Authors A to Z - Keith Topping
Rockin' Keith Topping is an extremely freelance journalist and author
whose previous work includes co-editing two editions of The Guinness
Book of Classic British TV.
He's also written numerous guides to television series as diverse as The X-Files, The Sweeney, Doctor Who and Roswell for Virgin Books.
He's responsible for four novels, (including the award-winning The Hollow Men), and a novella (Telos's own Ghost Ship), the Stargate SG-1 guide Beyond the Gate, and the best-selling volumes Slayer, Hollywood Vampire and Inside Bartlet's White House.
He is a regular contributor to numerous genre magazines, including TV Zone and Shivers, and is a former Contributing Editor of DreamWatch specialising in coverage of US television.
Keith was born on Tyneside on the same day in 1963 that his beloved Newcastle United lost 3-2 at home to Northampton Town. Things haven't improved much since.
He regularly appears on local radio and also contributed to the BBC television series I Love the 70s. He's currently co-scripting, with Martin Day, a proposed TV series for an independent production company.
His hobbies include socialising with friends, foreign travel, loud guitar-based pop music, trashy British horror movies of the 60s and 70s, football, comedy, murder and lots of other stuff. A Day in the Life is his 27th book.
What they've said about Keith's books:
Cult and Classic TV:
Slayer:
"Topping's terrific tome adopts the perfect attitude to this fizzing phenomenon... He rattles through each episode with focus on teen-angst metaphors, the brilliant feminist subtexts, and the dazzling use of "valley speak"... Colour me stunned." - Uncut
"Slayer will keep you enlightened and amazed for weeks." - Dreamwatch
"Cool!" - Shout Magazine
Hollywood Vampire:
"A mighty reference work." - Dreamwatch
High Times:
"This could be just the book for you." - TV Zone
Shut It!:
"Book of the month... The prefect armchair guide." - Loaded
"Searing!" - Bizarre
Classic British TV:
"Faultlessly-researched... never less than wholly entertaining." - Film Review
"Tells you all you never knew you wanted to know." - Daily Telegraph
Doctor Who Novels:
The Hollow Men:
"An attention-grabber." - TV Zone
"The characterisation is good and the prose is smooth, evocative and easy to read." - SFX
"Past Doctor Adventure of the Year." - Doctor Who Monthly
The King of Terror:
"Hugely enjoyable." - Doctor Who Monthly
Byzantium:
"Topping's historical is a richly-described, bloodthirsty thing." - Doctor Who Monthly
"The First Doctor and his crew know the score and so, too, does Keith Topping." - Starburst
Doctor Who Factual:
Doctor Who The Discontinuity Guide:
"Well worth a look." - Dreamwatch
You can ask Keith about his books, his life, the universe and other important issues on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum "Ask Keith Topping Page"
