World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Gillian Rubinstein

ジリアン・ルビンスタイン

Jirian Rubinstein

Pen Names: Lian Hearn（Used for Tales of the Otori series）, G. M. Hanson（Used for short stories）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1942-08-29 （Potten End, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England）
Nationality
United Kingdom, Australia
Languages
English
Residence History
England (childhood) → Nigeria (childhood) → Australia (since 1973) → Mullumbimby, New South Wales (current)

Career

Occupations
writer, children's author, playwright
Active Years
1986-2024
Influenced By
Lafcadio Hearn

Awards

Children's Peace Literature Award
1987
Work: Space Demons
Organization: Australian Literature Awards
Result: winner
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
2004
Work: Galax-Arena
Category: Jugendbuch
Organization: Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis Committee
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Space Demons

1986 young adult fantasy

Debut novel introducing themes of growing up and fantasy worlds.

growing upfantasy worlds

Galax-Arena

1992 science fiction

Critically acclaimed science fiction novel set in space.

survivalexploitation

Across the Nightingale Floor

2002 historical fantasy

First in Tales of the Otori series, set in feudal Japan-like world, under pseudonym Lian Hearn.

revengedestiny
Translations
  • Japanese translation available

Bibliography

  • Space Demons (1986)
  • Beyond the Labyrinth (1988)
  • Skymaze (1989)
  • At Ardilla (1991)
  • Answers to Brut (1991)
  • Galax-Arena (1992)
  • Mr Plunkett's pool (1992)
  • Keep Me Company (1992)
  • Dog in, Cat Out (1993)
  • Foxspell (1994)
  • Jake and Pete (1995)
  • The Giant's Tooth (1995)
  • Peanut the ponyrat (1995)
  • Annie's Brother's Suit (1996)
  • Witch Music and other stories (1996)
  • Shinkei (1996)
  • Sharon, keep your hair on (1996)
  • Under the Cat's Eye (1997)
  • Jake and Pete and the stray dogs (1997)
  • Each beach (1998)
  • Hooray for the Kafe Karaoke (1998)
  • The Pirates' Ship (1998)
  • The Fairy's Wings (1998)
  • Pure Chance (1998)
  • Ducky's nest (1999)
  • The Mermaid of Bondi Beach (1999)
  • Jake & Pete and the Catcrowbats (1999)
  • Jake and Pete and the magpie's wedding (2000)
  • Terra-Farma (2001)
  • Prue Theroux: the cool librarian (2001)
  • The Whale's Child (2002)
  • Across the Nightingale Floor (2002) (as Lian Hearn)
  • Grass for His Pillow (2003) (as Lian Hearn)
  • Brilliance of the Moon (2004) (as Lian Hearn)

Translations of Works

  • Japanese translations of Tales of the Otori series

Style & Themes

Literary Style
blending of fantasy and realityvivid character portrayal
Recurring Motifs
coming of ageintrusion of fantasy worlds

Legacy

Renowned children's and YA author, internationally acclaimed for Space Demons and the Tales of the Otori series.

Trivia

  • Pen name 'Lian' from childhood nickname, 'Hearn' refers to herons prominent in the series.
  • Spent childhood partly in Nigeria.
  • Married to Phillip, three children: Matt (1974), Tessa (1977), Susannah (1979).