Phil Rickman
British author (1950–2024)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phil Rickman (6 March 1950 – 29 October 2024), also known under the pen names Thom Madley and Will Kingdom, was a British author of supernatural and mystery novels.[1]
- Journalist
- novelist
Phil Rickman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 March 1950 Lancashire, England |
| Died | 29 October 2024 (aged 74) |
| Pen name | Thom Madley, Will Kingdom |
| Occupation |
|
| Language | English |
| Period | 1991–2024 |
| Genre | |
| Notable works | The Bones of Avalon |
| Website | |
| philrickman | |
Biography
Rickman was born on 6 March 1950[2][3] in Lancashire and worked as a journalist for BBC World Service TV and BBC Radio 4. He published his first book, Candlenight, in 1991, and began his Merrily Watkins series in 1998.[4] In 2010, he began the John Dee Papers series, which focused on the English mathematician and astrologer, John Dee.[5]
Rickman also worked on several music albums based upon his books and helped write many of the albums' songs.[6] He lived in Wales for most of his life and resided in Hay-on-Wye with his wife as of 2020.[7] He presented the BBC Radio Wales book programme Phil the Shelf.[8]
Rickman researched the folklore, religion, and supernatural themes of his books, saying "If I can't believe it, it doesn't go in".[4] He also voiced his unhappiness over his earlier critics which labeled him a horror writer. He said that he felt that the books did not fit neatly within that genre.[4]
Rickman died on 29 October 2024, aged 74.[9]
Bibliography
Standalone novels
- Candlenight (1991)
- Crybbe (Curfew in the United States) (1993)[10]
- The Man in the Moss (1994)
- December (1994)
- The Chalice (1997)
- The Cold Calling (1998, as Will Kingdom)
- Mean Spirit (2001, as Will Kingdom)
- Night After Night (2014)
John Dee Papers
- The Bones of Avalon (2010)[11][12]
- The Heresy of Dr Dee (2012)
Marco series
- Marco's Pendulum (2006, as Thom Madley)
- Marco and the Blade of Night (2007, as Thom Madley)
Merrily Watkins series
- The Wine of Angels (1998)
- Midwinter of the Spirit (1999)
- A Crown of Lights (2001)
- The Cure of Souls (2001)
- The Lamp of the Wicked (2002)
- The Prayer of the Night Shepherd (2004)
- The Smile of a Ghost (2005)
- The Remains of an Altar (2006)[13]
- The Fabric of Sin (2007)
- To Dream of the Dead (2008)
- The Secrets of Pain (2011)
- The Magus of Hay (2013)
- Friends of the Dusk (2015)
- All of a Winter's Night (2017)[14]
- The Fever of the World (2022)[15]
- The Echo of Crows (2025)
Short stories
Non-fiction
- Merrily's Border: The Places in Herefordshire & the Marches Behind the Merrily Watkins Novels (with photographer John Mason) (2009)
Discography
- Songs from Lucy's Cottage (2009, by Lol Robinson and Hazey Jane II)[19]
- A Message from the Morning (2010, by Lol Robinson and Hazey Jane II)
- Abbey Tapes: the Exorcism (2011, by Philosopher's Stone, based upon the novel December)
Television
The second Merrily Watkins book Midwinter of the Spirit[20] was made into a three-part TV drama by ITV. The Cast included Anna Maxwell-Martin as Merrily, Sally Messham as Jane, and David Threlfall as Huw Owen.[21][22] It was released in late 2015.