Phil Rickman


Phil Rickman is a British author of supernatural and mystery novels.

Biography

He was born in Lancashire in northern England 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 in 1998. In 2010 he began the John Dee Papers series, which focuses on the Welsh mathematician and astrologer John Dee. Rickman has also worked on several music albums based upon his books and has helped write many of the albums' songs.
In his writing, Rickman states that he performs research into the folklore, religion, and supernatural themes in his books, citing that "If I can't believe it, it doesn't go in". He has also voiced his unhappiness over his earlier works labeling him as a horror writer, stating that he felt that the books did not fit neatly within the genre.

Standalone novels

  1. The Bones of Avalon
  2. The Heresy of Dr Dee

    ''Marco'' series

  3. Marco's Pendulum
  4. Marco and the Blade of Night

    ''Merrily Watkins'' series

  5. The Wine of Angels
  6. Midwinter of the Spirit
  7. A Crown of Lights
  8. The Cure of Souls
  9. The Lamp of the Wicked
  10. The Prayer of the Night Shepherd
  11. The Smile of a Ghost
  12. The Remains of an Altar
  13. The Fabric of Sin
  14. To Dream of the Dead
  15. The Secrets of Pain
  16. The Magus of Hay
  17. Friends of the Dusk
  18. All of a Winter's Night
  19. For the Hell of It

    Short stories

  20. The House of Susan Lulham - was first published in the Oxfam "Oxcrimes" anthology. In December 2014, an extended version which is "five times as long" was published for Kindle.

    Non-fiction

The second Merrily book Midwinter of the Spirit has been made into a three-part TV drama by ITV. The Cast includes Anna Maxwell-Martin as Merrily, Sally Messham as Jane, and David Threlfall as Huw Owen. It was released in late 2015.