Ian Irvine
"Xervish Flydd, to Nish. 'You took your bloody time, Nish. I expected you nine years ago. "
Ian grew up in a forest and spent his entire childhood reading books and climbing trees (and frequently both at once, to the terror of his parents). He had no interest in writing as he'd always wanted to be a scientist. After much procrastination and mucking around Ian gained a Ph. D. from the University of Sydney, somehow becoming an expert in the management of contaminated sediments in the process. Work has since taken him all across the eastern hemisphere, including to such idyllic locations as Mauritius, Bali, Fiji and Western Samoa. This provided absolutely no inspiration for his books as Ian prefers to send his characters to unpleasant places, there tormenting them to the limit of human ingenuity.
Ian began the creation of his Three Worlds fantasy environment in the late 1970's, as an escape from the rigours (more correctly, horrors) of writing his doctoral thesis. Before he'd finished world-building, Ian had covered the walls of his flat , and his thesis was a year and a half late.
Science proved insufficient. Beset by creative urges that by 1987 had become irresistible, Ian got out his maps and histories and began writing the first book of what was to become his 'Darwinian' fantasy quartet, The View from the Mirror. He worked on it continually until the final volume was published in 1999, and has been a full-time writer ever since.
Ian lives with his family in the mountains of northern NSW. He is currently editing Justice, the final book in his fantasy trilogy, The Tainted Realm. He's also doing the initial planning for his new Three Worlds series, which will be a direct sequel to The View from the Mirror and will finally answer the question of what happened to Karan and Llian, and their children. Among other things.
What genres does Ian Irvine write in?
He writes epic fantasy (notably the Three Worlds universe and the View From the Mirror quartet), eco-thrillers about catastrophic climate change, and books for children and young adults.
What are Ian Irvine's major series and recommended starting points?
His major sequences include the 11-book Three Worlds epic, the View From the Mirror quartet (start with A Shadow On The Glass), the Well of Echoes series (start with Geomancer), and the Song of the Tears trilogy (start with The Fate Of The Fallen). He also wrote an eco-thriller trilogy and numerous children and YA titles.
What themes recur across his work?
Common themes include survival and evolution, large-scale political and personal conflict, and environmental and ecological issues. His background in marine science informs realistic ecological detail in his eco-thrillers and worldbuilding.
Should I read his books in publication or series order?
For the multi-volume fantasy sequences it is best to read each series in internal order to follow overarching plots and character arcs. Some eco-thrillers and many children or YA titles can be read as standalones.
Is he still publishing or working on new books?
Yes. He has been working on Justice, the final book in The Tainted Realm trilogy, and has been planning a new Three Worlds series that will act as a direct sequel to The View From The Mirror and continue the story of Karan and Llian and their children.
