Dave Rudden

Dave Rudden
Dave Rudden (2014)
Born (1988-02-13) 13 February 1988 (age 38)
County Cavan, Ireland
EducationUniversity College Dublin (M.A. 2013), St Patrick's College, Dublin (B.A.)
OccupationWriter
Writing career
LanguageEnglish
Genres
Notable workKnights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy (2016–2018)
Notable awards
Websitedaverudden.com

Dave Rudden (born 13 February 1988) is an Irish writer of young adult fiction, juvenile fantasy and science fiction, best known for his Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy and stories from the Doctor Who universe. He is based in Dublin.

Early life and education

Born on 13 February 1988 in County Cavan, Rudden is from Bawnboy, where he attended St Aidan's National School and St Mogue's College. He studied a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in St Patrick's College, Dublin, and graduated from University College Dublin, obtaining Master of Arts degree in creative writing in 2013. As a young author he won the Fantasy Book Review short story competition (2011) and one of Literary Death Matches in Dublin (2014).

Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy

Rudden debuted as a novelist in 2016 with Knights of the Borrowed Dark [pl], described by the Internet Speculative Fiction Database as juvenile fantasy. The book was reviewed by The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, School Library Journal, The Irish Times and The Guardian, in which S. F. Said called it "a magical debut". It won the 2016 Irish Book Award for Best Senior Children's Book and the 2016 Great Reads Award for "Most Read" title. It was selected by the city of Dublin for its UNESCO-affiliated 2017 Citywide Reading Campaign for Children. According to figures compiled by Public Lending Remuneration the novel was one of top 20 books borrowed from public libraries in Ireland in 2017.

The Irish National Council for Curriculum and Assessment chose Knights of the Borrowed Dark for the Junior Cycle English Indicative First Year Text List (2021–2023). It is the first part of the series continued with The Forever Court [pl] (2017), shortlisted for the 2017 Irish Book Award for Best Senior Children's Book, and The Endless King (2018). The trilogy is currently being developed into a film by Arvind Ethan David.

Doctor Who books and stories

Since 2018, Rudden has been writing science fiction books set in the Doctor Who universe, at the invitation of the franchise's custodians at Puffin Books and the BBC. Combining various elements of the Doctor Who universe, they were initially two collections of short stories. Doctor Who: Twelve Angels Weeping, released in October 2018, was the first Doctor Who book to feature the Thirteenth Doctor from the television series. It was shortlisted for the 2018 Irish Book Award for Best Teen & Young Adult Book. Rudden's third Doctor Who book, Doctor Who: Wannabes: A 1990s Story (2023), featuring the Tenth Doctor and Donna Noble, is a novel in the six-book Decades Collection celebrating the 60th anniversary of the series.

Other literary activities

Rudden was Writer-In-Residence at Marino Institute of Education in Dublin in 2018–2019 and was appointed Writer-In-Residence at Dublin City University for 2022. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he regularly collaborated with the educational television programme RTÉ's Home School Hub, bringing writing tips and motivation to a national audience. He mentors emerging writers through Irish Writers Centre's National Mentoring Programme and serves as one of "Ireland Reads" campaign ambassadors. In 2023, he was nominated for the 2024 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award as one of four nominees from Ireland.

Sister Wake, the first book of Rudden's new fantasy trilogy, intended for an adult audience, was released by Hodderscape in January 2026.

Bibliography

Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy

Stories from the Doctor Who universe

Tales of Darkisle series

References

  1. ↑ Spain, John (24 March 2014). "Author David Rudden (26) in fantasy land with lucrative book deal". The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Power, Ed (11 October 2018). "Meet the Irish author who is reinventing Doctor Who". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Two New Writers-In-Residence announced at DCU for 2022". Dublin City University. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  4. ↑ Leonard, Sue (26 March 2016). "Beginner's Pluck". The Irish Examiner.
  5. 1 2 McGovern, Jenny (27 March 2014). "Cavan author lands six-figure international book deal". The Anglo-Celt. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dave Rudden Visit, 12th December 2018". St. Aidan's National School. 12 December 2018. Archived from the original on 7 June 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Clarke, Dearbháil (6 April 2016). "An education in fiction". Trinity News. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  8. ↑ "MA Creative Writing. Testimonial". University College Dublin. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  9. ↑ "Fantasy Book Review Short Story Competition winner and runner-ups announced". Fantasy Book Review. 1 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Literary Death Match, Dublin, Ep. 8". Literary Death Match. 25 October 2014. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Armstrong, Maggie (8 April 2018). "Irish author Dave Rudden on overcoming bullying and self-harm and how writing changed everything". The Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  12. 1 2 Knights of the Borrowed Dark series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  13. ↑ Martaus, Alaine (July–August 2016). "Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden (review)". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 69 (11): 595. doi:10.1353/bcc.2016.0620. S2CID 148224240. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  14. ↑ Muyumba, Valentine (1 June 2016). "Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  15. ↑ Dunbar, Robert (9 April 2016). "Children's book reviews: the rise of Dave Rudden and the return of Dr Seuss". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  16. ↑ Said, S. F. (7 May 2016). "Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden review – a magical debut". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  17. ↑ "Children's Book of the Year (Senior)". Irish Book Awards. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "The Great Reads Award. Archive. Winners of GRA 2016". The Great Reads Award. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Citywide Reading Campaign for Children – Knights of the Borrowed Dark". Dublin UNESCO City of Literature. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  20. ↑ McCárthaigh, Seán (11 June 2018). "Diary of a Wimpy Kid and David Walliams top book charts". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Junior Cycle English Indicative First Year Text List (For first year student cohorts 2021, 2022, 2023)" (PDF). National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  22. ↑ "Shortlists announced for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2017". The Irish Times. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  23. ↑ "Arvind Ethan David". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  24. ↑ Yon, Mark (14 November 2020). "The Wintertime Paradox by Dave Rudden". SFFWorld. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  25. ↑ Twelve Angels Weeping title listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
  26. ↑ "Shortlist unveiled for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2018". An Post. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  27. ↑ Cormack, Morgan (11 April 2023). "Doctor Who's 60th anniversary celebrated with new series of novels". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "Dave Rudden (MIE Writer in Residence 2018–2019)". Marino Institute of Education. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "Dave Rudden: There are books for everyone". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "The Irish Writers Centre announces migration of the National Mentoring Programme". The Irish Writers Centre. 21 March 2022. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  31. ↑ "Local Writers selected for the Irish Writers Centre's National Mentoring Programme 2023". Fingal County Council. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 19 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  32. ↑ "Squeeze in a Read, February 25th 2022". Publishing Ireland. 14 February 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  33. ↑ O'Callaghan, Helen (21 February 2023). "Ireland Reads: 'You never have to wait for a book to charge up'". The Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  34. ↑ "Ireland Reads. Our Partners & Ambassadors". Ireland Reads. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  35. ↑ "Nominated candidates 2024". Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  36. ↑ Kearns, David (9 July 2025). "Hodderscape to publish new fantasy trilogy by acclaimed UCD Creative Writing graduate Dave Rudden". University College Dublin. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  37. ↑ "Sister Wake Exclusive Extract". Hodderscape. Archived from the original on 8 February 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2026.

Further reading