Elaine Cunningham
Elaine Cunningham | |
---|---|
Born | New York City, U.S. | August 12, 1957
Occupation | Novelist |
Period | 1991–present |
Genre | Fantasy, Science fiction |
Notable works | Forgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels |
Website | |
elainecunningham |
Elaine Cunningham (born August 12, 1957 in New York City)[1] is an American fantasy and science fiction author, especially known for her contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game campaign setting of Forgotten Realms.[2][3]
Biography
[edit]Cunningham was born in New York City, and grew up in New York state and New England.[2] A voracious reader since childhood, she earned a degree in music education with a minor in history.[2]
She started writing in 1987, after her older son was born.[2] A lifelong fascination with folklore and mythology led her to the fantasy genre,[4][5] and her background in music and history[2][5][4] gave her an affinity for bards such as Danilo Thann,[4] created for her first novel, Elfshadow (1991).[2] Many of her stories focus on elves,[3][2] which she attributes to her excessive fondness for cats.[2][4]
Elves suddenly clicked for me when I realized they're essentially bipedal cats with localized fur. They possess a decidedly feline grace, beauty, and dexterity, not to mention 110% of a cat's attitude.
— Elaine Cunningham
Cunningham is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey,[1] book 10 from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.[5] Shadows in the Starlight (2006), the second book the Changeling Detective series, was named to the 2006 Kirkus Reviews list "Ten Best SciFi Novels."[6]
Personal life
[edit]Now a full-time arts administrator, Cunningham continues to write, albeit mostly in the early morning hours. She lives in coastal Rhode Island.[4]
Bibliography
[edit]Dungeons & Dragons
[edit]- Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
- Spelljammer anthology novellas
- The Cloakmaster Cycle
- The Radiant Dragon (1992), ISBN 978-1560763468[4]
- The Cloakmaster Cycle
- Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Fyodor, and Gorlist)
- I. Daughter of the Drow (1995)
- II. Tangled Webs (1996)
- III. Windwalker (2003)
- Evermeet: Island of Elves (1998)
- Counselors & Kings (featuring Matteo and Tzigone)
- I. The Magehound (2000)
- II. The Floodgate (2001)
- III. The Wizardwar (2002)
- City of Splendors: A Novel of Waterdeep (With Ed Greenwood; 2005)
- Forgotten Realms anthology novellas
- The Best of the Realms, Book 1 (2003)
- "Rite of Blood"—Realms of the Underdark (1996)
- The Best of the Realms, Book III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham (2007)
- "The Bargain"—Realms of Valor (1993)
- "The More Things Change"—Realms of Infamy (1994)
- "The Direct Approach"—Realms of Magic (1995)
- "Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea"—Realms of the Arcane (1997)
- "The Great Hunt"—Dragon #246 (1998)
- "Speaking with the Dead"—Realms of Mystery (1998)
- "Stolen Dreams"—Dragon #259 (1999)
- "Fire is Fire"—Realms of the Deep (2000)
- "Possessions"—Dragon #282 (2002)
- "A Little Knowledge"—Realms of Shadow (2002)
- "Gorlist's Dragon"—Realms of Dragons (2004)
- "Games of Chance"—Dragon #335 (2005)
- "The Knights of Samular"
- "Tribute"
- "Answered Prayers"
- The Best of the Realms, Book 1 (2003)
Other
[edit]- Del Rey's Star Wars books
- Dark Journey, Book 12 of the New Jedi Order series (featuring Jaina Solo)
- The Changeling Detective Agency series
- I. Shadows in the Darkness (2004)
- II. Shadows in the Starlight (2006)
- Pathfinder Tales series
- Winter Witch (2010), ISBN 978-1-60125-286-9, with Dave Gross
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Cunningham, Elaine 1957-". Contemporary Authors. January 1, 2007. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2012 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Varney, Allen (April 1998). "ProFiles: Elaine Cunningham". Dragon (#246). Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast: 120.
- ^ a b Buker, Derek M. (2002). The science fiction and fantasy readers' advisory: the librarian's guide to cyborgs, aliens, and sorcerers. ALA readers' advisory series. ALA Editions. pp. 127–128. ISBN 0-8389-0831-4.
- ^ a b c d e f http://www.elainecunningham.com
- ^ a b c "Elaine Cunningham". Archived from the original on May 11, 2009.
- ^ https://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2007/01/kirkus_best_books_of_2006/?fbclid=IwAR2vACgKns7QSJkExK1AzzR_-dPYK-dqu6czwSaKnFqE2nnvlT0j3dO0aTY
- ^ a b c Bassingthwaite, Don. "A Conversation With Elaine Cunningham". SF Site. Retrieved January 23, 2010.
External links
[edit]- Elaine Cunningham's website
- Interview at Flames Rising (September 2008)
- Elaine Cunningham at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- "Elaine Cunningham :: Pen & Paper RPG Database". Archived from the original on February 25, 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2019.