Keith John Kingston Roberts (20 September 1935 – 5 October 2000) was an English

science fiction author This is a list of notable science-fiction authors, in alphabetical order: A *Dafydd ab Hugh (born 1960) * Alexander Abasheli (1884–1954) *Edwin Abbott Abbott (1838–1926) *Kōbō Abe (1924–1993) * Robert Abernathy (1924–1990) *Dan ...

. He began publishing with two stories in the September 1964 issue of ''

Science Fantasy file:Warhammer40kcosplay.jpg, Cosplay of a character from the ''Warhammer 40,000'' tabletop game; one critic has characterized the game's setting as "action-oriented science-fantasy." Science fantasy is a hybrid genre within speculative fiction ...

'' magazine, "Anita" (the first of a series of stories featuring a teenage modern

witch Witchcraft is the use of magic by a person called a witch. Traditionally, "witchcraft" means the use of magic to inflict supernatural harm or misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning. According to ''Enc ...

and her eccentric granny) and "Escapism". Several of his early stories were written using the pseudonyms Alistair Bevan and David Stringer. His second novel ''

Pavane The ''pavane'' ( ; , ''padovana''; ) is a slow processional dance common in Europe during the 16th century (Renaissance). The pavane, the earliest-known music for which was published in Venice by Ottaviano Petrucci, in Joan Ambrosio Dalza's ...

'', first published in 1968, which is a collection of linked stories, may be his most famous work: an

alternate history Alternate history (also referred to as alternative history, allohistory, althist, or simply A.H.) is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which one or more historical events have occurred but are resolved differently than in actual history. As ...

novel in which the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

takes control of England following the assassination of Queen

Elizabeth I Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. She was the last and longest reigning monarch of the House of Tudo ...

.Cox, F. Brett. "Keith Roberts". ''British fantasy and science-fiction writers since 1960''. 261 (2002): 336. Roberts wrote numerous novels and short stories and worked as an illustrator. His artistic contributions include covers and interior artwork for '' New Worlds'' and ''Science Fantasy'', later renamed ''Impulse''. He also edited the last few issues of ''Impulse'' although the nominal editor was Harry Harrison. Roberts' first novel, '' The Furies'', makes an appearance in the American TV series ''

Bones A bone is a rigid organ that constitutes part of the skeleton in most vertebrate animals. Bones protect the various other organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells, store minerals, provide structure and support for the body, an ...

'' in the third season's third episode "Death in the Saddle" (9 October 2007). Roberts described himself as a political conservative and an

anti-communist Anti-communism is political and ideological opposition to communist beliefs, groups, and individuals. Organized anti-communism developed after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, and it reached global dimensions during the Cold War, when th ...

. In later life, Roberts lived in

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

. He was diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease resulting in damage to myelinthe insulating covers of nerve cellsin the brain and spinal cord. As a demyelinating disease, MS disrupts the nervous system's ability to Action potential, transmit ...

in 1990, and died of its complications in October 2000. Obituaries recalled him as a talented but personally "difficult" author, with a history of disputes with publishers, editors and colleagues.David Langford – Keith Roberts, 1935–2000
Ansible #160 (November 2000)David Langford – A Nice Derangement of Epitaphs
'' SFX magazine #73'' (January 2001)

Partial bibliography

Novels

*'' The Furies'' (1966) – a traditional UK disaster tale. Adapted into a six-part thriller on BBC Radio 4 in May 1970. *''

'' (1968) – a collection of linked short stories *''Anita'' (1970) – a collection of linked short stories *''The Inner Wheel'' (1970) – a collection of linked short stories *''The Boat of Fate'' (1971) – a historical novel set in Britain at the end of the Roman Empire's power *''The Chalk Giants'' (1974) – a collection of linked short stories *'' Molly Zero'' (1980) – a novel set in a

dystopian A dystopia (lit. "bad place") is an imagined world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized, fearful lives. It is an imagined place (possibly state) in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmenta ...

future *''

Kiteworld ''Kiteworld'' is a novel by Keith Roberts published in 1985. Plot summary ''Kiteworld'' is a novel in which men fly in kites at the borders of their land to defend against demons of legend. Reception Dave Langford reviewed ''Kiteworld'' for ''Wh ...

'' (1985) – originally published as linked short stories *'' Kaeti & Company'' (1986) – linked short fiction *''

Gráinne Gráinne (), sometimes anglicised Grania, is the daughter of king Cormac mac Airt in the Fianna Cycle of Irish mythology. She is one of the central figures in the Middle Irish text '' Finn and Gráinne'', as well as the 17th-century tale ''The ...

'' (1987) – slipstream fiction *''The Road to Paradise'' (1989) – a thriller, without fantastic elements *''Kaeti on Tour'' (1992) – linked short fiction *''Drek Yarman'' (2000) - a novel set in ''Kiteworld'', serialized in Spectrum SF

Collections

*''Machines and Men'' (1973) ** "Escapism" (1964) ** "Therapy 2000" (1969) ** "Manscarer" (1966) ** "Boulter's Canaries" (1965) ** "Sub-Lim" (1965) ** "Synth" (1966) ** "The Deeps" (1966) ** "Breakdown" (1966) ** "The Pace That Kills" (1966) ** "Manipulation" (1965) *''The Grain Kings'' (1976) ** "Weihnachtsabend" (1972) ** "The White Boat" (1966) ** "The Passing of the Dragons" (1972) ** "The Trustie Tree" (1973) ** "The Lake of Tuonela" (1973) ** "The Grain Kings" (1972) ** "I Lose Medea" (1972) *''The Passing of the Dragons'' (1977) - selected stories from ''Machines and Men'' and ''The Grain Kings'' *''Ladies from Hell'' (1979) ** "Our Lady of Desperation" (1979) ** "The Shack at Great Cross Halt" (1977) ** "The Ministry of Children" (1975) ** "The Big Fans" (1977) ** "Missa Privata" (1976) *'' The Lordly Ones'' (1986) ** "The Lordly Ones" (1980) ** "Ariadne Potts" (1978) ** "Sphairistike" (1984) ** "The Checkout" (1981) ** "The Comfort Station" (1980) ** "The Castle on the Hoop" (1986) ** "Diva" (1986) *''A Heron Caught in Weeds'' (1987) – poetry collection, edited by Jim Goddard *''Winterwood and Other Hauntings'' (1989) – ghost story collection, with an introduction by

Robert Holdstock Robert Paul Holdstock (2 August 1948 – 29 November 2009) was an English novelist and author best known for his works of Celtic, Nordic, Gothic and Pictish fantasy literature, predominantly in the fantasy subgenre of mythic fiction. Ho ...

** "Susan" (1965) ** "The Scarlet Lady" (1966) ** "The Eastern Windows" (1967) ** "Winterwood" (1974) ** "Mrs. Cibber" (1989) ** "The Snake Princess" (1973) ** "Everything in the Garden" (1973)

Other

*''The Natural History of the P.H.'' (1988) – short essay about the "Primitive Heroine" *''Irish Encounters: A Short Travel'' (1989) – essays about a trip to Ireland in 1978 *''Lemady: Episodes of a Writer's Life'' (1997) – autobiography, with fictional elements

Awards and nominations

Awards

British Science Fiction Association Award The BSFA Awards are literary awards presented annually since 1970 by the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA) to honour works in the genre of science fiction. Nominees and winners are chosen based on a vote of BSFA members. More recently, ...

1982 – Short fiction: "Kitemaster" ( ''Interzone'', Spring 1982) * British Science Fiction Association Award 1986 – Short fiction: "Kaeti and the Hangman" (''Kaeti & Company'') * British Science Fiction Association Award 1986 – Artist: Keith Roberts * British Science Fiction Association Award 1987 – Novel: ''Gráinne''

Nominations

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), a nonprofit association of pr ...

1971 – Best Novella: "The God House" ( ''New Worlds Quarterly'' No. 1, 1971) * British Science Fiction Association Award 1980 – Novel: '' Molly Zero'' *

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by th ...

1981 – Best Novelette: "The Lordly Ones" ( ''Fantasy & Science Fiction'', March 1980) * British Science Fiction Association Award 1985 – Novel: ''

'' * John W. Campbell Memorial Award 1986 (Joint 3rd place): ''

'' * Nebula Award 1987 – Best Novella: "The Tiger Sweater" (''Fantasy & Science Fiction'', October 1987) *

Arthur C. Clarke Award The Arthur C. Clarke Award is a British award given for the best science fiction novel first published in the United Kingdom during the previous year. It is named after British author Arthur C. Clarke, who gave a grant to establish the award ...

1988: ''Gráinne''

References

External links

The Worlds of Keith Roberts
by Jim Goddard, Solaris Books (updated 9 October 2000) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Keith 1935 births 2000 deaths English science fiction writers English fantasy writers English illustrators English graphic designers Deaths from multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis Neurological disease deaths in England People from Kettering 20th-century English novelists BSFA Award for Best Artwork winner 20th-century English short story writers English male novelists 20th-century English male writers English writers with disabilities