Pierre Pevel (born 1968) is a French science fiction and fantasy writer. He received the Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire for his novel Les Ombres de Wielstadt in 2002.
Biography
Pierre Pevel was born in 1968. He was a scriptwriter and author of role-playing games, before he began writing. He has written many fantasy novels under the pseudonym "Pierre Jacq", often signing his books under his real name. He is known for his trilogy, the Ombres de Wieldstadt, published en 2001, which in 2002 won him a Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire.
Pierre Pevel lives in Nancy, France.
Bibliography
Pierre Pevel's novels are written in a style approaching that of uchronia (or, alternative history), and in particular of fantasy uchronia. The setting is nearly always in a universe strongly inspired by a precise historical period, well documented, but that is different from real world events by the presence of wondrous elements (magic, supernatural creatures). These elements influence the portrayal of the chosen period as people in this world are keenly aware that they coexist with the supernatural and Pevel sometimes provides small changes to actual historical events. However, most of the history present in Pevel's novels is accurate, minus supernatural elements and a few deliberate changes. Pevel's novels are noticeable for always including dragons.
Cycle de Wieldstadt
Les Ombres de Wieldstadt, 2001 (Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire 2002, Novel category) Les Masques de Wieldstadt, 2002 Le Chevalier de Wieldstadt, 2004 In the early 17th century, as the Thirty Years' War is beginning to tear the Holy Roman Empire apart, the town of Wieldstadt is protected from assault by the dragon that lives on the mountain overlooking the town. The series revolves around a mysterious knight named Kantz who uses his supernatural abilities to hunt down demonic threats in his city. After returning to the city after a mission accomplished for the Order of the Temple, Kantz must deal with a horde of ghouls who are tracking and killing several people in the town. However, Kantz must also contend with conspiracies in his town by powerful demonic forces and officials working for the shadowy Vehmic court.
A work of alternate history, Pevel introduces small divergences from actual history into the books such as the resurgence of the Templars who were disbanded in the 14th century and never reappeared, as well as making the Vehmic court more powerful than it actually was.
Le Paris des Merveilles
Les Enchantements d'Ambremer, 2003
L'Elixir d'oubli, 2004 (Prix Imaginales 2005, French novel category) Le Royaume Immobile
The 'Paris des Merveilles' happens in an alternate Belle Époque France. Three Worlds have coexisted for centuries while partially or completely aware of one another: Earth, the OutreMonde and Onirie, the world of dreams. After the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, the faerie kingdom of Ambremer, which dominates the OutreMonde, revealed itself to humanity and, with its various wonders, the existence of magic. Since, Paris has become a meltingpot of human and wonderful cohabitation: the Eiffel Tower, although still designed by Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle (1889), was built in glowing white wood gifted to the French government by Méliane, the Queen of the Fairies. Sirens live in the Seine, winged cats fly in the skies and alleys, and sleep on written texts to live their words in dreams, trees from the OutreMonde give light to the Champs-Elysées when night comes, and all sorts of creatures, from gnomes to ogres live in the French capital. And human mages now live openly, able to practice their arts free from the dangers of persecution.
The story follows Louis Denizart Hippolyte Griffont, a mage from the Cyan Circle (one of the three circles of magic) who assist Parisians with magical related problems, and his estranged wife, Baroness Isabel de Saint-Gil, a fairie formerly belonging to Queen Méliane's ladies-in-waiting and now a professional thief, as they deal in the world of intrigues that lurk beneath the wonders of Paris. The OutreMonde is still recovering from a war for domination between the fairies and the dragons, a war the fairies won but leaving wounds that could still be reopened. Several dragons, unwilling to submit to Ambremer's rule, chose exile on Earth rather than stay in the 'OutreMonde'. And Méliane's hold on the throne is constantly tested by the presence of the Dark Queen, a renegade fae who desires to overthrow her.