Editing Stephen Baxter (author)

{{Short description|British science-fiction author (born 1957)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Stephen Baxter
| image            = Stephen Baxter 2005.jpg
| caption          = Baxter at the [[63rd World Science Fiction Convention]], 2005
| pseudonym        = 
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1957|11|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Liverpool]], England
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = 
| occupation       = Writer
| period           = 
| genre            = [[Hard science fiction]]<br/>[[Alternate history]]
| movement         = 
| signature        = 
| website          = {{URL|www.stephen-baxter.com}}
}}

'''Stephen Baxter''' (born 13 November 1957) is an English [[hard science fiction]] author. He has degrees in [[mathematics]] and [[engineering]].

== Writing style ==
Strongly influenced by science fiction pioneer [[H. G. Wells]], Baxter has been vice-president of the international [[H. G. Wells Society]] since 2006. His fiction falls into three main categories of original work plus a fourth category, extending other authors' writing; each has a different basis, style, and tone.

Baxter's "[[Future history|Future History]]"<ref>{{cite book| last=Baxter | first= Stephen | title= Foreword | work= [[Vacuum Diagrams]] }}</ref> mode is based on research into [[hard science fiction|hard science]]. It encompasses the ''[[Xeelee Sequence]]'', which consists of nine novels (including the ''[[Destiny's Children]]'' trilogy and Vengeance/Redemption duology that is set in alternate timeline), plus three volumes collecting the 52 short pieces (short stories and novellas) in the series, all of which fit into a single timeline stretching from [[the Big Bang]] singularity of the past to his ''[[Timelike Infinity]]'' (1993) singularity of the future.<ref name= "xeelee_timeline">{{cite web
| url = http://www.stephen-baxter.com/articles.html#xeelee
| title = The Xeelee Sequence – Timeline
| work = stephen-baxter.com
| access-date=29 September 2011
}}</ref> These stories begin in the present day and end when the [[Milky Way]] galaxy collides with [[Andromeda Galaxy|Andromeda]] five billion years in the future.<ref name=xeelee_timeline/> The central narrative is that of humanity rising and evolving to become the second most powerful race in the universe, next to the god-like [[Xeelee]]. Character development tends to be secondary to the depiction of advanced theories and ideas, such as the true nature of the [[Great Attractor]], [[Naked singularity|naked singularities]] and the great battle between [[baryon]]ic and [[dark matter]] lifeforms. The ''[[Manifold Trilogy]]'' is another example of Baxter's future history mode, even more conceptual than the Xeelee sequence. Each novel is focused on a potential explanation of the [[Fermi paradox]]. The two-part disaster series ''[[Flood (Baxter novel)|Flood]]'' and ''[[Ark (novel)|Ark]]'' (followed by three additional stories, "Earth III," "Earth II," and "Earth I") which also fits into this category, where catastrophic events unfold in the near future and humanity must adapt to survive in three radically different planetary environments. In 2013, Baxter released his short story collection ''Universes'' which featured stories set in Flood/Ark, Jones & Bennet and Anti-Ice universes.<ref name="universes">{{cite web |website=Upcoming4.me |url= http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/stephen-baxter-universes-cover-art-and-synopsis |title=Stephen Baxter – Universes cover art and synopsis |access-date=12 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130319074302/http://upcoming4.me/news/book-news/stephen-baxter-universes-cover-art-and-synopsis |archive-date=19 March 2013 }}</ref> Baxter signed a contract for two new books, ''Proxima'' and ''Ultima'', both of which are names of planets, and they were released in 2013 and 2014, respectively.<ref name= "proxima_ultima">{{cite web
| url = http://www.stephen-baxter.com/news.html#deal
| title = News
| work = stephen-baxter.com
| access-date=6 October 2011
}}</ref>

[[Image:Baxter Stephen.jpg|left|thumb|Stephen Baxter at the [[Science-Fiction-Tage NRW]] in [[Dortmund]], Germany, March 1997]]

A second category in Baxter's work is based on readings in evolutionary biology and human/animal behaviour. Elements of this appear in his future histories (especially later works like the ''Destiny's Children'' series and ''Flood''/''Ark''), but here it is the focus. The major work in this category is ''[[Evolution (Baxter novel)|Evolution]]'', which imagines the evolution of humanity in the Earth's past and future. ''[[The Mammoth Trilogy]]'', written for young adults, shares similar themes and concerns as it explores the present, past, and future of a small herd of [[mammoth]]s found surviving on an island in the [[Arctic Ocean]].

A third category of Baxter's fiction is [[alternate history]], based on research into history. These stories are more human, with characters portrayed with greater depth and care. This includes his ''[[NASA Trilogy]]'', which incorporates research into [[NASA]] and its history; and the ''Time's Tapestry'' series, which features science-fictional interventions into our past from an alternate-history future. The novel ''[[Anti-Ice]]'' is an earlier example of Baxter's blending of alternate history with science fiction. A more recent work in this direction is the ''[[Northland Trilogy]]'', an alternate prehistory that begins with ''[[Stone Spring]]'', set ten thousand years ago in the [[Stone Age]], followed by ''[[Bronze Summer]]'' and ''[[Iron Winter]]'', set in alternate versions of the [[Bronze Age]] and the [[Iron Age]]. In 2009, Baxter became a judge for the [[Sidewise Award for Alternate History]], the first former winner among the panel.<ref name= "judges">{{Cite web | title = Index of Jurors | website= Locusmag.com | year=2010 | url = http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Judge2.html#334 | access-date = 5 February 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100208114047/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Judge2.html#334 | archive-date = 8 February 2010 }}</ref>

Another category, outside of the main body of Baxter's independent work, is sequels and installments of science-fiction classics. His first novel to achieve wide recognition (winning three literary awards) was ''[[The Time Ships]]'', an authorised sequel to H. G. Wells' ''[[The Time Machine]]''. The [[A Time Odyssey|''Time Odyssey'']] series, a trilogy co-authored with [[Arthur C. Clarke]], is connected to Clarke's four ''[[Space Odyssey]]'' novels. The trilogy consists of ''[[Time's Eye (novel)|Time's Eye]]'', ''[[Sunstorm (novel)|Sunstorm]]'', and ''[[Firstborn (Clarke and Baxter novel)|Firstborn]]''. Another novel is based on a synopsis written by Clarke, ''[[The Light of Other Days]]''. Baxter has also published a [[Doctor Who]] novel, ''[[The Wheel of Ice]]''. His most recent sequel is ''[[The Massacre of Mankind]]'', an authorised sequel to H. G. Wells' ''[[The War of the Worlds]]''.

In 2010, Baxter began working on a new series with [[Terry Pratchett]].<ref name="longearth">{{Cite web | title = The Long Earth| website= sfx.co.uk | year = 2010 | url = http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/06/16/terry-pratchett-and-stephen-baxter-collaborating-on-the-long-earth/ | access-date = 16 June 2010}}</ref> This collaboration produced five books, ''[[The Long Earth]]'', ''[[The Long War (novel)|The Long War]]'', ''[[The Long Mars]]'', ''[[The Long Utopia]]'' and ''[[The Long Cosmos]]''.

Baxter has written non-fiction essays and columns for such publications as ''[[Critical Wave]]'' and the British SF Association's ''Matrix''.

==Literary awards==
<!-- Ordered by date awarded, newest last. -->
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!'''Award Name'''
!'''Year'''
!'''For book'''
!'''Short stories printed in'''
|-
|[[BSFA Award]] SF Novel
|1995<ref name="WWE-1995">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1995
| title = 1995 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End
| access-date=15 May 2009
}}</ref>
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Sidewise Award for Alternate History|Sidewise Award]] for Best Short Form Alternate History
|1995
|"[[Brigantia's Angels]]"
|''[[Traces (book)|Traces]]''
|-
|[[John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel|John W. Campbell Award]]
|1996<ref name="WWE-1996">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1996
| title = 1996 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End
| access-date=15 May 2009
}}</ref>
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Philip K. Dick Award]]
|1996<ref name="WWE-1996"/>
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis]] for Best Foreign Language Novel
|1996
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Sidewise Award for Alternate History|Sidewise Award]] for Best Long Form Alternate History
|1996
|''[[Voyage (Stephen Baxter novel)|Voyage]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[BSFA Award]] Short Fiction
|1997
|"[[War Birds (short story)|War Birds]]"
|''[[Phase Space (book)|Phase Space]]''
|-
|[[:es:Premio Gigamesh|Premio Gigamesh]]
|1997
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[SF Chronicle Award]] Best Novelette
|1998
|"[[Moon Six]]"
|''[[Traces (book)|Traces]]''
|-
|[[Analog Award]] Best Short Story
|1998
|"[[Moon-Calf]]"
|''Phase Space''
|-
|[[Philip K. Dick Award]]
|1999<ref name="WWE-1999">{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldswithoutend.com/books_year_index.asp?year=1999
| title = 1999 Award Winners & Nominees
| work = Worlds Without End
| access-date=15 May 2009
}}</ref>
|''[[Vacuum Diagrams]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Seiun Award]] for Best Foreign Language Novel
|1999
|''[[The Time Ships]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Analog Award]] Best Short Story
|2000
|"[[Sheena 5]]"
|''Phase Space''
|-
|[[Locus Award for Best Novelette]]
|2000
|"[[Huddle (novel)|Huddle]]"
|''Phase Space''
|-
|[[Asimov's Readers' Poll]] Novelette
|2001
|"On the Orion Line"
|''[[Resplendent]]''
|-
|[[BSFA Award]] Non-Fiction
|2001
|''[[Omegatropic]]''
|&nbsp;
|-
|[[Analog Award]] Best Short Story
|2002
|"[[The Hunters of Pangaea]]"
|''[[Evolution (Baxter novel)|Evolution]]'' & ''[[The Hunters of Pangaea (collection)|The Hunters of Pangaea]]''
|-
|[[BSFA Award]] Short Fiction
|2004
|"[[Mayflower II (Stephen Baxter)|Mayflower II]]"
|''[[Resplendent]]''
|}

Baxter's story "[[Last Contact]]" was nominated for the 2008 [[Hugo Award]] for best short story.

==Personal life==
Baxter was born 13 November 1957 in [[Liverpool]], England, and studied at [[St Edward's College]], a Catholic grammar school. He then read mathematics at [[University of Cambridge]], obtained a doctorate in engineering at [[University of Southampton]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/clive-barker-returns-heres-eight-9289121 |title = As Clive Barker returns here's eight other Merseyside sci fi, fantasy and horror writers who have thrilled readers worldwide|date = 19 May 2015}}</ref> and received an MBA from [[Henley Business School|Henley Management College]]. Baxter taught maths, physics, and information technology before becoming a full-time author in 1995. He is a [[Chartered Engineer (UK)|chartered engineer]] and fellow of the [[British Interplanetary Society]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.stephen-baxter.com/author.html |title = Stephen Baxter: Author}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
{{main|Stephen Baxter bibliography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote|Stephen Baxter}}
{{Commons category|Stephen Baxter}}
* {{official website}}
* {{ISFDB name|id=102|name=Stephen Baxter}}
* {{LCAuth|n92077680|Stephen Baxter|59|ue}}

{{Stephen Baxter}}{{Philip K. Dick Award}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baxter, Stephen}}
[[Category:1957 births]]
[[Category:20th-century English novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century British novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century English novelists]]
[[Category:Alumni of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Reading]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Southampton]]
[[Category:British alternative history writers]]
[[Category:British male short story writers]]
[[Category:British science fiction writers]]
[[Category:English male novelists]]
[[Category:English male short story writers]]
[[Category:English science fiction writers]]
[[Category:English short story writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Schoolteachers from Merseyside]]
[[Category:Sidewise Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers from Liverpool]]