Crime novelist Ian Rankin has a new incarnation of his best-selling middle-aged detective Rebus in a prequel TV series with a hunkier lead casting of a younger version in Outlander actor Richard Rankin.
Ian Rankin is now the most widely-read crime novelist in the UK, as well as having his novels translated into many languages.
His chart does standout with an Earth Grand Trine formed into a Neptunian kite and a Uranian yod.
He was born 28 April 1960 10.30 pm Kirkcaldy, Scotland, and started writing early from aged 12, constructing an alternate universe for himself as a way of escaping the Presbyterian constraints of a “claustrophobic small town”. He flunked accountancy, later baled out of a PhD, and on the way to becoming a full-time novelist worked as a grape picker, swineherd, taxman, alcohol researcher, hi-fi journalist, college secretary and punk musician. His first novel was published in his mid twenties, but it was his late thirties before he had his first best seller.
He has a Taurus Sun in a confident trine to Jupiter and Pluto, with Neptune opposing – not short of drive or creative talent. He also has Saturn in Capricorn sextile Mars in Pisces inconjunct Uranus making him independent-minded, determined on his own path, a trailblazer and a catalyst – as he moved crime fiction into a genre demanding respect.
His early novels came out while Saturn was moving through his lower profile First Quadrant though his Solar Arc Mars was trine his Uranus giving his yod a nudge onto the right track. Towards the end of the 1990s when success came tr Jupiter was opposition his Uranus and conjunct his SA Saturn giving his yod a Jupiterian boost. And by the time of his first TV series in 2000 his Solar Arc Uranus had moved to conjunct his Midheaven.
A similar astrological pattern has propelled spy novelist Mick Herron through early setbacks to success with his Slow Horses series, now a tv series. His hero, like Rankin’s, is a shambolic character, who makes an unlikely protagonist. Herron, born 11 July 1963, Newcastle, no birth time.
He also has a Grand Trine, possibly formed into a Kite with two yods in his chart. A Sun Cancer trine Neptune probably trine a Pisces Moon, he has his Moon maybe opposition Mars in Virgo. He has two yods of Sun sextile Mars inconjunct Saturn and Jupiter in Aries sextile Saturn inconjunct Mars.
Like Rankin he kept writing through early setbacks and even his first Slow Horses novel did not excite the UK publisher enough to agree to his second. If his US publisher had not accepted it, the series may never have taken flight.
His Solar Arc Uranus was pulling on his Jupiter on one leg of his Martian yod when he started to attract attention.
Maybe both having yods attracted them to main characters who were talented misfits.
I am always fascinated by individuals with an internal forward gear that propels them onwards through setbacks. Do they have a vision of future success which keeps them going?
I adore Mary Oliver.
I am interested to note that Ian Rankin and my daughter were born within a few hours of each other. Their lives are not alike but they have in common the attitude of ‘just keep going’.
That’s interesting Maggie, I wonder if their stationary Saturn in mid Capricorn plays a role? Seems quite powerful.
I know someone who is a similar vintage to Mick Herron, Tracey Emim etc. Severely dyslexic, lost both parents young, left school with no qualifications – decided to be an academic in a field of medical science in his 30s and did. Also wrote a book and several achievements in sport. Out of bounds Mercury just does it anyway. Herron’s, also OOB, is opposite fixed star Vega that favours writers, poets and musicians. Oddly enough I’m thinking of Dolly Parton also out of bounds mercury, conjunct Vega, highly successful against the initial odds.
I don’t think these people are fated to be successful, but there is something that makes them believe that they can break through and keeps them trying
I am always fascinated by individuals with an internal forward gear that propels them onwards through setbacks. Do they have a vision of future success which keeps them going?
That, and also by those people who take risks. You quoted that person a few days ago who said she’d take more if she were to do it all again. (I think it was a she.) Easier said than done, and it’s always inspiring and uplifting seeing people go for what they want and take chances.
No wonder, then, that the ancient peoples had gods and goddesses of luck, who were often blind, and who favoured the brave.
And I can’t find that quote about taking more risks.
“If I had my life to live over, I’d dare to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax, I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I’m one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.”
― Nadine Stair
And quite a few of Mary Oliver’s poems echo the same theme.