Akashic Noir#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Kingston Noir |
2012 |
Buy |
Anthologies#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Making the Trees Shiver: An Anthology of the First Six Years of the Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival |
2011 |
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Dark Star Reading Order#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| Black Leopard, Red Wolf |
2019 |
Buy |
| Moon Witch, Spider King |
2022 |
Buy |
Standalone Novels#
| Title |
Published |
Buy on Amazon |
| John Crow’s Devil |
2005 |
Buy |
| The Book of Night Women |
2009 |
Buy |
| A Brief History of Seven Killings |
2014 |
Buy |
Marlon James is a Jamaican novelist whose work spans literary fiction and epic fantasy. His third novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings (2014), won the Man Booker Prize for its sprawling, polyphonic account of the 1976 attempted assassination of Bob Marley and its aftermath across decades. His earlier novels, John Crow’s Devil (2005) and The Book of Night Women (2009), are both set in Jamaica and deal with violence, power, and resistance.
James surprised readers by moving into fantasy with the Dark Star trilogy, beginning with Black Leopard, Red Wolf (2019). Drawing on African mythology, the series creates a dense, violent, and richly imagined world. Moon Witch, Spider King (2022) continues the trilogy. He also edited Kingston Noir (2012) for the Akashic Noir anthology series.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has Marlon James written?
Marlon James has written 7 books across four series, plus one edited anthology.
What was Marlon James's first book?
Marlon James’s first book is John Crow’s Devil, published in 2005.
What has Marlon James won?
Marlon James won the 2015 Man Booker Prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings, becoming the first Jamaican author to win the award. His debut, John Crow’s Devil (2005), was rejected 78 times before publication.