Essays and features

Original essays, features and other longer articles about Russell Hoban and his work on this site. Please note: this is not an academic website; essays submitted here are subjective in nature, not peer-reviewed and are published in good faith.

Chris Bell discusses Russell Hoban's 1983 novel Pilgermann, finding it "the closest I’ve experienced to a life-changing novel so far."

Between September 2002 and March 2005, Russell Hoban contributed to his own discussion forum, The Kraken. In the first of a 2-part feature, Richard Cooper looks back over a selection of his posts.

Exclusive to russellhoban.org, bestselling "River of Ink" author Paul M.M. Cooper talks about the fascinating task of archiving Russell Hoban's manuscripts and letters.

Exclusive! Poet and writer James Carter shares a wonderful interview with Russell Hoban from 1995, about films, musical and literary influences, The Mouse and His Child, Turtle Diary, his early career as an illustrator, creativity tips and more.

Chris Bell considers Russell Hoban's 1996 novel Fremder in relation to other works including Riddley Walker and Pilgermann.

Author Anna Lawrence Pietroni explores "Riddleyspeak", which is at once familiar and strange: we have to slow our reading right down if we are to give ourselves any chance of understanding it in full. Riddley is ‘walking his riddels’ on paper and we have to read at a similarly steady pace, stopping from time to time to pick up a stone on the road or taking a moment to catch our breath.

Ron Robinson introduces "Farring Seakert Sailor: Unriddling Riddley Walker", Darrell Emmel’s new 444-page reading of Russell Hoban's classic 1980 novel.

Darrell Emmel, author of "Farring Seakert Sailor", argues that Russell Hoban's complex novel "Riddley Walker" raises many unanswered questions.

Chris Bell considers an under-appreciated period in Russell Hoban's life and career - that of professional painter and illustrator. Contains several examples of his work.

The magic of the puppet show, says Professor K.A. Laity, is its ability to transform the inanimate into animation, to turn movement into story, and to bring to life all manner of dreams and stories.

Between September 2002 and March 2005, Russell Hoban contributed to his own discussion forum, The Kraken. In the second of a 2-part feature, Richard Cooper looks back over a selection of his posts.