Russell Hoban - Definition and Overview

Russell Conwell Hoban (born February 4, 1925) is an American writer of fantasy, science fiction, mainstream fiction, poetry, children's books, and unclassifiable works which contain fantasy elements within a modern urban setting.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hoban enlisted in the Army at age 18 and served in the Philippines and Italy as a radio operator during World War II. He then worked as an illustrator (painting several covers for TIME magazine) and an advertising copywriter, before writing and illustrating his first children's book, What Does It Do and How Does It Work.

Shortly after writing his first full-length novel, The Mouse and His Child, he moved to London in 1969 with his first wife—illustrator Lillian Hoban, who collaborated on his successful children's series "Frances the Badger"—intending to stay only a short time; following the breakup of his marriage, he remained in England and has resided there ever since. All of his adult novels except Riddley Walker, Pilgermann and Fremder are set in whole or part in contemporary London.

Adult novels

• The Lion of Boaz-Jachin and Jachin-Boaz (1973) (urban fantasy)
• Kleinzeit (1974) (urban fantasy/satire)
• Riddley Walker (1980) (science fiction/fantasy)
• Pilgermann (1983) (historical fiction/fantasy)
• Turtle Diary (1986) (mainstream fiction)
• The Medusa Frequency (1987) (urban fantasy)
• Fremder (1996) (science fiction)
• Mr. Rinyo-Clacton's Offer (1998) (mainstream fiction)
• Angelica's Grotto (1999) (mainstream fiction)
• Amaryllis Night and Day (2001) (urban fantasy)
• The Bat Tattoo (2002) (mainstream fiction)
• Her Name Was Lola (2003) (mainstream fiction)

Selected children's books

• "Frances the Badger" series: Bedtime for Frances, Bread and Jam for Frances, etc. (1960-1970)
• The Mouse and His Child (1968, republished 1990)
• Egg Thoughts and Other Frances Songs (1972) (poetry)
• How Tom Beat Captain Najork and his Hired Sportsmen (1974)
• La Corona and the Tin Frog (1979)
• The Marzipan Pig (1986)
• The Trokeville Way (1996)
• The Last of the Wallendas (1997) (poetry)

Other works

• The Carrier Frequency (1984) (stage play)
• Deadsy and Door (1989, 1990) (text for animated films by David Anderson)
• The Second Mrs. Kong (1994) (libretto for opera composed by Harrison Birtwhistle)

External links

• The Head of Orpheus (http://www.ocelotfactory.com/hoban/) - fan site