Picture a British storyteller who whisked Victorian London into a whirlwind of steam-powered adventure—meet Mark Hodder! Born in Southampton, England, in 1962, Hodder is the mastermind behind the Philip K. Dick Award-winning The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack, a steampunk saga that blends historical figures with fantastical alternate realities. Now living in sunny Spain, he’s not just crafting novels but also reviving the classic detective Sexton Blake, delighting fans of both gritty mysteries and retro-futuristic worlds.
With a knack for weaving real history with wild imagination, Hodder’s Burton and Swinburne series has earned a cult following among steampunk enthusiasts and mainstream readers alike. His stories are like a time machine fueled by steam and mischief, inviting you to explore a Victorian era where anything is possible.
The Making of Mark Hodder
Mark Hodder’s journey to literary stardom began in the UK, where his early career took him through eclectic roles—commercial radio scriptwriter, freelance copywriter, and even a web content producer for the BBC. These gigs honed his storytelling chops, but it was his move to Valencia, Spain, in 2008 that sparked his full-time writing career. Inspired by Victorian literature and pulp fiction, Hodder found his niche in steampunk, a genre that let him remix history with a dash of the absurd. His fascination with Sexton Blake, a Sherlock Holmes-esque detective, also fueled his passion for reviving forgotten literary gems.
Mark Hodder’s Unforgettable Stories
Hodder’s crown jewel is the Burton and Swinburne series, a six-part steampunk epic kicked off by The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack (2010). This debut novel, which nabbed the 2010 Philip K. Dick Award, follows explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton and poet Algernon Swinburne as they unravel mysteries in an alternate 1861 London, where Queen Victoria’s assassination has unleashed a bizarre technological boom. Expect time-traveling villains, werewolves, and a devilish figure named Spring-Heeled Jack!
The series continues with gems like The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man (2011), where a brass automaton and black diamonds stir chaos, and Expedition to the Mountains of the Moon (2012), a Sidewise Award nominee that dives deeper into time-bending adventures. Hodder’s standalone novel, A Red Sun Also Rises (2012), transplants Victorian London to an alien planet, showcasing his versatility. His prose is vivid yet accessible, blending meticulous historical research with outlandish plots—think Charles Darwin as a criminal mastermind or Florence Nightingale as a rogue surgeon.
Beyond steampunk, Hodder’s love for Sexton Blake shines in The Silent Thunder Caper (2014), the first officially sanctioned Blake novel in decades. His work as editor for Sexton Blake anthologies and curator of the BLAKIANA website cements his role as a champion of this classic detective, blending nostalgia with fresh storytelling.
Why Mark Hodder Matters
Mark Hodder isn’t just a writer; he’s a time-traveler of sorts, breathing new life into Victorian history and pulp fiction. His Burton and Swinburne series has redefined steampunk by grounding fantastical elements in real historical events, earning praise for its clever fusion of fact and fiction. Fans adore his ability to make historical figures like Burton and Swinburne feel like old friends caught in extraordinary circumstances. His revival of Sexton Blake has also sparked renewed interest in a nearly forgotten literary icon, proving Hodder’s knack for bridging past and present.
From his home in Valencia, where he lives with his partner and twins, Luca and Iris, Hodder continues to push steampunk’s boundaries. His work inspires readers to see history not as fixed but as a playground for imagination, making him a standout voice in speculative fiction.
- Born: 1962, Southampton, England
- Key Works: The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack, A Red Sun Also Rises, The Silent Thunder Caper
- Awards: Philip K. Dick Award (2010), Sidewise Award nominations
- Current Home: Valencia, Spain
Ready to hop aboard a steam-powered adventure? Grab The Strange Affair of Spring-Heeled Jack and dive into Mark Hodder’s thrilling steampunk universe!