My name is Ian and I write highly anachronistic books about the age of Victorian space exploration. They’re not entirely serious, often make little scientific sense, but they do keep my readers turning the page and occasionally strike an emotional chord or two. My Influences span a wide range of nerdicana: Sharpe, Hornblower, The Fighting Fantasy novels, Dune, Star Wars, Marvel and DC comics, Dumas, Cervantes, Robert Merle’s Fortunes of Frances series, Warhammer (40k and WFB), the Arnold Schwarzenneger films of the 80s and 90s, Alien(s), Studio Ghibli, Neil Gaiman, Susanna Clarke, David Mitchell and Elmore Leonard. The most engaging book I have read this year is by far and away Teju Cole’s Open City, which is absolutely nothing like what I’m trying to do with my writing. If you like the sound of that then please give my first book, A Curiosity of The Solar System, a go. It’s follow up, One of Life’s Great Mysteries, is out this month. And most importantly, feel free to let me know what you think. Or not. You decide. —- I.A. Jack of all puppets. Master of none.