Ken MacLeod
(born August 1954 - ) - Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, now in West Lothian

Following the US publication of Ken MacLeod's Fall Revolution series, online magazine salon.com joked that MacLeod was a "Trotskyite libertarian cyberpunk". But more than a joke, this is a good description of his early science fiction novels.
Born in Stornoway, Ken MacLeod is perhaps Scotland's most political of authors. He studied Zoology at Glasgow University, during which time he became politically active. He has been a member of the International Marxist Group, the Communist Party of Great Britain, and other left-wing organisations, and his politics are prominent in his novels.
His first series of novels, the Fall Revolution series (starting with The Star Fraction), mix socialism, high technology and humour. The Engines of Light trilogy feels more like a traditional 'space opera'. Learning the World, is less political but demonstrates his keen ability to create alien worlds which are both believable and different; The Execution Channel is a near-future novel of politics and lies.
Ken MacLeod is regularly shortlisted for the Arthur C Clarke and Hugo awards, the most prestigious science fiction awards.
Key titles
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Add to BasketCosmonaut Keep - Paperback
£7.99
After the conquest of Europe, the Russians quit stalling. Their troops reached the Atlantic, their cosmonauts reached the asteroids. Now the stars await them. Something else got there first. -
Add to BasketThe Execution Channel - Hardback
£17.99
As the European bloc and the US play games of brinkmanship which bring them closer to war, Britain finds itself on the political fence. Recent policy binds it to the US but history and geography tend it towards Europe. A decision one way or another is becoming imperative. Unfortunately for Britain, not everyone is prepared to wait. -
Add to BasketLearning The World: A Novel Of First Contact - Hardback
£17.99
Reminding us that the universe is stranger than we imagine, this is a novel of exploration, discovery and Mankind's destiny amongst the stars. -
£18.99The Night Sessions - Hardback
The first Enlightenment separated church from state - now the second Enlightenment has separated religion from politics. In this enlightened age there's no persecution. But the millions who still believe and worship are a marginal and mistrusted minority - and now someone is killing them. -
Add to BasketThe Stone Canal - Paperback
£7.99
Jonathan Wilde is dead. His memory is immortal. The man who walks into Ship City remembers all of Wilde's life & death. That 21st-century anarchist agitator took some of his secrets to his grave, & beyond. Everything comes together at the Stone Canal.
Bibliography
The Fall Revolution
- The Star Fraction - 1995
- The Stone Canal - 1996
- The Cassini Division - 1998
- The Sky Road - 1999
Engines of Light
- Cosmonaut Keep - 2000
- Dark Light - 2001
- Engine City - 2002
Others
- The Human Front (novella) - 2001
- Newton's Wake - 2004
- Learning the World - 2005
- The Highway Men - 2006
- The Execution Channel - 2007
- The Night Sessions - 2008
Internet Links
- Early Days of a Better Nation: Ken MacLeod's Blog
- Interview on Politics in Science Fiction writing
- Interview with The Zone magazine






