Ben Jeapes (born 14 February 1965) is a British

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

writer living in

Abingdon-on-Thames Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historically the county town of Berkshire, since 1974 Abingdon has been ad ...

, Oxfordshire.

Early life and education

Jeapes was born in

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom ...

in 1965. He was educated at Hampton Dene Primary School, Hereford,

Little Chalfont Little Chalfont is a village and civil parish in south-east Buckinghamshire, England. It is one of a group of villages known collectively as The Chalfonts, which also comprises Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter. Little Chalfont is located ...

Primary School, Lorraine Primary School, Camberley, Dumpton Prep School, and

Sherborne School (God and My Right) , established = 705 by Aldhelm, re-founded by King Edward VI 1550 , closed = , type = Public school Independent, boarding school , religion = Church of England , president = , chair_label = Chairman of the governors ...

, and studied Philosophy and Politics at the

University of Warwick , mottoeng = Mind moves matter , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £7.0 million (2021) , budget = £698.2 million (2020� ...

Literary career

Jeapes began writing science fiction at the age of 18. eapes, Ben He has published over 18 short stories, and 7 novels. His first full-length novel was ''His Majesty's Starship'', which concerns the actions of several Earth countries competing for the chance to start again on a new world. His fourth novel ''The New World Order'', is an alternate history novel set during the

English Civil War The English Civil War (1642–1651) was a series of civil wars and political machinations between Parliamentarians (" Roundheads") and Royalists led by Charles I ("Cavaliers"), mainly over the manner of England's governance and issues of re ...

in which technologically advanced

Neandertals Neanderthals (, also ''Homo neanderthalensis'' and erroneously ''Homo sapiens neanderthalensis''), also written as Neandertals, are an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. While the ...

come to England at the peak of the conflict. The leader of the invading forces attempts to avoid inflicting suffering upon the English people, but soon comes under pressure from superiors who disapprove of his soft-footed approach. His novel ''Phoenicia's Worlds'', a space opera, was published in August 2013 by

Solaris Books Solaris Books is an imprint which focuses on publishing science fiction, fantasy and dark fantasy novels and anthologies. The range includes titles by both established and new authors. The range is owned by Rebellion Developments and distrib ...

."New acquisition announcement: Ben Jeapes is set to bring a world of fire and ice to Solaris with Phoenicia's Worlds ..."
. ''The Solaris Editors' Blog''. Michael Molcher. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 2015-05-08.

Published books

*''His Majesty's Starship'' (1998) - published as ''The Ark'' in the US in 2000 *''Wingèd Chariot'' (2000) - republished as ''Time's Chariot'' in 2008 *''The Xenocide Mission'' (2002) *'' The New World Order'' (2004) *''Phoenicia's Worlds'' (2013) As a

ghostwriter A ghostwriter is hired to write literary or journalistic works, speeches, or other texts that are officially credited to another person as the author. Celebrities, executives, participants in timely news stories, and political leaders often ...

, Jeapes wrote the first three books in the Vampire Plagues series ( Scholastic UK, 2004 to 2006), published under the

collective pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

Sebastian Rook. The series was completed in three books written by Helen Hart. * ''London'' (2004); US title, ''London, 1850'' * ''Paris'' (2004); US title, ''Paris, 1850'' * ''Mexico'' (2005); US title, ''Mexico, 1850'' Jeapes has also written a '' Doctor Who'' short story for '' Decalog 3: Consequences''. A collection of Jeapes's short fiction, ''Jeapes Japes'', has been published by Wizard's Tower Press.

References

External links

* – "Author, Ghost writer, Technical writer" * * Articles by Jeapes at Upcoming4.me
Story behind His Majestys Starship

Story behind Jeapes Japes

Story behind Phoenicias Worlds
*
Sebastian Rook
(shared pseudonym) at LC Authorities, with 3 records 1965 births English science fiction writers Alumni of the University of Warwick Living people {{England-novelist-stub