From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kenneth Oppel (born 31 August 1967) is a Canadian author. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, he spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has also lived in England and Ireland.
Oppel's first published book, Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure (1985), was written while he was a high school student in Victoria. Oppel forwarded the newly completed manuscript to his favorite author, Roald Dahl, who in turn recommended it to his agent. Oppel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies and English at the University of Toronto, writing The Live-Forever Machine (1992) during his final year. Oppel moved to England and wrote a number of books during that period, gleaning several ideas while working at typing students' papers. Oppel worked as an editor at Quill and Quire, the trade magazine of the Canadian publishing industry, from 1995 to 1996.
He is probably best known for his trilogy of Silverwing, Sunwing, and Firewing. His most recent books are Airborn (2004) and its sequel, Skybreaker (2005). Oppel is currently in the early planning stages for a third book in the Airborn series. Oppel has also announced that he has completed the final draft of his latest novel, Darkwing. Set 65 million years ago, Darkwing depicts the tale of the first bat, Dusk, who discovers that he has the gift of flight. Being the only one from his colony that's capable of powered flight, he quickly becomes an outcast. When his entire colony is wiped out by predators, he embarks on a dangerous quest to find a new home. It is expected to be published in fall 2007.
The author has won several literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award for English language children's literature (for Airborn) and The Times Children's Novel of 2005 (for Skybreaker, named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association).
Oppel is married to Philippa Sheppard, and has three children, Sophia, Nat and Julia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] Children's Novels
[edit] Barnes and the Brains
| Cover |
Title |
Year |
ISBN |
 |
A Bad Case of Ghosts |
1993 |
ISBN 978-0-241-13217-3 (UK hardback) |
—Book cover of A Bad Case of Ghosts
|
|
 |
A Strange Case of Magic |
1994 |
ISBN 978-0-241-13245-6 (UK hardback) |
—Book cover of A Strange Case of Magic
|
|
 |
A Crazy Case of Robots |
1994 |
ISBN 978-0-241-13316-3 (UK hardback) |
—Book cover of A Crazy Case of Robots
|
|
 |
An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs |
1994 |
ISBN 978-0-241-00173-8 (UK hardback) |
—Book cover of An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs
|
|
 |
A Weird Case of Super-Goo |
1997 |
ISBN 978-0-241-13650-8 (UK hardback) |
—Book cover of A Weird Case of Super-Goo
|
|
 |
A Creepy Case of Vampires |
2002 |
ISBN 043998971X (Canadian Paperback) |
—Book cover of A Creepy Case of Vampires
|
[edit] Other Children's Novels
[edit] Young Adult Novels
[edit] Silverwing
[edit] Matt Cruse
[edit] Other Young Adult Novels
| Cover |
Title |
Year |
ISBN |
 |
The Live-Forever Machine |
1990 |
ISBN 1550740105 (Canadian paperback) |
—Book cover of The Live-Forever Machine
|
|
 |
Dead Water Zone |
1992 |
ISBN 0340792191 (UK paperback) |
—Book cover of Dead Water Zone
|
[edit] Picture Books
[edit] Adult Novels
| Cover |
Title |
Year |
ISBN |
 |
The Devil's Cure |
2000 |
ISBN 978-0-7868-6697-7 (USA hardback) |
—Book cover of The Devil's Cure
|
[edit] References
[edit] External links
