Ian Watson, acclaimed science-fiction writer, to visit Pyrkon!
Another distinguished Guest of Pyrkon 2024 will be Ian Watson, a British science fiction author. His work includes novels, short stories, essays and film scripts and is characterized by unconventional ideas in which the writer explores deep philosophical themes. He is valued for his originality and for presenting reflections on human nature and technology. His works often deal with topics such as science, religion and existentialism. And he will be the one to visit Pyrkon 2024!
A few words about Ian Watson and his work
The writer was born April 20, 1943 in England. He studied English literature at Oxford University from 1960 to 1965, during which time he also studied 19th century French literature for two years. He then began his career as a university lecturer – teaching literature at the University of Tanzania and universities in Tokyo. His final focus was on science fiction and futurology, which he taught at the School of History of Art in Birmingham, UK.
After the success of his first novel, “The Embedding,” he decided to become a full-time writer. Among others, he is best known for his “Language of Signs” series (“The Jonah Kit,” “Lucky’s Harvest” and “The Fallen Moon”), in which he combines science fiction elements with psychological and philosophical themes; his fantasy novel “The Fire Worm,” which features mythological themes; and “The Flies of Memory,” a work that explores themes of memory and identity.
Watson has also written three novels set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, known as “Inquisition War.” They include: “Inquisitor,” “Harlequin” and “Chaos Child.” In these novels Watson depicts the dark world of the Inquisition, confronts the heroes with the world of Chaos and very vividly shows the brutality of the Warhammer 40,000 world.
He also co-authored the work “The Beloved of My Beloved,” which he wrote together with Italian surrealist Roberto Quaglia. It is probably the only full-length genre prose by two European authors speaking different languages – the creators won the British SF Association Award in the short story category for it. What’s more, Ian Watson also helped Stanley Kubrick with the script for A.I.. Artificial Intelligence, directed by Steven Spielberg.
The writer currently lives in the green Asturia in northern Spain with his wife, super-translator, chef and artisan Cristina Macía. He is the happy father of two daughters, Rouge and Noire. For fun, they co-organize SF conventions such as Eurocon in Barcelona in 2016 and the annual editions of Spain’s largest international SF convention, Celsius 232. His latest publication is The Chinese Time Machine.
So, are you looking forward to meeting Ian Watson as much as we do?
O autorze
Agnieszka Mróz
Osoba pogrążona we własnych myślach, którą tylko nieliczni potrafią zrozumieć. Kocha książki, mangi i anime. Czytanie rozbudziło w niej miłość do pisania. Bujna wyobraźnia i uwielbienie fantastyki doprowadziły do tego, że chce zyskać moc kreowania nowych światów, w których można spotkać ulubionych bohaterów.