Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| filth! |
1994 |
Buy |
Non-Fiction#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Bachelor Boys |
1984 |
Buy |
| What Have I Done? |
2025 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Stark |
1989 |
Buy |
| Gridlock |
1991 |
Buy |
| This Other Eden |
1993 |
Buy |
| Popcorn |
1996 |
Buy |
| Blast from the Past |
1998 |
Buy |
| Inconceivable |
1999 |
Buy |
| Dead Famous |
2001 |
Buy |
| High Society |
2002 |
Buy |
| Past Mortem |
2004 |
Buy |
| The First Casualty |
2005 |
Buy |
| Chart Throb |
2006 |
Buy |
| Blind Faith |
2007 |
Buy |
| Meltdown |
2009 |
Buy |
| Two Brothers |
2012 |
Buy |
| Time and Time Again |
2014 |
Buy |
| Identity Crisis |
2015 |
Buy |
Standalone Plays#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Gasping |
1990 |
Buy |
| Silly Cow |
1998 |
Buy |
| Ben Elton Plays 1 |
1998 |
Buy |
| Upstart Crow |
2018 |
Buy |
Ben Elton is a British writer and comedian whose career spans stand-up comedy, television, novels, plays, and musicals. He first became known for writing The Young Ones and co-writing Blackadder, two defining British comedy shows of the 1980s. His first novel, Stark (1989), applied his comedic instincts to fiction, telling a satirical story about environmental destruction.
Since then, Elton has published sixteen standalone novels covering topics from traffic congestion (Gridlock) to reality television (Dead Famous) to gun culture (Popcorn) to time travel (Time and Time Again). He has also written plays, including Gasping and Silly Cow, and the musical We Will Rock You. His non-fiction includes Bachelor Boys (1984), a tie-in to The Young Ones, and What Have I Done? (2025), a recent memoir. Elton’s writing consistently returns to satire, using comedy to examine whatever cultural issue has caught his attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Ben Elton written?
Ben Elton has written 23 books across four series.
What was Ben Elton's first book?
Ben Elton’s first book is Bachelor Boys, published in 1984.
What is the connection between Ben Elton's comedy career and his novels?
Elton established himself as a stand-up comedian and TV writer (most famously for Blackadder and The Young Ones) before turning to novels in 1989 with Stark. His fiction carries the same sharp, satirical edge as his comedy, targeting media culture, politics, celebrity obsession, and social hypocrisy.