M. R. Carey
M. R. Carey is a British author best known for his work in horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres. His best-selling works are mainly novel-length speculative fiction stories. He has written a variety of novels, novellas, and short stories in these genres, many of which have been adapted into movies, stage productions, and gaming worlds. His most popular works to date include The Girl With All The Gifts, The Book Of Koli, and Fellside. The distinctive world-building and character depth he has developed in his work has earned him numerous awards, as well as a loyal fan base.
Originally from Liverpool, Mike Carey grew up in a working class family and worked a variety of jobs before beginning his writing career in the mid-1990s. His first published works in the horror genre were comic books, which gained him some success but not enough to make it a full-time career. He moved on to writing novels and novellas, some of which were well reviewed. After the publication of his breakthrough novel The Girl With All The Gifts in 2014, his career began to take off.
The Girl With All The Gifts is a post-apocalyptic novel set in the United Kingdom. It follows the story of Melanie, a young girl with special abilities who is held prisoner in an army base. Her existence is threatened when a deadly virus threatens to take over the world and the soldiers at the base must decide what to do with her. While the military is filled with complex characters, Melanie is the heart of the story and she must grapple with the difficult decisions in order to survive. The Girl With All The Gifts was one of the first post-apocalyptic novels to depict the genre in ways that explored moral gray areas and the depths of human emotions. The novel spawned a 2016 movie adaptation starring Gemma Arterton and Glenn Close, which received critical praise.
M. R. Carey’s other popular work has largely centered around fantasy and sci-fi themes. His novel The Book Of Koli is an epic fantasy-adventure filled with imaginative creatures and environmental themes. The main character, Koli, is a peasant who discovers that he possesses magical powers, setting him out on an epic quest to protect his home village. This work has been praised for its strong world-building and creative dialogue. The Book Of Koli has been named "captivating" and "mesmerizing" by Publishers Weekly, and has garnered a prestigious British Science Fiction Award nomination.
Carey has also had success with his novella series, most notably the Fellside series. The first book in this series, Fellside focuses on Jess, a convicted murderer who is moved to a supposedly haunted prison. Hoping to save her soul, she attempts to contact the spirit of her late son and the other forces at work in the prison. While many of Carey’s stories involve dark concepts and situations, his novels and novellas differ in their exploration of moral complexity, often portraying characters facing difficult ethical choices and struggling to find redemption.
Throughout his career, M. R. Carey has written a variety of complex works of speculative fiction, all with distinctive characters and engaging storylines and setting. He is admired by fans and critics alike and has received numerous awards, nominations, and praise. With his blend of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy genres, he has created a distinct style of speculative fiction that draws readers in and keeps them hooked.
