forum, go to: www.jamesbarclay.com
For more detail on the world of The Raven (and still a work in progress), take a look at www.ravengazetteer.com
