Craig Thomas (author)

Craig Thomas
Born	24 November 1942(1942-11-24) Cardiff, Wales
Died	4 April 2011(2011-04-04) (aged 68) Somerset, England
Occupation	Teacher, Novelist
Nationality	Welsh
Period	1982–2011
Genres	Techno-thriller, Essay
Influences Thomas Hardy, philosophy

David Craig Owen Thomas (24 November 1942 – 4 April 2011) was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series.

Background

The son of the Western Mail rugby union writer JBG Thomas,^[1] he was educated at Cardiff High School. He graduated from University College, Cardiff in 1967, obtaining his M.A. after completing a thesis on Thomas Hardy.^[2] Thomas became an English teacher, working in various grammar schools in the West Midlands, and was Head of English at the Shire Oak School, Walsall Wood.

Writing career

After unsuccessfully trying script writing for radio,^[3] Thomas wrote part-time, with his wife as editor, in two fields: philosophical thoughts in books of essays; and techno-thrillers, a genre whose invention is often attributed to the better-known Tom Clancy, though many fans feel that Thomas was its true originator.^[2] Most of Thomas's novels are set within MI6 and feature the characters of Sir Kenneth Aubrey and Patrick Hyde.

His best-known novel was Firefox, which brought him to global prominence and spawned a successful film adaptation, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood. After publishing his third novel, the Cold War espionage thriller Wolfsbane, he left teaching altogether, in 1977. His later books include Snow Falcon and A Different War. Shortly before his death he finished a two-volume commentary on German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche.^[1]

Thomas and his wife Jill had lived near Lichfield, Staffordshire,^[3] but moved to Somerset in 2010. He died on April 4, 2011 from pneumonia, following a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia.^[1][2] He was 68.

Bibliography

• Rat Trap – Michael Joseph, London (1976)
• Firefox – Michael Joseph, London (1977)
• Wolfsbane – Michael Joseph, London (1978)
• Moscow 5000 – Michael Joseph, London (1979) (as David Grant)
• Snow Falcon – Michael Joseph, London (1980)
• Emerald Decision – Michael Joseph, London (1980) (as David Grant)
• Sea Leopard – Michael Joseph, London (1981)
• Jade Tiger – Michael Joseph, London (1982)
• Firefox Down – Michael Joseph, London (1983)
• The Bear's Tears – Michael Joseph, London (1985) (published in the USA as Lion's Run)
• Winter Hawk – Collins, London (1987)
• All the Grey Cats – Collins, London (1988) (published in the USA as Wildcat (1989))
• The Last Raven – Collins, London (1990)
• A Hooded Crow – HarperCollins, London (1992)
• Playing with Cobras – HarperCollins, London (1993)
• A Wild Justice – HarperCollins, London (1995)
• A Different War – Little Brown, (1997)
• Slipping into Shadow – Little Brown, (1998)

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Techno thriller writer Craig Thomas dies". BBC Wales. 8 April 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-13012763. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Techno thriller writer Craig Thomas dies". Western Mail. 8 April 2011. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/04/08/best-selling-author-craig-thomas-dies-91466-28486025. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Craig Thomas". Staffordshire County Council. http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/thomasc.htm. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 

External links

• Bio at Shropshire County Council
• Unofficial Craig Thomas companion

Persondata
Name	Thomas, Craig
Alternative names	Thomas, David Craig Owen
Short description	Welsh writer
Date of birth	24 November 1942
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales, UK
Date of death	4 April 2011
Place of death	Somerset, England, UK