Editing Charles Stross

{{short description|British author}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name = Charles Stross
| image = Finncon_2019_17.jpg
| caption = Stross in 2019 at [[Finncon]] in [[Jyväskylä]]
| pseudonym = 
| birth_name = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1964|10|18}}<ref name="isfdb" />
| birth_place = [[Leeds]], England
| death_date = 
| death_place = 
| occupation = Writer
| period = 1990s–present
| genre = Science fiction, [[fantasy]], [[Horror fiction|horror]]
| subject = 
| movement = 
| website = {{url|https://www.antipope.org/charlie/}}
| alma_mater = [[University of Bradford]]<ref name=autobio>{{cite web |url=https://www.antipope.org/charlie/who_am_i/autobio-all-redacted.html |title=How I got here in the end – my non-writing careers |publisher=Antipope.org |access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref>
}}

'''Charles David George''' "'''Charlie'''" '''Stross''' (born 18 October 1964<ref name="isfdb">{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?2200|title=Summary Bibliography: Charles Stross|website=www.isfdb.org|access-date=2018-12-10}}</ref>) is a British writer of [[science fiction]] and [[fantasy]]. Stross specialises in [[hard science fiction]] and [[space opera]]. Between 1994 and 2004, he was also an active writer for the magazine ''[[Computer Shopper (UK magazine)|Computer Shopper]]'' and was responsible for its monthly [[Linux]] column. He stopped writing for the magazine to devote more time to novels. However, he continues to publish [[freelance]] articles on the Internet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stross|first=Charles|title=Linux in Computer Shopper|url=https://www.antipope.org/charlie/old/linux/index.html|website=antipope.org}}</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Stross was born in [[Leeds]], England.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/intcs.htm |title = Charles Stross interviewed - infinity plus non-fiction}}</ref> He showed an early interest in writing and wrote his first science fiction story at age 12. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy in 1986 and qualified as a pharmacist in 1987. In 1989, he enrolled at [[University of Bradford]] for a post-graduate degree in computer science. In 1990, he went to work as a technical author and programmer. In 2000, he began working as a writer full-time, as a technical writer at first, but then became successful as a fiction writer.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2005/Issues/01Stross.html|title=Charles Stross: Fast Forward|date=2005|access-date=14 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="tor">[http://www.tor.com/bios/authors/charlesstross Charles Stross] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009062707/http://www.tor.com/bios/authors/charlesstross |date=9 October 2014 }}, Tor.com (accessed 29 May 2013)</ref>

== Career ==
In the 1970s and 1980s, Stross published some [[role-playing game]] articles about ''[[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Advanced Dungeons & Dragons|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' in ''[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]]'' magazine. Some of his creatures, such as the [[death knight (Dungeons & Dragons)|death knight]], [[githyanki]] (the name borrowed from [[George R. R. Martin]]'s 1977 novel, ''[[Dying of the Light (Martin novel)|Dying of the Light]]''), [[githzerai]], and [[slaad]] (a chaotic race of frog-like humanoids) were later published in the ''[[Fiend Folio]]'' monster compendium.<ref name="rpg">{{cite web |publisher=Kyngdoms |title=The Kyngdoms Interview |url=http://www.thekyngdoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=36&start=0 |date=26 May 2010 |access-date=26 May 2010}}</ref>

His first published short story, ''The Boys'', appeared in ''[[Interzone (magazine)|Interzone]]'' in 1987. A collection of his short stories, ''[[Toast: And Other Rusted Futures]]'', was released in 2002;<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/stross_charles | title=SFE: Stross, Charles }}</ref> subsequent short stories have been nominated for the Hugo Award, [[Nebula Award]], and other awards. His first novel, ''[[Singularity Sky]]'', was published by [[Ace Books]] in 2003 and was also nominated for the [[Hugo Award]]. His novella ''The Concrete Jungle'' (published in ''[[The Atrocity Archives]]'') won the Hugo award for [[Hugo Award for Best Novella|its category]] in 2005.<ref name=Hugo05 /> His novel ''[[Accelerando]]'' won the 2006 [[Locus Award]] for Best Science Fiction Novel, was a finalist for the [[John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel]],<ref name=CampbellNom /> and was on the final ballot for the Hugo Award in the best novel category.<ref name=Hugo06 /> ''[[Glasshouse (novel)|Glasshouse]]'' won the 2007 [[Prometheus Award]] and was on the final ballot for the Hugo Award in the best novel category; the German translation ''Glashaus'' won the 2009 [[Kurd Laßwitz Award|Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kurd-lasswitz-preis.de/2009/KLP_2009_Bestes_auslaendisches_Werk.htm|title=KLP 2009 Bestes ausländisches Werk|website=www.kurd-lasswitz-preis.de|access-date=11 August 2013|archive-date=10 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410012841/http://www.kurd-lasswitz-preis.de/2009/KLP_2009_Bestes_auslaendisches_Werk.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> His novella ''[[Missile Gap]]'' won the 2007 Locus Award for best novella, and he was awarded the [[Edward E. Smith Memorial Award]] or Skylark at [[Boskone]] 2008.

His novel ''[[The Atrocity Archives]]'' (2004) detailed a British intelligence agency tasked with investigating otherworldly horrors; using ideas similar to those in the RPG book ''[[Delta Green]]'' (1996), Stross wrote in the afterword to the book: "All I can say in my defence is{{nbsp}}... I hadn't heard of ''Delta Green'' when I wrote ''The Atrocity Archive''{{nbsp}}... I'll leave it at that except to say that ''Delta Green'' has come dangerously close to making me pick up the dice again."<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=[[Mongoose Publishing]]|year=2011| isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|247}}

''[[Rogue Farm]]'', his 2003 short story, was adapted into an eponymous animated film that debuted in August 2004.<ref>Evens, Arthur (2010). The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press. p. 728.</ref>

Stross was one of the Guests of Honour at Orbital 2008,<ref name="orbital">{{cite web |publisher=[[Locus Publications]] |title=Conventions 2008 |url=http://www.locusmag.com/2008/2008Conventions.html |date=2008 |access-date=15 Feb 2017}}</ref> the British National Science Fiction convention ([[Eastercon]]), in March 2008. He was the Author Guest of Honour at the Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention ([[Balticon]]) in May 2009. He was Author Guest of Honour at [[Fantasticon]] ([[Denmark]]) in August 2009. He was the Guest of Honor at Boskone 48 in Feb 2011.

[[Cubicle 7]] used their ''[[Basic Role-Playing]]'' license to create ''[[The Laundry]]'' (2010), based on Stross' writings, wherein agents must contend with both the outer gods and the bureaucracy of the United Kingdom.<ref name="designers" />{{rp|432}}

In September 2012, Stross released ''[[The Rapture of the Nerds]]'', a novel written in collaboration with [[Cory Doctorow]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Upcoming4.me |url=http://upcoming4.me/media-news/book-news/item/9434-cory-doctorow,-charles-stross-rapture-of-the-nerds-cover-art-and-summary-reveal |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120718123324/http://upcoming4.me/media-news/book-news/item/9434-cory-doctorow,-charles-stross-rapture-of-the-nerds-cover-art-and-summary-reveal |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2012 |title=Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross' Rapture of The Nerds cover art and summary reveal |publisher=Upcoming4.me |access-date=31 May 2012 }}</ref> The two have also together been involved in the [[Creative Commons]] licensing and copyright movement.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Evens|first1=Arthur|title=The Wesleyan Anthology of Science Fiction|date=2010|publisher=[[Wesleyan University Press]]|page=727}}</ref> In December 2017 he gave a talk at [[Chaos Communication Congress|34C3]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Charles Stross|title=Dude, you broke the Future!|publisher=[[Chaos Computer Club|media.ccc.de]]|work=34C3|type=video|date=2017-12-27|url=https://media.ccc.de/v/34c3-9270-dude_you_broke_the_future|id=YouTube RmIgJ64z6Y4}}</ref>

== Awards ==
''[[Accelerando]]'' won the 2006 [[Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel]].<ref name="Locus2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Locus2006.html |title=2006 Locus Awards |access-date=27 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008032204/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Locus2006.html |archive-date= 8 October 2010 }}</ref> ''[[Missile Gap]]'' won the 2007 Locus Award for best novella.<ref name=LocusList>{{cite web |title=Stross, Charles |work=Index of Literary Nominees |publisher=Locus Publications |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit132.html#5043 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112004928/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/NomLit132.html#5043 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> ''The Concrete Jungle'' (contained in ''[[The Laundry Files|The Atrocity Archives]]'') won the [[Hugo Award for Best Novella]] in 2005;<ref name=Hugo05>{{cite web|title=2005 Hugo Awards: Best Novella: The Concrete Jungle; Best Novel Nominee: Iron Sunrise |work=Official Site of The Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/credits/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507072956/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/credits/ |archive-date= 7 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> ''[[Palimpsest (novella)|Palimpsest]]'', included in ''Wireless'', won the same award in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|author=Locus Publications |url=http://www.locusmag.com/News/2010/09/2010-hugo-awards-winners/ |title=Locus Online News " 2010 Hugo Awards Winners |publisher=[[Locusmag.com]] |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> and ''[[Equoid]]'' in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/2014/08/2014-hugo-award-winners/ |title=2014 Hugo Award Winners |date=17 August 2014 |access-date=18 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083711/http://www.thehugoawards.org/2014/08/2014-hugo-award-winners/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''Glasshouse'' won the 2009 Prometheus Award for Best Novel; Stross was a Best Novel finalist in 2009 for ''[[Saturn's Children (novel)|Saturn's Children]]'' and has been nominated four other times for ''[[Iron Sunrise]]'' (in 2005), ''Accelerando'' (2006), ''The Revolution Business'' (2010) and ''Annihilation Score'' (2016).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lfs.org/awards.shtml|title = Libertarian Futurist Society}}</ref> ''The Apocalypse Codex'' won the 2013 [[Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel]].<ref name="Locus2013">{{cite web | url = http://www.locusmag.com/News/2013/06/locus-awards-winners/ | title = Locus Award Winners| access-date=13 Dec 2014 | date = 30 June 2013}}</ref> Stross's work has also been nominated for a number of other awards, including the [[John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel|John W. Campbell Memorial Award]],<ref name=CampbellNom>{{cite web |title=John W. Campbell Memorial Award Finalists |publisher=Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction, University of Kansas |url=http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/campbell-finalists.htm |access-date=22 August 2014 |archive-date=30 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830202751/http://www.sfcenter.ku.edu/campbell-finalists.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Arthur C. Clarke Award]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarkeaward.com/award-winners/shortlists/|title=Arthur C. Clarke Award Shortlists|website=Arthur C. Clarke Award|access-date=December 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104224623/https://www.clarkeaward.com/award-winners/shortlists/|archive-date=4 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[Hugo Award for Best Novel]],<ref name=Hugo05 /><ref name=Hugo06>{{cite web|title=2006 Hugo Awards: Accelerando (Nominee) |work=Official Site of The Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2006-hugo-awards/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164808/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2006-hugo-awards/ |archive-date= 7 May 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/2008/03/2008-hugo-award-nominees/|title=2008 Hugo Award Nominees|date=2008-03-21|work=The Hugo Awards|access-date=2018-12-13|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=Hugo09>{{cite web |title=2009 Hugo Award Nominations: Saturn's Children |date=March 2003 |work=Official Site of The Hugo Awards |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/2009/03/2009-hugo-award-nominations/}}</ref> as well as the Japanese [[Seiun Award]].<ref name=LocusList />

== Personal life ==
Stross believes himself to be [[autism spectrum|autistic]], but does not intend to seek a professional diagnosis.<ref>{{Cite tweet |last=Stross |first=Charles |author-link= |user=cstross |number=1510567704532508675 |date=3 April 2022 |title=I spent my childhood and teens not understanding the arbitrary and irrational rules. Imagine my relief on discovering in my 50s that I'm probably autistic. (There's no point seeking formal diagnosis now: I've had 50 years to develop coping strategies. But it explains a lot.) |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |location= |access-date=28 February 2023 |link= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |quote= |ref=}}</ref>{{dead link|date=March 2025}}

== Selected bibliography ==
{{Main|Charles Stross bibliography}}

=== ''The Merchant Princes'' series ===
{{Main|The Merchant Princes}}
* ''The Family Trade'' (2004)
* ''The Hidden Family'' (2005)
* ''The Clan Corporate'' (2006)
* ''The Merchants' War'' (2007)
* ''The Revolution Business'' (2009)
* ''The Trade of Queens'' (2010)
* ''Empire Games''  (2017)
* ''Dark State'' (2018)
* ''Invisible Sun'' (2021)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250807113 |title=''Invisible Sun'', Empire Games (Volume 3) |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers]] |date= |access-date=29 September 2021 }}</ref>

=== The Laundry Files universe ===
==== ''The Laundry Files'' ====
{{Main|The Laundry Files}}
* ''The Atrocity Archives'' (2004)
* ''The Jennifer Morgue'' (2006)
* ''Down on the Farm'' (2008 novelette)
* ''Equoid'' (2013 novelette)
* ''The Fuller Memorandum'' (2010)
* ''Overtime'' (2009 novelette)
* ''The Apocalypse Codex'' (2012)
* ''The Rhesus Chart'' (2014)
* ''The Annihilation Score'' (2015)
* ''The Nightmare Stacks'' (2016)
* ''The Delirium Brief'' (2017)
* ''The Labyrinth Index'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lapointe|first=Annette|url=https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/labyrinth-index|title=A book review by Annette Lapointe: ''The Labyrinth Index'' (Laundry Files)|website=New York Journal of Books |access-date=2018-12-13|language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Escape From Yokai Land'' (2022 novella)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Escape from Puroland|url=https://publishing.tor.com/escapefrompuroland-charlesstross/9781250805706/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Tor.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Escape from Yokai Land|url=https://publishing.tor.com/escapefromyokailand-charlesstross/9781250805706/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Tor.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''A Conventional Boy'' (2025)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Stross |first=Charles |title=A Conventional Boy: a laundry files novel |date=2025 |publisher=Tor Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-250-35784-7 |edition=First |series=Laundry files |location=New York}}</ref>

==== ''Tales of the New Management'' ====
* ''Dead Lies Dreaming'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2019/12/introducing-dead-lies-dreaming.html |title = Introducing Dead Lies Dreaming - Charlie's Diary}}</ref>
* ''Quantum of Nightmares'' (2022)<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2020/10/the-laundry-files-an-updated-c.html |title=The Laundry Files: an updated chronology|website=www.antipope.org|access-date=2021-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Quantum of Nightmares|url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250839374/quantumofnightmares|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Macmillan|language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Season of Skulls'' (2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Season of Skulls |url=https://publishing.tor.com/seasonofskulls-charlesstross/9781250839404/ |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=Tor Publishing |language=en-US |isbn=}}</ref>

=== ''Halting State'' series ===
* ''[[Halting State]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Rule 34 (novel)|Rule 34]]'' (2011)

=== Eschaton series ===
*''[[Singularity Sky]]'' (2003)
*''[[Iron Sunrise]]'' (2004)

=== Standalone work ===
*''[[A Colder War]]'' (2000)
*''[[Accelerando]]'' (2005)
*''[[Glasshouse (novel)|Glasshouse]]'' (2006)
*''[[Missile Gap]]'' (2006)

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Charles Stross}}
* {{official website}} – featuring a blog with guest contributions
* {{cite web |url=http://autopope.livejournal.com/ |archive-date=3 December 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121203180012/http://autopope.livejournal.com/ |url-status=dead |title=Stross at Livejournal |df=dmy-all }}
* [https://metacpan.org/author/CHSTROSS Stross software releases] – latest, 2000
* {{isfdb name|2200}}
*[https://www.freesfonline.net/authors/Charles_Stross.html Charles Stross, stories available free online] accessed 2 OCT 2022 
*{{cite web |url=http://www.pen-paper.net:80/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=707 |archive-date=10 March 2005 |title=Charles Stross :: Pen & Paper RPG Database |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310235244/http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=707 |access-date=24 November 2018 |df=dmy-all }}

{{Charles Stross}}{{Hugo Award Best Novella}}{{Locus Award Best SF Novel}}{{Locus Award Best Fantasy Novel}}{{Locus Award Best Novella}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stross, Charles}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Bradford]]
[[Category:British people of Polish-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:British science fiction writers]]
[[Category:British transhumanists]]
[[Category:British weird fiction writers]]
[[Category:Cthulhu Mythos writers]]
[[Category:Cyberpunk writers]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons game designers]]
[[Category:English fantasy writers]]
[[Category:English male novelists]]
[[Category:English science fiction writers]]
[[Category:Hugo Award–winning writers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sidewise Award winners]]
[[Category:Writers from Leeds]]