Picture a Scottish bassist turned dystopian maestro, weaving tales that pulse with the rhythm of a rock anthem—meet Mark Gillespie! From Glasgow’s gritty music scene to the sunny shores of Auckland, New Zealand, Gillespie swapped his bass guitar for a pen, crafting speculative fiction that grips readers like a killer riff. His Fab Trilogy, a bold reimagining of a world where John Lennon lives, proves words can hit as hard as any chord.
Gillespie’s journey is a melody of reinvention. A former professional musician, he now channels his creative energy into dystopian and psychological thrillers, blending raw emotion with speculative twists. His stories aren’t just page-turners; they’re a backstage pass to worlds where reality bends and human resilience shines.
The Making of Mark Gillespie
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Mark Gillespie spent his twenties and early thirties rocking stages across the UK and Ireland as a bassist. From 2001 to 2011, he toured and recorded, living the musician’s dream and meeting his wife, Íde, at a gig. Burned out by his early thirties, he traded music for academia, studying English Literature and History at Strathclyde University. It was there, in 2010, that short stories reignited his passion. By 2015, after moving to Australia and later New Zealand, Gillespie embraced indie publishing, diving headfirst into speculative fiction.
His Glasgow roots—gritty, vibrant, and unapologetic—infuse his writing with a raw edge. The shift from music to literature wasn’t just a career change; it was a new way to tell stories, trading basslines for narratives that resonate with the same intensity.
Mark Gillespie’s Unforgettable Stories
Gillespie’s bibliography is a treasure trove of dystopian and thriller gems. The Fab Trilogy—Fab (2015), The Fifth Angel (2016), and Revolver (2017)—is a standout, imagining a surreal alternate history where John Lennon survives 1980 to become a right-wing politician, fugitive, and time-traveler. Readers praise its “sheer amazing imagination,” blending pop culture with speculative twists. The trilogy’s fast-paced, satirical edge makes it a must-read for fans of alternate history.
The Future of London series, another flagship, paints a dystopian London walled off from the world, transformed into a reality TV spectacle. Titles like L-2011 and Mr. Apocalypse deliver civic terror and sharp satire, earning comparisons to Stephen King’s The Stand. His After the End trilogy, including The Curse, follows a female protagonist navigating a post-apocalyptic America, lauded for its tight narrative and vivid scenes. Gillespie’s style—action-packed, character-driven, and laced with social commentary—channels the energy of his musical past into prose that hums with tension.
From psychological thrillers like I’ll Be Next to Vanish to horror-tinged dystopias, Gillespie’s versatility shines. His stories explore human survival, societal collapse, and the quirks of fate, all with a nod to the absurdities of modern life.
Why Mark Gillespie Matters
Mark Gillespie’s impact lies in his ability to make dystopian fiction feel eerily plausible. His satirical take on reality TV and social media in the Future of London series mirrors our tech-obsessed world, while the Fab Trilogy’s bold reimagining of cultural icons pushes speculative fiction into fresh territory. Readers and critics alike celebrate his knack for crafting believable characters and unpredictable twists, with reviews calling him “the king of dystopian fiction.”
As an indie author, Gillespie’s success is a testament to creative freedom. His transition from musician to writer inspires aspiring storytellers, proving passion can pivot across mediums. His growing fanbase eagerly awaits more tales from his vivid imagination.
- Born: Glasgow, Scotland
- Key Works: Fab Trilogy, Future of London, After the End Trilogy
- Current Home: Auckland, New Zealand
Snag Fab or L-2011 and dive into Mark Gillespie’s dystopian brilliance—your next obsession awaits!