Mark Lawrence has carved out a niche for himself in the world of dark, introspective fantasy with his richly detailed settings, morally complex characters, and intricate storytelling. Yet, even the most original voices in literature are shaped by the works that have come before them. In this “Author Inspirations” post, we dive into the books and authors that have had a lasting impact on Mark Lawrence’s writing. From classic literature to iconic modern fantasy, these are the stories that influenced Lawrence and contributed to the unique voice we find in his novels today.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of Lawrence’s work or simply curious about the literary inspirations that shaped him, this list will guide you through the books and authors that have left a mark on his imagination.
1. Anthony Burgess – A Clockwork Orange (1962)
One of the most notable influences on Lawrence’s work is Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange. The character of Alex DeLarge had a profound effect on the creation of Jorg Ancrath from Prince of Thorns. Both Alex and Jorg are deeply flawed anti-heroes, characters who navigate violence and chaos while grappling with internal and external conflicts. Lawrence has openly acknowledged this connection, attributing much of Jorg’s moral complexity and dark nature to Burgess’s portrayal of Alex.
2. George R.R. Martin – A Song of Ice and Fire Series
While Lawrence has expressed some disenchantment with George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series over the years, he credits it with changing how he thought about fantasy when he first encountered it. The morally ambiguous characters, complex political landscapes, and unpredictable plotlines found in Martin’s books clearly resonate in Lawrence’s own work. However, as Lawrence’s own style developed, he moved away from some of the “fundamentals” that initially drew him to Martin’s world.
3. MacDonald Fraser – Flashman (1969)
When it comes to the creation of Jalan Kendeth in Prince of Fools, Lawrence points to MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman as a significant influence. Jalan’s character was strongly influenced by Fraser’s Flashman, a notorious anti-hero with charm and cowardice in equal measure. Fraser, in turn, had lifted the character’s name and traits from Tom Brown’s Schooldays by Thomas Hughes (1857), meaning Jalan’s roots go back more than a century and a half in literature.
4. C.S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia Series
Lawrence’s work also includes homages to C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. He has cited the “wood between the worlds” as an influence that appears in his own world-building. The sense of otherworldly realms and magical portals that Lewis portrayed can be felt in the rich, layered settings Lawrence crafts, inviting readers into vast, mysterious landscapes.
5. Laini Taylor – Strange the Dreamer (2017)
While Laini Taylor’s Strange the Dreamer may seem a more modern influence, Lawrence acknowledges its impact, especially when crafting The Book That Wouldn’t Burn. The use of a two-person point of view in his Library Trilogy shows how Taylor’s dual narrative structure inspired Lawrence in exploring the depth of his characters and their intertwined stories.
6. Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock’s boundary-breaking approach to genre fiction had a significant influence on Lawrence. Moorcock’s works are known for their high levels of violence, sprawling imagination, and disregard for strict genre boundaries—all elements that appear in Lawrence’s novels. His anti-heroes, often torn between competing moral codes, resonate with the protagonists found in Lawrence’s series like The Broken Empire.
7. David Gemmell
David Gemmell’s sense of the epic and his focus on both personal and large-scale battles left a mark on Lawrence’s writing. Gemmell’s flawed heroes and his ability to inject heart and emotion into fantasy were qualities Lawrence sought to bring to his own work. The personal journeys of characters like Nona Grey in The Book of the Ancestor are filled with the same kind of internal and external conflicts that Gemmell’s heroes faced.
8. Stephen Donaldson – The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant Series
Stephen Donaldson’s epic fantasy The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant brought a level of darkness and complexity to the genre that Lawrence admired. Donaldson’s use of a deeply flawed protagonist, set against a backdrop of epic fantasy and real-world undercurrents, mirrors Lawrence’s own approach to creating morally ambiguous, conflicted characters thrust into global struggles.
9. Stephen King
Stephen King is another major influence on Lawrence’s writing, particularly in the way King creates strong, memorable characters. Lawrence has stated that reading King set him thinking about how words on a page can have a profound emotional effect on readers. King’s ability to blend horror, suspense, and character development is something Lawrence seeks to emulate, particularly in the character-driven aspects of his own novels.
10. Terry Pratchett
Terry Pratchett’s combination of humor and heart had a significant impact on Lawrence’s writing. Lawrence admired Pratchett’s ability to make readers laugh while still delivering world-class prose and even moments of deep emotional resonance. Though Lawrence’s work is often darker in tone, his characters sometimes display a similar wry humor, especially in The Red Queen’s War.
11. Robin Hobb – The Farseer Trilogy and Beyond
Robin Hobb’s deep, character-focused fantasy had a later influence on Lawrence, particularly after he had already written Prince of Thorns. By the time he worked on King of Thorns and Emperor of Thorns, Lawrence had absorbed Hobb’s mastery of character development, particularly in how she handled the growth of Fitz, the protagonist of The Farseer Trilogy. Lawrence has acknowledged taking something from Hobb’s approach, incorporating more depth and humanity into his characters.
Mark Lawrence’s writing is a rich tapestry of influences drawn from some of the greatest writers in both classic literature and modern fantasy, although he also self professes that his influences are a mystery to even him sometimes. From the violence and moral ambiguity of Michael Moorcock and Anthony Burgess to the epic scale and character complexity of George R.R. Martin and Robin Hobb, these authors have helped shape the distinctive style Lawrence brings to his work. His ability to blend these influences into his own dark, introspective fantasy worlds is what makes him one of the most unique voices in the genre today.
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