edward james was born in 1947 he is emeritus professor of medieval history at university college dublin he received a ba oxon 1968 dphil oxon in 1975 he was a lecturer then college lecturer at the department of medieval history university college dublin from 1970 to 1978 he was a lecturer then senior lecturer in early medieval history at the department of history university of york 1978 to 1995 as well as director of the centre for medieval studies university of york from 19901995 he was professor of medieval history at the university of reading from 1995 to 2004 and was a director of the graduate centre for medieval studies 19992001he has researched late roman and early medieval history the history of the barbarians particularly of the franks the writings of gregory of tours whom he has also translated and the history of science fiction fantasy and utopian literature he was professor of medieval history in the school of history university college dublin from 2004 until his retirement in 2012he is also a noted academic writer on science fiction and fantasy and was the editor of foundation the international review of science fiction from 1986 to 2001 he won the eaton award for best critical work on science fiction for science fiction in the twentieth century 1994 the cambridge companion to science fiction cambridge university press 2003 isbn 0521816262 which he edited with farah mendlesohn won the 2005 hugo award for best related book a companion volume the cambridge companion to fantasy literature also edited with mendlesohn cambridge university press 2012 isbn 9780521429597 collects chapters by brian attebery gregory frost alexander c irvine paul kincaid adam roberts gary k wolfe and others this second volume earned a protest for its lack of coverage of epic fantasy by fantasy author steven erikson in the may 2012 issue of the new york review of science fictionjames is a regular attendee at the international conference on the fantastic in the arts held each spring in florida