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Paul J. McAuley

ポール・ジェイ・マコーリイ

Pōru J. Makōrii

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1955-04-23 （Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom）
Nationality
United Kingdom
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Science fiction author, Botanist
Active Years
1988-
Influenced By
Frank Tipler (referenced)

Education

University of St Andrews
Botany (taught)
Country: United Kingdom
Taught botany at the University of St Andrews for around six years.

Awards

Philip K. Dick Award
1989
Work: Four Hundred Billion Stars
Organization: Philip K. Dick Award organization
Result: Winner
Arthur C. Clarke Award
1996
Work: Fairyland
Organization: Arthur C. Clarke Award organization
Result: Winner
John W. Campbell Memorial Award
1997
Work: Fairyland
Organization: John W. Campbell Memorial Award committee
Result: Winner
Sidewise Award
1996
Work: Pasquale's Angel
Organization: Sidewise Award organization
Result: Winner
British Fantasy Award
1995
Work: The Temptation of Dr. Stein (short story)
Organization: British Fantasy Award organization
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Four Hundred Billion Stars

1988 Space opera

A far-future space opera and McAuley's debut novel; first in a series with later sequels.

deep futurespace travelcivilizational evolution

Secret Harmonies (Of the Fall)

1989 Science fiction

A follow-up in the Four Hundred Billion Stars series, continuing themes of colonization and exploration.

colonizationexploration

Eternal Light

1991 Science fiction

Continues the series further into the far future, exploring scientific ideas and settings.

future civilizationsphilosophical themes

Red Dust

1993 Science fiction

Set on a far-future Mars colonized by Chinese interests; features nanotech, biotech, AI, and mind-transfer ideas.

Mars colonizationnanotechnologybiotechnology

Pasquale's Angel

1994 Alternate history / historical SF

An alternate-history novel set in Renaissance Italy featuring figures such as Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci.

alternate historyRenaissance

Fairyland

1995 Near-future SF / technothriller

Set in a devastated near-future Europe, depicting genetically engineered 'dolls' used as slaves.

biotechnologysocial consequences

The Confluence trilogy (Child of the River / Ancients of Days / Shrine of Stars)

1997 Hard science fiction

A far-future trilogy set roughly ten million years hence, employing concepts such as the Omega Point and other philosophical and scientific motifs.

deep futurecosmological motifs

The Secret of Life

2001 SF / technothriller

A near-future novel dealing with biotechnology; part of McAuley's shift to more technothriller-oriented works after 2001.

biotechnologyethics

Bibliography

  • Four Hundred Billion Stars
  • Secret Harmonies (Of the Fall)
  • Eternal Light
  • Red Dust
  • Pasquale's Angel
  • Fairyland
  • Child of the River / Ancients of Days / Shrine of Stars (The Confluence trilogy)
  • The Secret of Life
  • Whole Wide World
  • White Devils
  • Mind's Eye
  • Players
  • Cowboy Angels
  • Short story collections: The King of the Hill and Other Stories / The Invisible Country / Little Machines

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Hard SF with emphasis on accurate scientific detailOften explores interaction between technology and society
Recurring Motifs
biotechnologynanotechnologyartificial intelligencealternate historydeep-future / cosmological themes

Legacy

Paul J. McAuley is a British SF author noted for both hard SF and alternate-history works, well known for novels addressing biotechnology and nanotechnology. He has won several international genre awards.

Quotes

  • I regard myself as a science junkie.
    Source: Interview (source unspecified)

Trivia

  • Taught botany at the University of St Andrews.
  • Debut novel: Four Hundred Billion Stars (1988).
  • Won major genre awards for works including Fairyland and Pasquale's Angel.