Japanese Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Robert R. McCammon

ロバート・R・マキャモン

Robāto R. Makyamon

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1952-07-17 (Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.)
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

Career

Occupations
Writer, Novelist
Active Years
1978-
Influenced By
Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz

Education

University of Alabama
Journalism / School of Communication / Journalism
Country: United States
Majored in journalism

Awards

Bram Stoker Award (Best Novel)
1987
Work: Swan Song
Organization: Horror Writers Association (HWA)
Result: Winner
Bram Stoker Award (Best Novel)
1990
Work: Mine
Organization: Horror Writers Association (HWA)
Result: Winner
Bram Stoker Award (Best Novel)
1991
Work: Boy's Life
Organization: Horror Writers Association (HWA)
Result: Winner
World Fantasy Award
1990
Work: The Wolf's Hour
Organization: World Fantasy Convention
Result: Winner
World Fantasy Award
1992
Work: Boy's Life
Organization: World Fantasy Convention
Result: Winner
Japan Adventure Fiction Association Award (Grand Prize, 14th)
Work: Boy's Life
Organization: Japan Adventure Fiction Association
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Swan Song

1987 Horror / Post-apocalyptic

An epic horror novel set in post-nuclear-war America that depicts a symbolic battle between good and evil.

apocalypsegood vs. evilsacrifice and renewal
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Yoko Kato (Fukutake/Fusosha editions)

Mine

1990 Horror

A suburban horror novel filled with mystery and terror, exploring personal darkness.

personal traumarevengesecrets
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Kei Ninomiya (Bungeishunjū)

Boy's Life

1991 Fantasy / Coming-of-age

Told from the perspective of a boy in a small town, the novel is a nostalgic coming-of-age story with supernatural elements.

coming of agememorynostalgia
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Kei Ninomiya (Bungeishunjū)

The Wolf's Hour

1989 Action fantasy / Spy thriller

An unusual thriller about a vampire who is also a spy during World War II.

waridentityloneliness
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Yoichi Shimada (Kadokawa Horror Bunko)

They Thirst

1981 Horror (vampire novel)

A vampire novel set in contemporary Los Angeles, one of his early representative works.

vampiresurban horrorinfiltration of fear
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Kazue Tanaka (Fusosha)

The Night Boat

1980 Horror

A classic horror tale revolving around the sea and a mysterious ship.

the seasecrets of the pastisolation
Translations
  • Japanese translation by Yoichi Shimada (Kadokawa Horror Bunko)

Bibliography

  • Baal (1978)
  • The Night Boat (1980)
  • They Thirst (1981)
  • Mystery Walk (1983)
  • Usher's Passing (1984)
  • Swan Song (1987)
  • Stinger (1988)
  • The Wolf's Hour (1989)
  • Mine (1990)
  • Boy's Life (1991)
  • Gone South (1992)
  • The Five (2011)
  • The Border (2015)
  • The Listener (2018)

Translations of Works

  • Swan Song (Japanese translation by Yoko Kato)
  • Boy's Life (Japanese translation by Kei Ninomiya)
  • The Wolf's Hour (Japanese translation by Yoichi Shimada)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Lyrical, character-driven modern horrorEpic narrative structure with elements of fantasy and adventure
Recurring Motifs
childhood and nostalgiaapocalyptic imageryconflicts between good and evil

Legacy

One of the notable American horror writers of the 1980s and 1990s, often compared to Stephen King and Dean Koontz. He is respected for both pure horror novels and for works that blend coming-of-age and fantasy elements.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Adventure Fiction Association

In Popular Culture

  • Often cited as an influence on modern horror writers and as a key figure in late-20th-century American horror.

Trivia

  • Initially rose to prominence writing vampire and other horror novels.
  • Won the Bram Stoker Award for Swan Song, Mine and Boy's Life.