Tom Arden (1961-2015)

Author David Rain, 54, who wrote SF as Tom Arden, died December 15, 2015 of cancer.

Arden is best known for the five-book Orokon epic fantasy series, beginning with The Harlequin’s Dance (1997). He also wrote standalone novels Shadow Black (2002) and The Translation of Bastian Test (2005), as well as Doctor Who novella Nightdreamers (2002), and numerous stories, reviews, and critical articles. As David Rains he published The Heat of the Sun (2012).

Born 1961 in Mount Gambier, Australia, he earned a BA and PhD in English Literature from the University of Adelaide in South Australia. He moved to the UK in 1990, taught at Queen’s University of Belfast in Ireland, and eventually settled in Brighton England, where he lectured at Middlesex University. He is survived by Antony Heaven, his partner of more than 30 years.