Elaine Cunningham

For the West Indies cricketer, see Elaine Cunningham (cricketer).

Elaine Cunningham (born August 12, 1957 in New York City)^[1] is an American fantasy and science fiction author, especially known for her contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons role playing game campaign setting of Forgotten Realms.^[2][3]

Elaine Cunningham
Born	(1957-08-12) August 12, 1957 (age 68) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Novelist
Period	1991–present
Genre	Fantasy, Science fiction
Notable works	Forgotten Realms, Starlight & Shadows, and The New Jedi Order novels
Website
elainecunningham.com

Biography

Cunningham was born in New York City, and grew up in New York state and New England.^[2] A voracious reader since childhood, she earned a degree in music education with a minor in history.^[2]

She started writing in 1987, after her older son was born.^[2] A lifelong fascination with folklore and mythology led her to the fantasy genre,^[4][5] and her background in music and history^[2][5][4] gave her an affinity for bards such as Danilo Thann,^[4] created for her first novel, Elfshadow (1991).^[2] Many of her stories focus on elves,^[3][2] which she attributes to her excessive fondness for cats.^[2][4]

Elves suddenly clicked for me when I realized they're essentially bipedal cats with localized fur. They possess a decidedly feline grace, beauty, and dexterity, not to mention 110% of a cat's attitude.

— Elaine Cunningham

Cunningham is also the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Journey,^[1] book 10 from the Star Wars New Jedi Order saga.^[5] Shadows in the Starlight (2006), the second book the Changeling Detective series, was named to the 2006 Kirkus Reviews list "Ten Best SciFi Novels."^[6]

Personal life

Now a full-time arts administrator, Cunningham continues to write, albeit mostly in the early morning hours. She lives in coastal Rhode Island.^[4]

Bibliography

Dungeons & Dragons

• Songs & Swords (featuring Arilyn, Danilo and Elaith)
  • I. Elfshadow^[7] (1991/2000 reprint)
  • II. Elfsong (1994/2000 reprint)
  • III. Silver Shadows^[7] (1996/2001 reprint)
  • IV. Thornhold (1998/2001 reprint)
  • V. The Dream Spheres^[7] (1999)
• Spelljammer anthology novellas
  • The Cloakmaster Cycle
    • The Radiant Dragon (1992), ISBN 978-1560763468^[4]
• Starlight and Shadows (featuring Liriel, Fyodor, and Gorlist)
  • I. Daughter of the Drow (1995)
  • II. Tangled Webs (1996)
  • III. Windwalker (2003)
• Evermeet: Island of Elves (1998)
• Counselors & Kings (featuring Matteo and Tzigone)
  • I. The Magehound (2000)
  • II. The Floodgate (2001)
  • III. The Wizardwar (2002)
• City of Splendors: A Novel of Waterdeep (With Ed Greenwood; 2005)
• Forgotten Realms anthology novellas
  • The Best of the Realms, Book 1 (2003)
    • "Rite of Blood"—Realms of the Underdark (1996)
  • The Best of the Realms, Book III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham (2007)
    • "The Bargain"—Realms of Valor (1993)
    • "The More Things Change"—Realms of Infamy (1994)
    • "The Direct Approach"—Realms of Magic (1995)
    • "Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea"—Realms of the Arcane (1997)
    • "The Great Hunt"—Dragon #246 (1998)
    • "Speaking with the Dead"—Realms of Mystery (1998)
    • "Stolen Dreams"—Dragon #259 (1999)
    • "Fire is Fire"—Realms of the Deep (2000)
    • "Possessions"—Dragon #282 (2002)
    • "A Little Knowledge"—Realms of Shadow (2002)
    • "Gorlist's Dragon"—Realms of Dragons (2004)
    • "Games of Chance"—Dragon #335 (2005)
    • "The Knights of Samular"
    • "Tribute"
    • "Answered Prayers"

Other

• Del Rey's Star Wars books
  • Dark Journey, Book 12 of the New Jedi Order series (featuring Jaina Solo)
• The Changeling Detective Agency series
  • I. Shadows in the Darkness (2004)
  • II. Shadows in the Starlight (2006)
• Pathfinder Tales series
  • Winter Witch (2010), ISBN 978-1-60125-286-9, with Dave Gross