Judith_Tarr

Judith Tarr

Judith Tarr

American fantasy and science writer (born 1955)

Judith Tarr (born January 30, 1955)[1] is an American fantasy and science fiction author.

Quick Facts Born ...

Life

Tarr was born in Augusta, Maine on January 30, 1955.[1] She is the daughter of Earle A. Tarr, Jr. (a waterworks manager and salesman of real estate), and Regina (a teacher).[2][3][4] She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and PhD in Medieval Studies from Yale University.[5][6] She taught Latin at Wesleyan University from 1990 to 1993.[7]

She breeds Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona.[6] The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan[8] feature "dancing horses" modeled on those that she raises.[9]

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 with supernatural powers, secretly living in medieval society.[10] 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 and King Richard I as characters.[4][10]

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.[11] This inspired her to write her novel set in the period of the Crusades, Alamut.[11] Tarr consulted the history books The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf and The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam by Bernard Lewis, as part of her research for Alamut.[11]

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 about a matriarchal society existing in Paleolithic Europe.[12]

Pseudonyms

  • Caitlin Brennan, pseudonym used for the White Magic series (The Mountain’s Call and sequels) and House of the Star[8]
  • Kathleen Bryan, pseudonym used for the War of the Rose series (The Serpent and the Rose and sequels)[8]

Bibliography

Novels

  • The Hound and the Falcon, 1993, ISBN 0-312-85303-3, a collection of earlier works:
  • Avaryan Chronicles series:
  • A Wind in Cairo, Bantam Spectra, 1989, ISBN 0-553-27609-3
  • Ars Magica, Bantam Spectra, 1989, ISBN 0-553-28145-3[3]
  • The Alamut series (set in the Middle East, and in the same universe as The Hound and the Falcon):
  • Blood Feuds (with S.M. Stirling, Susan Shwartz, and Harry Turtledove), Baen, 1993, ISBN 0-671-72150-X
  • Lord of the Two Lands, Tor, 1993 ISBN 0-312-85362-9 (about Alexander the Great)[3]
  • His Majesty's Elephant, Jane Yolen Books, 1993, ISBN 0-15-200737-7 (about Emperor Charlemagne)[13]
  • Blood Vengeance (with Jerry Pournelle, S.M. Stirling, Susan Shwartz, and Harry Turtledove), Baen, 1993, ISBN 0-671-72201-8
  • Throne of Isis, Forge, 1994, ISBN 0-312-85363-7 (Historical novel featuring Cleopatra and Mark Antony)[4]
  • The Eagle's Daughter, Forge, 1995, ISBN 0-312-85819-1
  • Pillar of Fire, Forge, 1995, ISBN 0-312-85542-7 (Historical novel set in Ancient Egypt)[14]
  • King and Goddess, Forge, 1996, ISBN 0-312-86092-7
  • Queen of Swords, Forge, 1997, ISBN 0-312-85821-3
  • Epona:
  • Household Gods (with Harry Turtledove), Tor, 1999, ISBN 0-312-86487-6
  • Kingdom of the Grail, Roc, September 2000, ISBN 0-451-45797-8 (Fantasy novel where Roland (from the Matter of France) meets Merlin)[3]
  • Pride of Kings, Roc, September 2001, ISBN 0-451-45847-8
  • Devil's Bargain, Roc, September 2002, ISBN 0-451-45896-6
  • House of War, Roc, November 2003, ISBN 0-451-52900-6
  • Queen of the Amazons, Tor, April 2004, ISBN 0-765-30395-7
  • Rite of Conquest, Roc, November 2004, ISBN 0-451-46002-2
  • King's Blood, Roc, October 2005, ISBN 0-451-46045-6
  • Bring Down the Sun, Tor, 2008, ISBN 978-0-765-30397-4
  • Living in Threes, Book View Cafe, 2014, ISBN 978-1-61138-450-5
  • Forgotten Suns, Book View Cafe, 2015, ISBN 978-1-611-38491-8

Short fiction

Stories[16]
More information Title, Year ...

As Caitlin Brennan

The White Magic series
  1. The Mountain's Call, Luna, 2004, ISBN 0-373-80210-2
  2. Song of Unmaking, Luna, 2005, ISBN 0-373-80232-3
  3. Shattered Dance, Luna, 2006, ISBN 0-373-80248-X

As Kathleen Bryan

The War of the Rose series
  1. The Serpent and the Rose, Tor, 2007, ISBN 0-765-31328-6
  2. The Golden Rose, Tor, 2008, ISBN 978-0-765-31329-4
  3. The Last Paladin, Tor, 2009, ISBN 978-0-765-31330-0

Awards

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Judith Tarr - Summary Bibliography". Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  2. [2]
    "Judith Tarr's Bibliography". www.sff.net. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  3. [3]
    "Tarr, Judith" in Stableford, Brian M. The A to Z of Fantasy Literature.Lanham (Md.) : Scarecrow Press, 2009. ISBN 9780810868298 (p. 397)
  4. [4]
    Sawyer, Andy. "Tarr, Judith", in the St. James Guide To Fantasy Writers, ed. David Pringle. London, St. James Press, 1996, ISBN 1-55862-205-5,(pp. 551-2).
  5. [5]
    "Amazon.com: Judith Tarr: Books, Biography, Blog". Archived from the original on November 19, 2009. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Judith Tarr". Macmillan Publishers. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  7. [7]
    "Where are they now?" (PDF). Juno's Peacock (2). Wesleyan University, Department of Classical Studies: 8. July 1996. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  8. [8]
    "Judith Tarr | BVC Authors | Book View Cafe". bookviewcafe.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Caitlin Brennan | Authors | Macmillan". US Macmillan. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
  10. [10]
    Kelso, Sylvia. "The God in the Pentagram: Religion and Spirituality in Modern Fantasy".Journal of the Fantastic in the Arts. 18(1) (pgs. 61-82). 2007.
  11. [11]
    Mah, Emily. "The Best of Modern Arabian Fantasy, Part II: Judith Tarr and Alamut" Blackgate.com. 28th April 2012. Retrieved 9th April, 2020.
  12. [12]
    Sperring, Kari. "Matrilines: Fire From Heaven - Judith Tarr". Strange Horizons, 27 June 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  13. [13]
    Anonymous, The Middle Ages, 350-1450. Nextext, Evanston, Ill. 2002.ISBN 9780618142217 (p. 92)
  14. [14]
    Scott, Whitney (June 1, 1995). "Pillar of Fire, by Judith Tarr (REVIEW)". Booklist. American Library Association. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  15. [15]
    "White Mare's Daughter" by Judith Tarr Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 3rd April 2020.
  16. [16]
    Short stories unless otherwise noted.
  17. [17]
    Locus Award Index Archived February 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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