Parke Godwin

For the 19th-century journalist, seeParke Godwin (journalist).

Parke Godwin(January 28, 1929 – June 19, 2013) was an American writer.He won theWorld Fantasy Awardfor Best Novella in 1982 for his story "The Fire When It Comes".He was a native of New York City, where he was born in 1929.He was the grandson ofHarry Post Godwin.

Parke Godwin
Born	(1929-01-28)January 28, 1929 New York City,U.S.
Died	June 19, 2013(2013-06-19)(aged 84) Auburn, California,U.S.
Occupation	Novelist
Genre	Science fiction, fantasy,historical fiction
Notable works	Sherwood,Firelord,Waiting for the Galactic Bus,"The Fire When It Comes.”

Works

Godwin is known for his novels of legendary figures placed in realistic historical settings, written in a lyrical yet precise prose style and sardonic humor. His retelling of parts of theArthur legend,Firelordin 1980,Beloved Exilein 1984, andThe Lovers: The Legend of Tristan and Yseultin 1999 (under the pseudonym Kate Hawks) is set in the 5th century during the collapse of theRoman empire,and his reinterpretation ofRobin Hood(Sherwood,1991, andRobin and the King,1993) takes place during theNorman conquestand features kingsWilliam the ConquerorandWilliam Rufusas major characters. His other well-known works includeWaiting for the Galactic Bus(1988) and its sequel,The Snake Oil Wars,which is also known asThe Snake Oil Variations,in 1989. These were humorous critiques of Americanpop cultureand religion.

His short fiction has appeared in several anthologies. His short story "Influencing the Hell out of Time and Teresa Golowitz" was thebasis of an episodeof the television seriesThe Twilight Zone.

Godwin was also at various times a radio operator, a research technician, a professional actor, an advertising man, a dishwasher and a maitre d' hotel.

In 2011, he was the Guest of Honor at the World Fantasy Con.He was placed in a close care facility in 2012 due to a decline in his long- and short-term memory.He died in 2013.

Reception

Reviewing Godwin's novelSherwood(1991), James Idema stated "Once into Parke Godwin's absorbing and highly original account of the ancient story, an appealing new Robin Hood will come to life... With impressive skill and vivid imagination, he portrays a hero, from childhood to young manhood, who is altogether credible in human terms".

Bibliography

• Darker Places,1973
• A Memory of Lions,1976
• A Cold Blue Light,1983 (with Marvin Kaye) (Berkley Books,1983)
• The Fire When It Comes,1984 (collection of short stories) (Hugo nominee)
• The Last Rainbow,1985
• A Truce with Time,1988
• Invitation to Camelot,1988 (editor)
• Limbo Search,1995
• The Tower of Beowulf,1995
• Lord of Sunset,1998
• The Night You Could Hear Forever,1999 (collection of short stories and one play, CD-ROM release only)
• Watch By Moonlight,2001 (as Kate Hawks)
• Prince of Nowhere,2011

The Masters of Solitude series

• The Masters of Solitude,1978 (withMarvin Kaye)
• Wintermind,1982 (with Marvin Kaye)

The novelA Cold Blue Light,1983 (with Marvin Kaye), is sometimes listed as the third volume of the trilogy, but is unrelated. The third volume,Singer Among The Nightingales,was partially written by Godwin and Kaye before their respective deaths, but never completed.

Firelord series

• Firelord,1980
• Beloved Exile,1984
• The Lovers: The Legend of Trystan and Yseult,1999 (as Kate Hawks)

TheFirelordbooks deal with theArthurian legendand events before and after the time ofKing Arthur.Firelordis about Arthur's rise and his relationship with his powerful wife,Guenevere.Beloved Exilefollows Guenevere after Arthur's death as different factions fight for control of Britain. Godwin's third novel featuring Arthurian material,The Lovers: The Legend of Trystan and Yseult,was published in 1999 under the pseudonym Kate Hawks.

Snake Oil series

• Waiting for the Galactic Bus,1988
• The Snake Oil Wars: or Scheherazade Ginsberg Strikes Again,1989 (also published under the titleThe Snake Oil Variations)

Robin Hood series

• Sherwood,1991. Historical novel with fantasy elements.
• Robin and the King,1993 (also published under the titleReturn to Nottingham: A Novel)

External links

• Parke Godwinat theInternet Speculative Fiction Database