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James Bennett
357 ratings | 64 reviews | avg rating:4.38

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James Bennett

Goodreads Author


Born
The United Kingdom
Twitter
Benjurigan

Genre
Fantasy, Horror, Crime

Member Since
April 2010


James Bennett is a British Fantasy Award winning author. Raised in Sussex and South Africa, his short fiction has appeared internationally. His acclaimed debut 'Chasing Embers' came out in 2016, the first of the Ben Garston Novels, a series in which mythological creatures fight for dominance in the modern world. Other works include the well-received 'The Book of Queer Saints' and his latest stories can be found in The Dark magazine, BFS Horizons and Occult Detective magazine.

A short story collection 'Preaching to the Perverted' arrives from Lethe Press in September 2024.

James lives in the South of Spain where he's working on a new novel.

'...Inventive and vivid... This is smart action storytelling...'
Publishers Weekly on RAISING FIRE (starr ...more

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Ask the Author

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Popular Answered Questions

What books are on your summer reading list this year?
James Bennett I've just finished Naomi Novik's 'Uprooted', which was fantastic.
I read a history book about Barcelona and I'm currently reading Orwell's 'Homage to …moreI've just finished Naomi Novik's 'Uprooted', which was fantastic.
I read a history book about Barcelona and I'm currently reading Orwell's 'Homage to Catalonia'.
Other recent reads include 'Behind Her Eyes' by Sarah Pinborough and 'A Stranger in Olandria' by Sofia Samatar. Both great. (less)
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
James Bennett The best piece of writing advice I ever recieved was this:
'Enjoy what you do, because it'll show on the page'.

After a decade of publishing stories an…moreThe best piece of writing advice I ever recieved was this:
'Enjoy what you do, because it'll show on the page'.

After a decade of publishing stories and novels, I'd add that you can't please everyone and nor should you try. Some readers will hate parts of your writing that other readers love. Some reviewers will dedicate months to gleefully trashing your work while your sales continue to soar. But writing is a craft and every writer is human. We're always learning and (hopefully) improving, so if you want to write, remember that everyone has to start somewhere. So start now.

And I wish you the very best of luck! (less)
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See 2 answers from James Bennett…

Combine Editions

Average rating: 3.54 · 1,881 ratings · 430 reviews · 32 distinct works • Similar authors
Chasing Embers (Ben Garston...
3.24 avg rating — 1,073 ratings — published 2016 — 10 editions
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The Book of Queer Saints: V...
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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 286 ratings — published 2022 — 5 editions
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Raising Fire (Ben Garston, #2)
3.66 avg rating — 235 ratings — published 2017 — 8 editions
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Burning Ashes (Ben Garston,...
3.77 avg rating — 104 ratings — published 2018 — 7 editions
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The Dust of the Red Rose Kn...
3.91 avg rating — 34 ratings — 3 editions
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Practical Devil Worship
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3.60 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2012
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Tales from Between, Issue 2...
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4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 3 editions
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Exploding Myths: Short stor...
4.75 avg rating — 4 ratings — 7 editions
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The Dark Issue 107
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4.25 avg rating — 4 ratings
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Preaching to the Perverted
4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions
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More books by James Bennett…

Series by James Bennett

Chasing Embers Raising Fire Burning Ashes
(3 books)
by
3.35 avg rating — 1,412 ratings

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James’s Recent Updates

James Bennett and 3 other people liked Runalong's review of Preaching to the Perverted:
Preaching to the Perverted by James Bennett
"Really good thoughtful and exciting mix of fantasy and horror tales - highly recommended

Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl..." Read more of this review »
Sep 19, 2024 08:57AM  · see review ·  preview book
James Bennett and 6 other people liked T.A. Jenkins's review of I Want That Twink OBLITERATED!:
I Want That Twink OBLITERATED! by Trip Galey
"Overall, this an excellent anthology, with a great mix of styles, genres, and viewpoints- highly recommended for those that aspire to obliterate twinks, or for those twinks that desire to be obliterated!
There's something for everyone here- stories to" Read more of this review »
Aug 15, 2024 12:51AM  · see review
James Bennett made a comment on Alexander’s review of I Want That Twink OBLITERATED!
I Want That Twink OBLITERATED! by Trip Galey
" Thanks so much for reading and your feedback. 'In the Garden of the Serpent King' was written by me, however (and I agree it gets a little gross). ...more "
Aug 15, 2024 12:51AM  · see review
James Bennett and 7 other people liked Alexander's review of I Want That Twink OBLITERATED!:
I Want That Twink OBLITERATED! by Trip Galey
"This year - just a couple days ago, actually - I was at Worldcon, and there a certain anthology was launched! And I liked the idea so much that I didn't just buy the book, I've also got a T-shirt saying this anthology's title. (I do plan on wearing i" Read more of this review »
Aug 15, 2024 12:50AM  · see review
James Bennett rated a book really liked it
Book of Night by Holly Black
Book of Night (Book of Night, #1)
by Holly Black (Goodreads Author)
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Aug 15, 2024 12:42AM  ·   ·  preview book
James Bennett rated a book really liked it
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18
by Joseph Loconte
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Aug 09, 2024 10:25AM  ·   ·  preview book
James Bennett wants to read
I Want That Twink OBLITERATED! by Trip Galey
I Want That Twink OBLITERATED!
by Trip Galey (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 22, 2024 08:47AM  · 
James Bennett is currently reading
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War by Joseph Loconte
A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18
by Joseph Loconte
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Jul 17, 2024 03:20AM  ·   ·  preview book
James Bennett is currently reading
Book of Night by Holly Black
Book of Night (Book of Night, #1)
by Holly Black (Goodreads Author)
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Jul 07, 2024 02:23AM  ·   ·  preview book
James Bennett rated a book it was amazing
Invaginies by Joe Koch
Invaginies
by Joe Koch (Goodreads Author)
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“I’m going to brutalize your surface so humanly it never ceases to bleed.”

So the author promises in the opening eponymous story and 'Invaginies' certainly delivers. Those with a finger on the pulse of modern alternative horror will be no stranger to ...more
Jun 07, 2024 11:50PM  ·   · see review ·  preview book
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Quotes by James Bennett  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“Because we focused on the snake, we missed the scorpion. Egyptian proverb”
― James Bennett, Chasing Embers
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“I have seen your world, little beast. I have drunk of its terror and hope. Humans fear the darkness that gave them birth and harness the light to outshine the stars. They build machines that cough with smoke and poison the very air. They suck up the blood of the earth and pour filth into the seas. They speak boldly of freedom and peace and think they can buy them with war. Money is their temple and greed their god. They stand in defiance of all that is real, turning magic into myth, myth into Remnants, choosing to live in a cold dead dream.”
― James Bennett, Chasing Embers
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“Atiya will bring barwaaqo to us. God’s rain.” In such a dry land, it was small wonder the tribes had a word to describe – no, contain, catch like a vessel – the sacred importance of water. The holiness of rain.”
― James Bennett, Chasing Embers
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Topics Mentioning This Author

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2024 Reading Chal...: Ariel's Book Burrow 13 166 Jan 08, 2018 07:37PM  
2024 Reading Chal...: Clear the Shelves - 2018 931 1564 Jan 06, 2019 02:46PM  
Goodreads Librari...: [INCOMPLETE] Author Lists Missing Contributors 5 28 Oct 30, 2023 07:23AM  
Goodreads Librari...: [INCOMPLETE] Kindle Edition Needed: The Book of Queer Saints: Volume I 3 149 Mar 30, 2024 06:34AM  
Goodreads Librari...: [COMPLETE] Book Cleanup: The Book of Queer Saints: Volume I/Volume II 20 289 Jul 08, 2024 06:09PM  
The Sword and Laser: * Kindle (And other ebooks) Daily Deal 3579 4895 Aug 29, 2024 04:26PM  

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James’s Groups

220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 255233 members — last activity 4 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra ...more
107101 Fox Spirit Books — 48 members — last activity May 22, 2016 04:38AM
For our authors and readers to discuss books, share submission calls and highlight reviews etc of interest. None of these things are restricted to FS ...more
1865 SciFi and Fantasy Book Club — 38589 members — last activity 3 hours, 35 min ago
Hi there! SFFBC is a welcoming place for readers to share their love of speculative fiction through group reads, buddy reads, challenges, ...more
100072 We PROMOTE Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writers/Authors — 1294 members — last activity Jul 27, 2024 09:52AM
Tweets from @altomov/my-goodreads-com-friends If you need help promoting your work, my Sci-Fi/Fantasy Team can advertise your book in our active Fa ...more

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