Ken MacLeod Books In Order

Publication Order of The Fall Revolution Books

Publication Order of Engines of Light Books

Publication Order of The Corporation Wars Books

Publication Order of Lightspeed Trilogy Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Chapbooks

Publication Order of The Web - 2028 Books

Publication Order of Outspoken Authors Books

Publication Order of PM's Outspoken Authors Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About Ken MacLeod

Ken MacLeod is an award-winning Scottish author of fantasy and science fiction books. His novels have won the BSFA award and Prometheus Award and some been nominated for the Nebula and Hugo Awards. Macleod is a Glasgow University graduate with a degree in zoology. He’s written a thesis on biomechanics and worked as a computer programmer.

The author’s novels often explore the themes of socialist, anarchist and communist political ideals. He is a member of the British sci-fi group that specializes in space opera and hard science fiction. He is a resident of West Lothian.

The Star Fraction

If you enjoy space opera, you’ll find Ken MacLeod debut novel The Star Fraction, the first in Fall Revolution series quite satisfying. The book is set in the Balkanized Britain in the mid-21st century and tells the story of a mercenary named Moh Kohn and scientist Janis Taine escaping from UN/US technology police. Then there is Jordan Brown a teen atheist who wants out.

MacLeod’s concept of the 21st century is where both the United States and the United Nations have total control of the space and are the adjudicators of the entire planet. After the end of the Third World War when the United Republic is overthrown, Britain remains a broken country and patches of free states are set up in Northern London.

It’s revealed that Janis is a scientist working on temporary memory-enhancing drugs that by mistake releases the Artificial Intelligence named The Watchmaker that some people fear to death while others are eagerly waiting for. Additionally, the Watchmakers has plans of his own, plans that will transform the lives of Janis, Moh and Jordan as the revolution of the past come back to torment the present.

MacLeod makes a fantastic debut with his novel, The Star Fraction. He adds a brief description explaining more about his books and adds a money quote that summarizes the rest of the work. The author explores the themes of capitalism and socialism and the ideologies that people die for every day. The balkanized world of Macleod is truly believable and exciting as well.

The most interesting part about The Star Fraction is how the author manages to interweave Kohn’s past into the story giving the reader a background to the ideological viewpoints of other factions and at the same time giving an explanation as to why he is so disappointed with each one of them.

Cosmonaut Keep

Cosmonaut Keep is the first book in Engines of Light Series. One can classify it as two books in one because it features two different plotlines in one book and the relationship between the plotlines is not made clear until the last few chapters.

In the first plot, we are introduced to Gregor and Elizabeth two marine biologists living on a planet known as Mingulay. In this planet, the human live peacefully with the aliens and the colony is frequently visited by space going traders, so technically, it’s not cut from the others. Gregory’s family is involved in a generation of work with the aim of discovering the secrets of interstellar navigation so that humans won’t need to depend on others for space travel missions. But drama erupts when Gregor develops feelings for the cute daughter of a space trade, unaware that his partner, Elizabeth has love feelings for him as well.

The second plot in this book is set in the near future when his girlfriend Jadey gives the Russian dominated computer programmer a disk before she is taken to custody. Matt escapes to the capitalist United States. He discovers that the disc contains information for designing a flying saucer and soon after this discovery the government announces to the public that it has made contacts with the aliens. Soon Matt finds himself caught in the middle of a scientific and political conspiracy and an affair with an American test-pilot Camilla.

The split narratives in this book are narrated from the different point of views. It opens up in a distant future narrated from third person perspective. The other plot is narrated from the first person point of view shortly unlike the first where a hacker in communist Scotland surreptitiously some classified information into capitalist America.

The writing is exceptionally evocative as the author writes about rebellions and revolutions well-creating tension. The world that he creates both in the distant and nearby Earth and the orbital space is intricate with politics and lots of references to communist history. They possess details that make them alive and are suitably involved in a way that makes the believable. He populates the world he creates with vibrant characters, and for the most part, these characters act the same way people would. MacLeod’s first-person sequences are more immersive and evocative due to the strength of the voice used.

One thing that makes Cosmonaut Keep fascinating is the number of details Macleod adds into the world it takes place. Throughout the story, the world’s history and complex political settings are explored thus giving the reader an excellent overview by the time they turn the last page.

At times the universe exposition takes center stage giving the reader a background feel of the characters and the universe history. While there is some personal strife in this story, more emphasis is placed on a more large scale.

The author manages to explore societal strife from the different political themes of communists and capitalism with individuals and a plethora of factions at various specific points along this political spectrum. But it’s to be noted that Ken MacLeod’s political views in this story do not influence the storyline, thus giving his universe a feel of political diversity rather than means of promoting his political view.

The intricate universe with a combination of gradual exposures makes the story an interesting read. The author also explores some romance themes in both storylines that serve to add some teenage-level romance to the story. Overall the story’s cultural, political and technological maze will have you hooked from the first page to the last.