Editing M. John Harrison (section)

===1990s: ''The Course of the Heart'', ''Signs of Life'', and Gabriel King novels ===

Subsequent novels and short stories, such as ''The Course of the Heart'' (1991) and "Empty" (1993), were set between London and the [[Peak District]]. They have a lyrical style and a strong sense of place, and take their tension from characteristically conflicting veins of mysticism and realism.

''The Course of the Heart'' deals in part with an experiment in [[Ceremonial magic|ritual magic]] gone wrong, and with an imaginary country which may exist at the heart of Europe, as well as [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] themes such as the [[Pleroma]]. It weaves together mythology, sexuality, and the troubled past and present of Eastern Europe. The origin of the narrative lies in the occasion when three Cambridge students perform a ritualistic act (never shown or fully described) that changes their lives. Years later, none of the participants can remember what exactly occurred; but their vague memories can't rid them of an overwhelming sense of dread. Pam Stuyvesant is an epileptic haunted by strange sensual visions. Her husband Lucas believes that a dwarfish creature is stalking him. Self-styled sorcerer Yaxley becomes obsessed with a terrifyingly transcendent reality. The narrator, the seemingly least affected participant in the ritual (who is haunted by the smell of roses) attempts to help his friends escape the torment that has engulfed their lives. Joel Lane has described ''The Course of the Heart'' as "a brilliant use of supernatural themes to explore humanity mortality and loss."<ref name="jl" /> The novel incorporates versions of several other Harrison stories including "The Great God Pan", "The Quarry" and "The Incalling".

The novel ''[[Signs of Life (Harrison novel)|Signs of Life]]'' (1996) is a romantic thriller which explores concerns about genetics and biotechnology amidst the turmoil of what might be termed a three-way love affair between its central characters.

Beginning with ''The Wild Road'' in 1996 and concluding with ''Nonesuch'' (2001), Harrison coauthored four associated fantasies about cats with [[Jane Johnson (writer, born 1960)|Jane Johnson]], under the joint [[pseudonym]] of "Gabriel King".<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://lccn.loc.gov/n97106123 | title=Library of Congress LCCN Permalink n97106123}}</ref>

Harrison has collaborated on several short stories with [[Simon Ings]], and with [[Simon Pummel]] on the [[short film]] "Ray Gun Fun" (1998). His work has been classified by some as forming part of the style dubbed the [[New weird|New Weird]], along with writers such as [[China Miéville]], though Harrison himself resists being labelled as part of any literary style.

Harrison won the [[Richard Evans Award]] in 1999 (named after the near-legendary figure of UK publishing) given to the author who has contributed significantly to the SF genre without concomitant commercial success.