Judith Tarr (born January 30, 1955)
is an American
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures.
The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...
and
science fiction
Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...
author.
Life
Tarr was born in
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Maine. The city's population was 18,899 at the 2020 United States census, making it the List of cities in Maine, 12th-most populous city in Maine, and third ...
on January 30, 1955.
[ She is the daughter of Earle A. Tarr, Jr. (a waterworks manager and salesman of real estate), and Regina (a teacher).]["Tarr, Judith" in Stableford, Brian M. ''The A to Z of Fantasy Literature''.Lanham (Md.) : Scarecrow Press, 2009. (p. 397)][Sawyer, Andy. "Tarr, Judith", in the ''St. James Guide To Fantasy Writers'', ed. ]David Pringle
David Pringle (born 1 March 1950) is a Scottish science fiction editor and critic.
Pringle served as the editor of '' Foundation'', an academic journal, from 1980 to 1986, during which time he became one of the prime movers of the collective whi ...
. London, St. James Press, 1996, ,(pp. 551-2). She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College
Mount Holyoke College is a Private college, private Women's colleges in the United States, women's Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States. It is the oldest member of the h ...
in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University
The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
, and an M.A. and PhD in Medieval Studies from Yale University
Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
.Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University ( ) is a Private university, private liberal arts college, liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut, United States. It was founded in 1831 as a Men's colleges in the United States, men's college under the Methodi ...
from 1990 to 1993.
She breeds Lipizzan
The Lipizzan or Lipizzaner (, , , , , , ) is a European horse breed, breed of riding horse developed in the Habsburg Empire in the sixteenth century. It is of Baroque horse, Baroque type, and is powerful, slow to mature and long-lived; the coa ...
horses at ''Dancing Horse Farm'', her home in Vail, Arizona.
''The Hound and the Falcon'' Trilogy
Tarr's '' The Hound and the Falcon'' trilogy ('' The Isle of Glass'', 1985; '' The Golden Horn'', 1985; '' The Hounds of God'', 1986) is a fantasy trilogy set in twelfth and thirteenth century Europe. The trilogy focuses on a race of Elves
An elf (: elves) is a type of humanoid supernatural being in Germanic folklore. Elves appear especially in North Germanic mythology, being mentioned in the Icelandic ''Poetic Edda'' and the ''Prose Edda''.
In medieval Germanic-speakin ...
with supernatural powers, secretly living in medieval society.[Kelso, Sylvia. "The God in the Pentagram: Religion and Spirituality in Modern Fantasy".'']Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts
The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts (IAFA), founded in 1982 is a nonprofit association of scholars, writers, and publishers of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in literature, film, and the other arts. Its principal ac ...
''. 18(1) (pgs. 61-82). 2007. The trilogy's main character is Alf, a young monk who is also an Elf. The trilogy features historical personages such as Francis of Assisi
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone ( 1181 – 3 October 1226), known as Francis of Assisi, was an Italians, Italian Mysticism, mystic, poet and Friar, Catholic friar who founded the religious order of the Franciscans. Inspired to lead a Chris ...
and King Richard I
Richard I (8 September 1157 – 6 April 1199), known as Richard the Lionheart or Richard Cœur de Lion () because of his reputation as a great military leader and warrior, was King of England from 1189 until his death in 1199. He also ru ...
as characters.
''Alamut''
In an interview, Tarr stated that she became interested in the period of the Crusades after hearing the 1971 record album, ''Music of the Crusades'' by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London.[Mah, Emily]
"The Best of Modern Arabian Fantasy, Part II: Judith Tarr and Alamut"
''Blackgate.com''. 28th April 2012. Retrieved 9th April, 2020. This inspired her to write her novel set in the period of the Crusades, ''Alamut''.Amin Maalouf
Amin Maalouf (; ; born 25 February 1949) is a Lebanese people in France, Lebanese-born French["A ...]
and '' The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam'' by Bernard Lewis
Bernard Lewis, (31 May 1916 – 19 May 2018) was a British-American historian specialized in Oriental studies. He was also known as a public intellectual and political commentator. Lewis was the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near ...
, as part of her research for ''Alamut''.
''Epona'' series
Tarr's ''Epona'' series of novels (''White Mare's Daughter'', 1998; ''The Shepherd Kings'', 1999; ''Lady of Horses'', 2000; ''Daughter of Lir'', 2001) is set in prehistoric Europe. The ''Epona'' series dramatizes the ideas of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas
Marija Gimbutas (, ; January 23, 1921 – February 2, 1994) was a Lithuanian archaeology, archaeologist and anthropologist known for her research into the Neolithic and Bronze Age cultures of "Old European Culture, Old Europe" and for her Kurgan ...
about a matriarchal society existing in Paleolithic Europe.
Pseudonyms
* Caitlin Brennan, pseudonym used for the ''White Magic'' series (''The Mountain’s Call'' and sequels) and ''House of the Star''
Bibliography
Series
Rhuyana Universe
* The Hound and the Falcon series:
**''The Isle of Glass'', Bluejay, 1985,
**''The Golden Horn'', Bluejay, 1985,
**''The Hounds of God'', Bluejay, 1986,
***'' The Hound and the Falcon'', 1993, , a collection of the earlier works.
*The Alamut series (set in the Middle East, and in the same universe as ''The Hound and the Falcon''):
**''Alamut'', Doubleday, 1989,
**''The Dagger and the Cross'', Doubleday, 1991, .
''Avaryan Chronicles''
*''The Hall of the Mountain King,'' Tor, 1986,
*''The Lady of Han-Gilen'', Tor, 1987,
*''A Fall of Princes'', Tor, 1988,
**''Avaryan Rising'' (omnibus of ''The Hall of the Mountain King'', ''The Lady of Han-Gilen'', and ''A Fall of Princes''), Orb, 1997,
*''Arrows of the Sun'', Tor, 1993,
*''Spear of Heaven'', Tor, 1994,
*''Tides of Darkness'', Tor, 2002,
**''Avaryan Resplendent'' (omnibus of ''Arrows of the Sun'', ''Spear of Heaven'', and ''Tides of Darkness''), Tor, 2003, .
The Three Queens
*''Throne of Isis'', Forge, 1994, (Historical novel featuring Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (; The name Cleopatra is pronounced , or sometimes in both British and American English, see and respectively. Her name was pronounced in the Greek dialect of Egypt (see Koine Greek phonology). She was ...
and Mark Antony
Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman people, Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the Crisis of the Roman Republic, transformation of the Roman Republic ...
)
Epona
*''White Mare's Daughter'', Forge, 1998, (Historical novel set in c. 4500 BC)
*''The Shepherd Kings'', Forge, June 1999
*''Lady of Horses'', Forge, June 2000,
*''Daughter of Lir'', Forge, June 2001, .
Devil's Bargain
*''Devil's Bargain'', Roc, September 2002,
*''House of War'', Roc, November 2003, .
William the Conqueror
William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...
*''Rite of Conquest'', Roc, November 2004,
*''King's Blood'', Roc, October 2005, .
Other novels
*''A Wind in Cairo'', Bantam Spectra, 1989,
*'' Ars Magica'', Bantam Spectra, 1989, Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...
)Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( ; 2 April 748 – 28 January 814) was List of Frankish kings, King of the Franks from 768, List of kings of the Lombards, King of the Lombards from 774, and Holy Roman Emperor, Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian ...
)
*'' Pillar of Fire'', Forge, 1995, (Historical novel set in Ancient Egypt)
*''King and Goddess'', Forge, 1996,
*'' Household Gods'' (with Harry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949) is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed his ...
), Tor, 1999,
*''Kingdom of the Grail'', Roc, September 2000, (Fantasy novel where Roland
Roland (; ; or ''Rotholandus''; or ''Rolando''; died 15 August 778) was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. The historical Roland was mil ...
(from the Matter of France
The Matter of France (), also known as the Carolingian cycle, is a body of medieval literature and legendary material associated with the history of France, in particular involving Charlemagne and the Paladins. The cycle springs from the Old Fr ...
) meets Merlin
The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) is an interferometer array of radio telescopes spread across England. The array is run from Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire by the University of Manchester on behalf of UK Re ...
)
Collaborations
* CoDominium Universe,
** War World series
***''Blood Feuds'' (with S.M. Stirling, Susan Shwartz, and Harry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove (born June 14, 1949) is an American author who is best known for his work in the genres of alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery fiction. He is a student of history and completed his ...
), Baen, 1993,
***''Blood Vengeance'' (with Jerry Pournelle
Jerry Eugene Pournelle (; August 7, 1933 – September 8, 2017) was an American scientist in the area of operations research and ergonomics, human factors research, a science fiction writer, essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers. ...
, S.M. Stirling, Susan Shwartz, and Harry Turtledove), Baen, 1993,
Short fiction
;Stories[Short stories unless otherwise noted.]
As Caitlin Brennan
*''House of the Star'', Starscape, 2010,
;The White Magic series
#''The Mountain's Call'', Luna, 2004,
#''Song of Unmaking'', Luna, 2005,
#''Shattered Dance'', Luna, 2006,
As Kathleen Bryan
;The War of the Rose series
#''The Serpent and the Rose'', Tor, 2007,
#''The Golden Rose'', Tor, 2008,
#''The Last Paladin'', Tor, 2009,
Awards
* ''The Isle of Glass'' was the winner of the 1987 William Crawford Award[Locus Award Index](_blank)
* Short story "Death and the Lady" was second place for the 1993 Theodore Sturgeon Award
The Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award is an annual literary award presented by the Theodore Sturgeon Literary Trust and the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas to the author of the best short science fiction story ...
See also
* Women science fiction authors
References
External links
*
Author's website
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarr, Judith
1955 births
Living people
20th-century American novelists
20th-century American women writers
21st-century American novelists
21st-century American women writers
American alternate history writers
American fantasy writers
American historical novelists
American science fiction writers
Analog Science Fiction and Fact people
Mount Holyoke College alumni
Novelists from Connecticut
Wesleyan University faculty
American women historical novelists
American women science fiction and fantasy writers
Writers of fiction set in prehistoric times
Writers of historical fiction set in antiquity
Writers of historical fiction set in the Middle Ages
Yale University alumni
American women academics