British Science Fiction Association Awards
2 appearances
-
Edition 9 (1977) award
-
Edition 41 (2009) award
Ian Watson
イアン・ワトスン
Ian Watson
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1943-04-20 （North Shields, Northumberland, England）
- Nationality
- British
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- North Shields, Northumberland, England → Dar es Salaam, Tanzania → Tokyo, Japan → Birmingham, England
Career
- Occupations
- Science fiction author, Lecturer
- Active Years
- 1969-
- Affiliations
- Tokyo University of Education (Lecturer), Keio University (Lecturer), Japan Women's University (Lecturer), Birmingham Polytechnic (Lecturer)
- Influenced By
- Noam Chomsky, Raymond Roussel
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balliol College, University of Oxford | Faculty of Arts | English Literature (19th-century poetry and fiction) | MA (文学修士) | 1960s | United Kingdom |
| University of East Africa (Dar es Salaam) | — | — | — | 1965-1966 | Tanzania |
Balliol College, University of Oxford
Faculty of Arts
/ English Literature (19th-century poetry and fiction)
Degree:
MA (文学修士)
Period:
1960s
Year of Graduation:
1966
Country:
United Kingdom
Received MA in literature in 1966
University of East Africa (Dar es Salaam)
Period:
1965-1966
Country:
Tanzania
Associated with the University of East Africa in 1965-1966
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | John W. Campbell Memorial Award (2nd place) | The Embedding | — | John W. Campbell Memorial Award committee | 2nd place |
| 1975 | Apollo Award | The Embedding | — | Apollo Award (France) | Winner |
| 1975 | Sicras Award (foreign novel) | The Embedding | — | Sicras Award (Spain) | Winner |
| 1978 | British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Award | The Jonah Kit | — | British Science Fiction Association | Winner |
John W. Campbell Memorial Award (2nd place)
1974
Work:
The Embedding
Organization:
John W. Campbell Memorial Award committee
Result:
2nd place
Apollo Award
1975
Work:
The Embedding
Organization:
Apollo Award (France)
Result:
Winner
Sicras Award (foreign novel)
1975
Work:
The Embedding
Organization:
Sicras Award (Spain)
Result:
Winner
British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) Award
1978
Work:
The Jonah Kit
Organization:
British Science Fiction Association
Result:
Winner
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Embedding
1973 Science fiction (conceptual/idea-driven)A novel incorporating language theory, myth and anthropological perspectives; explores transformations of language and conceptual themes.
Language and cognitionCultural anthropologyCritique of Western civilization
Translations
- The Embedding
The Jonah Kit
1975 Science fictionOne of his notable 1970s novels, combining experimental ideas with narrative drive.
Idea-driven SFPsychology and cognition
Translations
- The Jonah Kit
The Martian Inca
1977 Science fictionA novel containing critical perspectives on Western civilization and characteristic conceptual elements.
Critique of civilizationContact
Translations
- The Martian Inca
Orgasmachine
1976 Science fiction / speculativeA controversial novel not initially published in English-speaking markets; later released in French, Portuguese and Japanese editions.
Provocative themesExperimental plotting
Translations
- Orgasmachine (translated editions)
Bibliography
- A Cat's Eye View (1969)
- The Embedding (1973)
- The Jonah Kit (1975)
- Orgasmachine (1976)
- The Martian Inca (1977)
- Miracle Visitors (1978)
- The Very Slow Time Machine (1979)
- The Book of the River (1984)
- The Book of the Stars (1984)
- The Book of Being (1984)
- Numerous other works (short story collections, edited anthologies)
Adaptations
- Involvement in story development for the film A.I. (inspired by Brian Aldiss's work)
- Contributed novels set in the Warhammer 40,000 shared world
Translations of Works
- Orgasmachine — translated into French, Portuguese and Japanese
- The Embedding and others — translated into multiple languages
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Conceptual, experimental idea-driven style (early)More narrative-driven storytelling (later)
- Recurring Motifs
- Language and cognitionCritical view of civilizationAnthropological perspectivesFuturistic portrayals of Japan/Asia
Legacy
A representative post-New Wave British SF writer since the 1970s, noted for conceptual ideas and experimental works. Internationally acclaimed with translations and awards; his time in Japan significantly influenced his writing.
Academic Societies
- British Science Fiction Association (associated)
Archives
- National Diet Library (Japan authority data)
- Held in various authority databases: BnF, VIAF, ISNI, etc.
In Popular Culture
- Known in gamer/pop culture circles for contributions to Warhammer 40,000 tie-in novels
Quotes
-
"It was Japan that struck me with the shock of the future and made me into a science fiction writer."
Source: S-F Magazine, October 1987 issue (1987)
Trivia
- Contributed multiple novels to the shared-world series based on the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop RPG.
- Early novel Orgasmachine was not published in English markets initially and appeared in French, Portuguese and Japanese translations.