Mike Ellis is an author about whom very limited public information is currently available; the library holds only one work by him, Willie's Planet. Reliable records of his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, and writing career are lacking, making it difficult to sketch a complete creative biography. On the basis of the existing information, this work is the main window into his writing. Judging from its title, Willie's Planet has a distinctly imaginative flavor and may tell a story centered on a character named Willie or a planet of that name, suggesting a genre closer to children's literature or fantasy. In the book Ellis appears to move the plot along in a light and entertaining manner, paying attention to character and setting so that the story gains readability and a sense of scene. Because both the number of works and the critical material are quite limited, the full range of his style and his actual influence are hard to assess; readers may begin with this work and judge its narrative appeal and imaginative bent for themselves.
