Peter Barrett, writing under the pen name Beraud Rock, was born and raised on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean. He grew up immersed in books rather than screens, discovering science fiction, evolutionary science, history, and comics long before encountering television at age eleven.

His fascination with the natural world deepened through photography, where examining insects at close range revealed unexpected complexity, beauty, and design — an experience that continues to shape his writing. He is equally interested in the human animal: our capacity for cooperation and cruelty, the structures we build, and how societies adapt under pressure.

Peter’s fiction explores themes of artificial intelligence, sentience, evolution, survival, and problem-solving, often set against alien environments that challenge human assumptions. His work blends speculative science with psychological and ethical questions about humanity’s future.

He holds two university degrees and has worked across diverse fields, including hospitality, photographic technology, and ophthalmics. When not writing, he spends time with his partner, his chickens, wildlife, and growing his own food.