Philip Reeve

Philip Reeve is an English author and illustrator, best known for his Mortal Engines series, also known as the Hungry City Chronicles. Reeve was born in Brighton in 1966 and had a passion for storytelling from a young age. He created his first story at the age of five, featuring Spike, a spaceman, and Spook, his doggie. Reeve's love for drawing and writing, as well as his dislike for mathematics, served him well in his future career.

Before becoming an author, Reeve worked in a bookshop for several years while also co-writing, producing, and directing no-budget theatre projects. He later began illustrating and provided cartoons for around forty children's books, including the best-selling Horrible Histories, Murderous Maths, and Dead Famous series. Reeve's work as an illustrator helped him develop his writing skills, and he eventually wrote Mortal Engines, his first novel.

Mortal Engines was a huge success and won several awards, including the Nestle Smarties Book Prize 2002 and the Blue Peter Book of the Year at the 2003 Awards. The book was later adapted into a movie by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens. Reeve has since written many other works, including Railhead, Here Lies Arthur, and a series of popular books for younger readers with the illustrator Sarah McIntyre.

Reeve's writing is known for its imaginative storytelling and richly detailed worlds. His Mortal Engines series is set in a future world where moving cities trawl the globe, while Railhead is set in a future where human beings live in a galactic empire linked by hyperspace railways. Reeve's most recent novels, Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep and Utterly Dark and the Heart of the Wild, are set on the imaginary 19th Century island of Wildsea and follow the adventures of young Utterly Dark.

Reeve currently lives on Dartmoor with his wife and son. He continues to write and illustrate, inspiring readers of all ages with his imaginative stories and captivating illustrations.