David Drake

David Drake (born September 24, 1945) is a successful author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.

David Drake graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa, majoring in history (with honors) and Latin. His studies at Duke University Law school were interrupted for two years by the U.S. Army, where he served as an enlisted interrogator with the 11th Armored Cavalry in Vietnam and Cambodia. He now lives in North Carolina.

His best-known non-collaborative work is the Hammer's Slammers series of military science fiction. His newer Republic of Cinnabar Navy (RCN) series, space operas inspired by the Aubrey–Maturin novels, much more heavily on his characters and less on the military aspects.

In 1997 David Drake began his largest fantasy series, Lord of the Isles, using elements of Sumerian religion and medieval era technology. As of 2006, the series has seven books published, with two more planned to finish.

In addition to his own works, he often provides a military perspective to many collaborative writing projects, such as his contributions to the Heroes in Hell series. His co-authors include Karl Edward Wagner, Janet Morris, S.M. Stirling, and Eric Flint. With Wagner and Jim Groce, he was one of the founders of Carcosa Press.

David Drake frequently works in collaboration with other authors by providing detailed plot outlines (5,000 to 15,000 words), after which they do "the real work of developing the outline into a novel". He doesn't "consider [his] involvement to be that of a real co-author".

Drake's plots often draw heavily on his extensive knowledge of history, literature and mythology. Starting with Northworld in 1990, he has generally explained the background to each book in an afterword or preface.

Some of David Drake's works are available in the Baen Free Library.

Pseudonyms: None

Selected Bibliography
Complete Bibliography

Series

• ARC Riders
  • 1 ARC Riders (1995) with Janet Morris
  • 2 The Fourth Rome (1996) with Janet Morris

• Belisarius
  • 1 An Oblique Approach (1998) with Eric Flint
  • 2 In the Heart of Darkness (1998) with Eric Flint
  • 3 Destiny's Shield (1999) with Eric Flint
  • 4 Fortune's Stroke (2000) with Eric Flint
  • 5 The Tide of Victory (2001) with Eric Flint
  • 6 The Dance of Time (2006) with Eric Flint

• Car Warriors
  • The Square Deal (1992)

• Crisis of Empire
  • 1 An Honorable Defense (1988) with Thomas T. Thomas
  • 2 Cluster Command (1988) with William C. Dietz
  • 3 The War Machine (1989) with Roger MacBride Allen
  • 4 Crown of Empire (1994) with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

• Crown of the Isles
  • 1 The Fortress of Glass (2006)

• General
  • 1 The Forge (1991) with S. M. Stirling
  • 2 The Hammer (1992) with S. M. Stirling
  • 3 The Anvil (1993) with S. M. Stirling
  • 4 The Steel (1993) with S. M. Stirling
  • 5 The Sword (1995) with S. M. Stirling
  • 6 The Chosen (1996) with S. M. Stirling
  • 7 The Reformer (1999) with S. M. Stirling
  • 8 The Tyrant (2002) with Eric Flint

• Hammer’s Slammers
  • Caught in the Crossfire (1998) [O]
  • Paying the Piper (2002)
  • The Complete Hammer's Slammers (2005)
  • 1 Hammer's Slammers (1979)
  • 2 Cross the Stars (1984)
  • 3 At Any Price (1985)
  • 4 Counting the Cost (1987)
  • 5 Rolling Hot (1989)
  • 6 The Warrior (1991)
  • 7 The Sharp End (1993)
  • 8 The Voyage (1993)

• Lord of the Isles
  • 1 Lord of the Isles (1997)
  • 2 Queen of Demons (1998)
  • 3 Servant of the Dragon (1999)
  • 4 Mistress of the Catacombs (2001)
  • 5 Goddess of the Ice Realm (2003)
  • 6 Master of the Cauldron (2004)

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