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![Alkis Alkiviades (aka Luke Sharp)[1]](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/fightingfantasy/images/9/9a/Alkis_alkiviades.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090210205412)
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Luke Sharp is an author who has written four Fighting Fantasy gamebooks. "Luke Sharp" is a nom de plume for Alkis Alkiviades.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Alkis Alkiviades completed a BA degree in "History of Near and Middle East" between 1972 and 1975 in the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.[2] His background in Near and Middle Eastern history is apparent in his three Fighting Fantasy books set in Titan - some of the names in these books are drawn from the Oghuz Turkic epic, the Book of Dede Korkut, for example.
Career[]
"Luke Sharp" as a Pseudonym[]
Luke Sharp is a pseudonym. We know this from a number of sources:[3]
- Fangs of Fury is credited in the copyright pages to Alkis Alkiviades.
- The SOAS alumni website lists Alkis Alkiviades, and notes that he has "published fantasy adventure books under the nom de plume 'Luke Sharp'".[2]
- Alkis Alkiviades lists among his Facebook friends Marc Gascoigne and Graeme Davis.[1]
- Alkis Alkiviades is a Greek name in origin, and there are many Greek influences in Sharp's books, for example the names Brassino-Dendro, Megala-Dendra and Potamos.
- Alkis Fearslicer is a character in both Chasms of Malice and Daggers of Darkness, both written by Luke Sharp.
- The place name "Sikla" (as in Minak Sikla) in Fangs of Fury is "Alkis" spelt backwards.
- The character of Captain Laski is an anagram of "Alkis".
- Salik's Way is named after Salik, another anagram of "Alkis".
It is interesting to note that the use of "Luke Sharp" as a pseudonym is not confined to Alkis Alkiviades. Robert Barr (16 Sep 1850-22 Oct 1912), the Scottish born crime author who founded The Idler magazine (with Jerome K. Jerome), also on occasion went by the pseudonym Luke Sharp.
Bibliography[]
Writer
Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks[]
- (#27) Star Strider (Puffin, 1987)
- (#30) Chasms of Malice (Puffin, 1987)
- (#35) Daggers of Darkness (Puffin, 1988)
- (#39) Fangs of Fury (Puffin, 1989)
Outside of Fighting Fantasy[]
Writer
Captain Dotto Gamebooks[]
- Dotto and the Pharaoh's Mask (Blitz Publishing, 1997)
- Dotto and the Minotaur's Maze (Blitz Publishing, 1998)