Mary Gentle is a highly respected author from England, known for her work in the science fiction and fantasy genres. She has written numerous novels, including the Orthe Duology, the Book of Ash, and several standalone books. Gentle has received critical acclaim for her work, with eight of her novels gaining recognition from critics and authors in the science fiction and fantasy community.
Born on March 29, 1956, in Eastbourne, Sussex, Gentle has always had a passion for writing. She obtained two Master's degrees and is also an expert sword fighter. Her first published book, Hawk in Silver, was a young adult fantasy novel released in 1977. However, it was her Orthe series, consisting of Golden Witchbread and Ancient Light, that brought her to prominence.
In addition to her Orthe series, Gentle has written several standalone books and short stories that form the White Crow series. This series, which was published as a collection in 2003, features two protagonists named Valentine and Casaubon. Gentle retains some basic facts about these characters while changing much of their backgrounds and worlds. Some of the stories in this series take place in an alternate history version of 17th century England, while others are set in a cyberpunk-tinged version of the near future. Gentle's writing is informed by historically existing ideas about esotericism and alchemy and is often rife with obscure allusions to real history and literature.
In addition to her White Crow series, Gentle has written several other notable works. Grunts!, published in 1992, is a grand guignol parody of mass-market high fantasy novels, featuring orcs as heroes, murderous halflings, and racist elves. Gentle also writes under the pseudonym Roxanne Morgan, although information about her work under this name is limited. Overall, Mary Gentle is a highly respected author in the science fiction and fantasy community, known for her imaginative storytelling and richly detailed worlds.