Justin Allen was born in 1974 in Boise, Idaho. He graduated from Boise State University with a degree in philosophy, and from Columbia University with an MFA in fiction. Besides writing fiction, Justin is also an active dancer, having performed with such companies as Dances Patrelle, Eidolon Ballet, and Idaho Dance Theatre. In 2009, his work in writing and dance came together in the form of a new ballet, “Murder at the Masque: The Casebook of Edgar Allan Poe,” with choreography by Francis Patrelle, music by Patrick Soluri, and all based upon an original story by Justin Allen. For 2010 he has been commissioned to produce a second story for ballet, this time for Eidolon Ballet, to be called “The Beatitudes,” which will be choreographed by Melanie Cortier. Justin’s wife is a social worker. Learn more at 
Slaves of the Shinar by Justin Allen
This is the debut novel for Justin Allen, and its whole title is Slaves of the Shinar: An Epic Fantasy of the Ancient World. The title is misleading, because I am of the solid opinion that this book is not fantasy, but is rather historical fiction, and pretty good historical fiction at that. Perhaps it is classed as fantasy by the publisher because of the creative manner in which Allen sets his story in very early (I assume pre-Hammurabi) Mesopotamia, at the pre-dawn of civilization.
It is an interesting story of people uniting against a common foe, but by being set in an ancient, bronze age (probably copper age, actually) era, it is very different from what most fantasy fare offers.
I usually read the typical medieval fantasy, and this was a really nice change. However, I believe it should be marketed as an historical novel, not a fantasy. The only fantastic e... Read More
