I gained a First in English Literature before studying for an MA in Anglo-American Literature at UCL. I'm well grounded in "The Canon", but my first major influence was, and continues to be, Philip.K. Dick. While I don't read a lot of genre fiction, I am a great fan of the so-called "New Wave of SF" (Ballard, Aldiss et al) and have a soft spot for the works of Clive Barker, Michael Marshall Smith and Ramsey Campbell. Other writers whose work I admire include William Burroughs, Martin Amis, Will Self and Samuel Beckett. I think most readers would recognise these influences in my work, although I sometimes wonder if they did in fact influence me, or if rather the very reason I like them is because their thought processes mirror my own....

I've had stories published in "Darkness Rising", "Raw Nerve", "Strix", "Planet Prozak", "Raw Edge", "Suspect Thoughts", "Ideomancer" and "Piffle". I came second in the "Roadworks" 2001 short story competition, and have also had journalism published by "The Guardian" and "Maxim". Poetry has appeared in "Purple Patch", "Krax", "Haiku Quarterly" and "Midlands Micropress Poetry".


REVIEWS:

"I write to say how very much I enjoyed “It” - it pleased me greatly.”
-- Tom Paulin on “It”, (Personal Correspondence ‘99).


"'It' by James Burr. This should be mandatory reading for all contributors. If it makes you feel uncomfortable then hopefully you will have learned something today." - Stormy Petrel, ABCTales.com


"Blot" -

“In this issue [of Raw Nerve #7] the quality of the fiction rises and falls in a classic curve, peaking somewhere around “Blot” by James Burr..... Much better - in terms of originality [than the issue’s previous story] - is the aforementioned “Blot”. The use of diagrams within the main body of text was I thought very effective.”
-- J. Gould, ZENE: The Guide to the Independent Press; 18.

“What a good and zestful writer you are...... Your ideas are brilliant, original and fun.....”
-- Fay Weldon on “Blot”, (Personal Correspondence ‘96).


"Life's What You Make It":

"I was impressed by the quality of the stories and their writing. "Life's What You Make It" by Featured Author, James Burr, is an example of superlative speculative fiction." - Geoff White, Futurenoir


On "Mutton Pie":

“Fortunately, James Burr’s “Mutton Pie” gives a much needed kick [to Strix #7] proving that a short story is a product of craft and skill, not a clapped out vehicle for a recycled idea; this witty account of a sexy pub meeting has a brain behind it.”
-- S. Dennett, ZENE: The Guide to the Independent Press #14.


On "The Byronic Man":

“....it may interest you to know that of all the comments I’ve received via readers’ letters, two stories have been particularly well received. One was “The Furious Walnuts” by Rhys Hughes (Issue #2), while the other was “The Byronic Man” in Issue #4)”
-- S.E. Bennion, Editor, Planet Prozak.


"Foetal Attractions”

“2nd Place Story in the “Roadworks 2000” Short Story Competition”


“Blue” - “Honourable Mention” - The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 2004, 17th ed.


“Menage a Beaucoup” - “Honourable Mention” - The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror 2004, 17th ed.

"Ugly Stories For Beautiful People" is set to be published in June 2007. An inter-linked collection of short stories, it brings together some previously unpublished work with most of my other published short fiction, including the two stories that received Honourable Mentions in the 2004 Year's Best Fantasy and Horror ("Blue" and "Menage a Beaucoup"), and "Foetal Attractions" which came second in the "Roadworks 2000 short story competition. Available to buy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bol etc in June 2007.

Suspect Thoughts
My Story "Bernie Does Camberwell" is archived here.

Ideomancer
My story "Life's What You Make It" is archived here.

Strix
My story "Mutton Pie" is archived here.

Myspace
Check out My Myspace page here.