Damien Walter
Damien Walter is a British writer, storyteller, and video essayist known for his work in science fiction. He is the host of the YouTube channel Science Fiction with Damien Walter with over 7 million views. He creates science fiction stories as The Department of Entertainment. His courses The Rhetoric of Story and Writing the 21st Century Myth have been followed by over seventy thousand students worldwide. He is currently based in Bali, Indonesia.
Some things to know:
- Former special-forces Librarian running literacy and reading projects in one of the UK’s poorest cities.
- Independent researcher in story and myth, directed the Certificate in Creative Writing at University of Leicester and guest lecturer at University of Nottingham.
- BA(hons), MA, PGCHE, HEA. Other letters now forgotten. Maybe Phd one day.
- Former columnist for The Guardian writing on science fiction, technology and culture.
- Unrepentant science fiction fan, graduate of the Clarion sci-fi writer’s workshop at UCSD, host of the Science Fiction podcast.
- Accidental Buddhist who left the UK in 2013 to study meditation & never went home.
Writing and Journalism
Early success as a blogger in the late 90s led to writing for the BBC, Independent, Wired UK and many others. He wrote a regular column on science fiction for The Guardian from 2008 until 2016.
In 2008 he attended the Clarion writer’s workshop at UC San Diego. He received a writer development grant from Arts Council England in 2012.
As the Department of Entertainment he creates science fiction stories that meld traditional storytelling with film and animation.
Style and Themes
Damien’s analysis centers on science fiction as the 21st century mythos. His video essays bridge the gap between academic literary theory and fan culture. Notable works include critical analysis of philosophical themes in Ursula K. Le Guin, the utopian values of the Culture of Iain M. Banks and assessment of the “prophetic visions” of Philip K Dick. His critical and creative writing includes diverse philosophical influences from Marx to Nietzsche.
Teaching and Academic Career
Damien holds a BA (hons) in Media and Theatre from De Montfort University, Leicester and an MA Contemporary Arts from Nottingham Trent.
He served as Director of the Certificate in Creative Writing at the University of Leicester from 2011 to 2013.
After 2013 his teaching practice moved online. His first major course The Rhetoric of Story has reached over 50k students worldwide.
Literary Advocacy and Activism
After arriving in Leicester, UK in the late 1990s as a student, Damien began teaching writing workshops in local libraries, and helped found the Fat House performance art collective.
From 2003 to 2009 he served as the Literature Development Officer for Leicester, organising the Everybody’s Reading citywide festival and the Book of the Year Award in local schools.
Damien has worked as a fundraiser for Amnesty International and Friends of the Earth, and supported marches against the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars, and the Occupy London protests.
Personal Life
Damien Walter grew up on housing estates around the commuter belt of London. Damien has stated that his upbringing in a single-parent household and early experiences with economic stigmatization informed his belief in a politics of emancipation and his interest in the liberatory potential of science fiction.
Damien left the UK in 2013 and lived for some years as a digital nomad, travelling in Asia while studying Buddhism and meditation. He has lived in Bali, Indonesia since 2019.
He is a third generation scifi fan, inheriting his grandfather’s passion for Jules Verne and his mothers love of Tolkien.
Damien Walter 