Judith Tarr


Judith Tarr is an American fantasy and science fiction author.

Life

Tarr was born in Augusta, Maine on January 30, 1955. She is the daughter of Earle A. Tarr, Jr., and Regina. She received her B.A. in Latin and English from Mount Holyoke College in 1976, and has an M.A. in Classics from Cambridge University, and an M.A. and PhD in Medieval Studies from Yale University. She taught Latin at Wesleyan University from 1990 to 1993.
She breeds Lipizzan horses at Dancing Horse Farm, her home in Vail, Arizona. The romantic fantasies that she writes under the name Caitlin Brennan feature "dancing horses" modeled on those that she raises.

''The Hound and the Falcon'' Trilogy

Tarr's The Hound and the Falcon trilogy is a fantasy trilogy set in twelfth and thirteenth century Europe. The trilogy focuses on a race of Elves with supernatural powers, secretly living in medieval society. The trilogy's main character is Alf, a young monk who is also an Elf. The trilogy features historical personages such as Francis of Assisi and King Richard I as characters.

''Alamut''

In an interview, Tarr stated that she became interested in the period of the Crusades after hearing the 1971 record album, Music of the Crusades by David Munrow and the Early Music Consort of London. This inspired her to write her novel set in the period of the Crusades, Alamut. Tarr consulted the history books The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf and The Assassins: A Radical Sect in Islam by Bernard Lewis, as part of her research for Alamut.

''Epona'' series

Tarr's Epona series of novels is set in prehistoric Europe. The Epona series dramatizes the ideas of archaeologist Marija Gimbutas about a matriarchal society existing in Paleolithic Europe.

Pseudonyms

  • Caitlin Brennan, pseudonym used for the White Magic series and House of the Star
  • Kathleen Bryan, pseudonym used for the War of the Rose series

    Series

Rhuyana Universe

  • The Hound and the Falcon series:
  • *The Isle of Glass, Bluejay, 1985,
  • *The Golden Horn, Bluejay, 1985,
  • *The Hounds of God, Bluejay, 1986,
  • **The Hound and the Falcon, 1993,, a collection of the earlier works.
  • The Alamut series :
  • *Alamut, Doubleday, 1989,
  • *The Dagger and the Cross, Doubleday, 1991,.

    ''Avaryan Chronicles''

  • The Hall of the Mountain King, Tor, 1986,
  • The Lady of Han-Gilen, Tor, 1987,
  • A Fall of Princes, Tor, 1988,
  • *Avaryan Rising, Orb, 1997,
  • Arrows of the Sun, Tor, 1993,
  • Spear of Heaven, Tor, 1994,
  • Tides of Darkness, Tor, 2002,
  • *Avaryan Resplendent, Tor, 2003,.

    The Three Queens

  • Throne of Isis, Forge, 1994,
  • The Eagle's Daughter, Forge, 1995,
  • Queen of Swords, Forge, 1997,.

    [Epona]

  • White Mare's Daughter, Forge, 1998,
  • The Shepherd Kings, Forge, June 1999
  • Lady of Horses, Forge, June 2000,
  • Daughter of Lir, Forge, June 2001,.

    Devil's Bargain

  • Devil's Bargain, Roc, September 2002,
  • House of War, Roc, November 2003,.

    [William the Conqueror]

  • Rite of Conquest, Roc, November 2004,
  • King's Blood, Roc, October 2005,.

    Other novels

  • A Wind in Cairo, Bantam Spectra, 1989,
  • Ars Magica, Bantam Spectra, 1989,
  • Lord of the Two Lands, Tor, 1993
  • His Majesty's Elephant, Jane Yolen Books, 1993,
  • Pillar of Fire, Forge, 1995,
  • King and Goddess, Forge, 1996,
  • Household Gods, Tor, 1999,
  • Kingdom of the Grail, Roc, September 2000,
  • Pride of Kings, Roc, September 2001,
  • Queen of the Amazons, Tor, April 2004,
  • Bring Down the Sun, Tor, 2008,
  • Living in Threes, Book View Cafe, 2014,
  • Forgotten Suns, Book View Cafe, 2015,

    Collaborations

  • CoDominium Universe,
  • *War World series
  • **Blood Feuds, Baen, 1993,
  • **Blood Vengeance, Baen, 1993,

    Short fiction

;Stories
TitleYearFirst publishedReprinted/collectedNotes
"Defender of the Faith"1985Moonsinger's Friends edited by Susan Shwartz
"Pièce de Résistance"1986Asimov's Science Fiction, April 1986Reprinted in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories: 13 edited by Arthur W. Saha
Kehailan1988Arabesques: More Tales of the Arabian Nights edited by Susan Shwartz
"Falcon Law"1989Four From the Witch World edited by Andre Norton
""Al-Ghazalah"1989Arabesques 2 edited by Susan Shwartz
"Roncesvalles"1990What Might Have Been? Volume 2: Alternate Heroes edited by Gregory Benford and Martin H. GreenbergReprinted in The Mammoth Book of Alternate Histories edited by Ian Whates and Ian Watson.Short story about the Emperor Charlemagne.
"Death and the Lady"1992After the King: Stories in Honor of J.R.R. Tolkien edited by Martin H. GreenbergReprinted in Modern Classics of Fantasy edited by Gardner Dozois
"Them Old Hyannis Blues"1992Alternate Kennedys edited by Mike Resnick
"Queen of Asia"1993Alternate Warriors edited by Mike Resnick
"Cowards Die: A Tragicomedy in Several Fits"1994Alternate Outlaws by Mike Resnick
"Horizon"2002Alternate Generals II edited by Harry Turtledove
"Measureless to Man"2005Alternate Generals III edited by Harry Turtledove
"Fool's errand"2015

As Caitlin Brennan

  • House of the Star, Starscape, 2010,
;The White Magic series
  1. The Mountain's Call, Luna, 2004,
  2. Song of Unmaking, Luna, 2005,
  3. Shattered Dance, Luna, 2006,

    As Kathleen Bryan

;The War of the Rose series
  1. The Serpent and the Rose, Tor, 2007,
  2. The Golden Rose, Tor, 2008,
  3. The Last Paladin, Tor, 2009,

    Awards