Kenneth Oppel

Infobox Writer

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imagesize = 200px
name = Kenneth Oppel
caption = Oppel in 2007.
pseudonym =
birthname =
birthdate = August 31 1967
birthplace = Port Alberni, British Columbia
deathdate =
deathplace =
occupation =
nationality = Canadian
period = 1985 - present
genre =
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notableworks = "Matt Cruse" series
"The Silverwing Saga"
spouse = Philippa Sheppard
partner =
children = Three children
relatives =
influences =
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awards = Governor General's Literary Award
2004 "Airborn"
The Times Children's Novel
2005 "Skybreaker"


website = http://www.kennethoppel.ca

Kenneth Oppel (born August 31 1967) is a Canadian author. Born in Port Alberni, British Columbia, he spent his childhood in Victoria, British Columbia and Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has also lived in England and Ireland.

Oppel's first published book, "Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure" (1985), was written while he was a high school student at St. Michaels University School in Victoria. Oppel forwarded the newly completed manuscript to his favorite author and family friend, Roald Dahl, who in turn recommended it to his agent. Oppel went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in cinema studies and English at Trinity College in the University of Toronto, writing "The Live-Forever Machine" (1992) during his final year. Oppel moved to England and wrote a number of books during that period, gleaning several ideas while working at typing students' papers. Oppel worked as an editor at "Quill and Quire", the trade magazine of the Canadian publishing industry, from 1995 to 1996.

He is probably best known for his trilogy of "Silverwing", "Sunwing", and "Firewing". His most recent books are "Airborn" (2004) and its sequel, "Skybreaker" (2005), and "Darkwing" (2007), the prequel to his Silverwing trilogy. Set 65 million years ago, "Darkwing" depicts the tale of the first bat, Dusk, who discovers that he has the gift of flight. Being the only one from his colony that's capable of powered flight, he quickly becomes an outcast. When half of his colony is wiped out by predators, he embarks on a dangerous quest to find a new home.

"Starclimber", the third book in the "Matt Cruse" series, was released in Canada in September 2008. It will be released in the United States in December 2008 and in the U.K. in May of 2009. All the main characters such as Matt Cruse and Kate DeVries have returned.

The author has won several literary awards, including the 2004 Governor General's Literary Award for English language children's literature (for "Airborn") and "The Times" Children's Novel of 2005 (for "Skybreaker", named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association).

Oppel is married to Philippa Sheppard, and has three children, Sophia, Nate and Julia. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Bibliography

Children's fiction

"Barnes and the Brains"

*"A Bad Case of Ghosts" (1993)
*"A Strange Case of Magic" (1994) (also known as "A Bad Case of Magic")
*"A Crazy Case of Robots" (1994) (also known as "A Bad Case of Robots")
*"An Incredible Case of Dinosaurs" (1994) (also known as "A Bad Case of Dinosaurs")
*"A Weird Case of Super-Goo" (1997) (also known as "A Bad Case of Super-Goo")
*"A Creepy Case of Vampires" (2002)

Other

*"Colin's Fantastic Video Adventure" (1985)
*"Cosimo Cat" (1990)
*"Follow That Star" (1992)
*"Cosmic Snapshots" (1993)
*"Galactic Snapshots" (1993)
*"Emma's Emu" (1995)
*"Peg and the Whale" (2000)
*"Peg and the Yeti" (2004)

Young adult fiction

"The Silverwing Saga"

*"Silverwing" (1997)
*"Sunwing" (1999)
*"Firewing" (2002)
*"Darkwing" (2007) (known as "Dusk" in UK)

"Matt Cruse"

*"Airborn" (2004)
*"Skybreaker" (2005)
*"Starclimber" (2008)

Other

*"The Live-Forever Machine" (1990)
*"Dead Water Zone" (1992)

Adult fiction

*"The Devil's Cure" (2000)

References

* [http://www.kennethoppel.ca Kenneth Oppel's official author website]
* [http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/profiles/oppel.html Profile by CM Magazine]
* [http://www.achuka.co.uk/special/oppel.htm Silverwing Interview from ACHUKA]
* [http://www.canscaip.org/bios/oppelk.html Profile by CANSCAIP]
* [http://redcedar.swifty.com/1999/Author_Bios/kenneth.htm Red Cedar Awards Profile]

External links

* [http://www.airborn.ca "Airborn"'s official website]
* [http://www.darkwing.ca "Darkwing"'s official website]