R. J. Barker (or, RJ Barker) is a British author of fantasy literature. He is best known for his Wounded Kingdom trilogy and the Tide Child trilogy.

Career

Barker is from Leeds, England. He played in a band for many years before realizing he "was never a very good musician", after which he turned to literature.[1]

Barker served as a judge for the 2018 James White Award.[2]

In 2021, Barker sold a new fantasy series the Forsaken trilogy to Orbit Books.[3]

Personal life

Barker has Crohn's disease. He has used his personal experiences to explore the presentation of disabled characters in fantasy literature.[4]

Reception and awards

Awards and honors
Year Work Award Category Result Ref.
2018 Age of Assassins British Fantasy Award Best Novel Shortlisted [5]
Best Newcomer Shortlisted [5]
Morningstar Award Best Fantasy Newcomer Finalist [6]
2020 The Bone Ships British Fantasy Award Best Novel Won [7]
2024 Gods of the Wyrdwood RUSA CODES Reading List Fantasy Won [8]

Bibliography

Wounded Kingdom trilogy

  • Age of Assassins (2017)
  • Blood of Assassins (2018)
  • King of Assassins (2018)

Tide Child trilogy

  • The Bone Ships (2019)
  • Call of the Bone Ships (2020)
  • The Bone Ship's Wake (2021)

Forsaken trilogy

  • Gods of the Wyrdwood (2023)
  • Warlords of the Wyrdwood (2024)
  • Heart of the Wyrdwood (2025)

The Trials of Irody Hasp series

  • Mortedant's Peril (2026)

References

  1. ↑ Timy (27 Feb 2020). "Interview with RJ Barker". Queen's Book Asylum. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  2. ↑ "2018 James White Award shortlist". Locus. 20 Jul 2018. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  3. ↑ "RJ Barker's Forsaken Trilogy goes to Orbit". Johnson & Alcock. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 8 Aug 2022.
  4. ↑ R.J. Barker (28 Nov 2017). "Disabling Stereotypes". Medium. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  5. 1 2 "2018 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 22 Oct 2018. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  6. ↑ "2018 Gemmell Awards Winners". Locus. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  7. ↑ "2020 British Fantasy Awards Winners". Locus. 22 Feb 2021. Retrieved 7 Aug 2022.
  8. ↑ "The Reading List". RUSA Update. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.

RJ Barker at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database Edit this at Wikidata

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._J._Barker