(The Army took David Drake from Duke Law School and sent him on a motorized tour of Viet Nam and Cambodia with the 11th Cav, the Blackhorse. He learned new skills, saw interesting sights, and met exotic people who hadn't run fast enough to get away.
Dave returned to become Chapel Hill's Assistant Town Attorney and to try to put his life back together through fiction making sense of his Army experiences.
Dave describes war from where he saw it: the loader's hatch of a tank in Cambodia. His military experience, combined with his formal education in history and Latin, has made him one of the foremost writers of realistic action SF and fantasy. His bestselling Hammer's Slammers series is credited with creating the genre of modern Military SF. He often wishes he had a less interesting background.
Dave lives with his family in rural North Carolina.
Series
Hammer's Slammers
1. Hammer's Slammers (1979)
1. The Tank Lords (omnibus) (1986)
2. Cross the Stars (1984)
3. At Any Price (1985)
3. The Butcher's Bill (omnibus) (1998)
4. Counting the Cost (1987)
5. Rolling Hot (1989)
6. The Warrior (1991)
7. The Sharp End (1993)
8. The Voyage (1994)
9. Paying the Piper (2002)
Caught in the Crossfire (omnibus) (1998)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 1 (omnibus) (2005)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 2 (omnibus) (2006)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 3 (omnibus) (2007)
At Any Price / Rolling Hot (omnibus) (2016)
Counting the Cost / The Warrior (omnibus) (2016)
1. Hammer's Slammers (1979)
1. The Tank Lords (omnibus) (1986)
2. Cross the Stars (1984)
3. At Any Price (1985)
3. The Butcher's Bill (omnibus) (1998)
4. Counting the Cost (1987)
5. Rolling Hot (1989)
6. The Warrior (1991)
7. The Sharp End (1993)
8. The Voyage (1994)
9. Paying the Piper (2002)
Caught in the Crossfire (omnibus) (1998)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 1 (omnibus) (2005)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 2 (omnibus) (2006)
The Complete Hammer's Slammers Vol. 3 (omnibus) (2007)
At Any Price / Rolling Hot (omnibus) (2016)
Counting the Cost / The Warrior (omnibus) (2016)
Northworld
1. Northworld (1990)
2. Vengeance (1991)
3. Justice (1992)
Northworld Trilogy (omnibus) (1999)
1. Northworld (1990)
2. Vengeance (1991)
3. Justice (1992)
Northworld Trilogy (omnibus) (1999)
Seas of Venus
1. Surface Action (1990)
2. The Jungle (1991)
Seas of Venus (omnibus) (2002)
Seas of Venus, Second Edition (omnibus) (2013)
1. Surface Action (1990)
2. The Jungle (1991)
Seas of Venus (omnibus) (2002)
Seas of Venus, Second Edition (omnibus) (2013)
General (Raj Whitehall)
Hope Rearmed : Books 3-4 (omnibus) (2014) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Renewed : Books 5-6 (omnibus) (2014) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Reformed (omnibus) (2014) (with Eric Flint and S M Stirling)
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)
9. The Heretic (2013) (with Tony Daniel)
Warlord (omnibus) (2003) (with S M Stirling)
The Conqueror (omnibus) (2003) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Reborn : Books 1-2 (omnibus) (2013) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Rearmed : Books 3-4 (omnibus) (2014) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Renewed : Books 5-6 (omnibus) (2014) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Reformed (omnibus) (2014) (with Eric Flint and S M Stirling)
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)
9. The Heretic (2013) (with Tony Daniel)
Warlord (omnibus) (2003) (with S M Stirling)
The Conqueror (omnibus) (2003) (with S M Stirling)
Hope Reborn : Books 1-2 (omnibus) (2013) (with S M Stirling)
Harriers (with Gordon R Dickson, Christopher Stasheff and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro)
2. Blood and War (1993)
2. Blood and War (1993)
Reaches
1. Igniting the Reaches (1994)
2. Through the Breach (1995)
3. Fireships (1996)
The Reaches (omnibus) (2004)
1. Igniting the Reaches (1994)
2. Through the Breach (1995)
3. Fireships (1996)
The Reaches (omnibus) (2004)
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)
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)
Belisarius (with Eric Flint)
1. An Oblique Approach (1998)
2. In the Heart of Darkness (1998)
3. Destiny's Shield (1999)
4. Fortune's Stroke (2000)
5. The Tide of Victory (2001)
6. The Dance of Time (2006)
1. An Oblique Approach (1998)
2. In the Heart of Darkness (1998)
3. Destiny's Shield (1999)
4. Fortune's Stroke (2000)
5. The Tide of Victory (2001)
6. The Dance of Time (2006)
Republic of Cinnabar Navy
1. With the Lightnings (1998)
2. Lt. Leary, Commanding (2000)
3. The Far Side of The Stars (2003)
4. The Way to Glory (2005)
5. Some Golden Harbor (2006)
6. When the Tide Rises (2008)
7. In the Stormy Red Sky (2009)
8. What Distant Deeps (2010)
9. The Road of Danger (2012)
10. The Sea Without a Shore (2014)
11. Death's Bright Day (2016)
12. Though Hell Should Bar the Way (2018)
1. With the Lightnings (1998)
2. Lt. Leary, Commanding (2000)
3. The Far Side of The Stars (2003)
4. The Way to Glory (2005)
5. Some Golden Harbor (2006)
6. When the Tide Rises (2008)
7. In the Stormy Red Sky (2009)
8. What Distant Deeps (2010)
9. The Road of Danger (2012)
10. The Sea Without a Shore (2014)
11. Death's Bright Day (2016)
12. Though Hell Should Bar the Way (2018)
Crown of the Isles
1. The Fortress of Glass (2006)
2. The Mirror of Worlds (2007)
3. The Gods Return (2008)
1. The Fortress of Glass (2006)
2. The Mirror of Worlds (2007)
3. The Gods Return (2008)
Belisarius Omnibus (with Eric Flint)
1. Thunder at Dawn (2008)
2. Storm at Noontide (2009)
3. The Flames of Sunset (2009)
1. Thunder at Dawn (2008)
2. Storm at Noontide (2009)
3. The Flames of Sunset (2009)
Books of the Elements
1. The Legions of Fire (2010)
2. Out of the Waters (2011)
3. Monsters of the Earth (2013)
4. Air and Darkness (2015)
1. The Legions of Fire (2010)
2. Out of the Waters (2011)
3. Monsters of the Earth (2013)
4. Air and Darkness (2015)
Novels
The Dragon Lord (1979)
The Forlorn Hope (1984)
Birds of Prey (1984)
Killer (1985) (with Karl Edward Wagner)
Active Measures (1985) (with Janet Morris)
Strangers and Lovers (1985)
Bridgehead (1986)
Lacey and His Friends (1986)
Kill Ratio (1987) (with Janet Morris)
Vettius and His Friends (1989)
Target (1989) (with Janet Morris)
The Undesired Princess and the Enchanted Bunny (1990) (with L Sprague de Camp)
The Hunter Returns (1991) (with Jim Kjelgaard)
Old Nathan (1991)
Starliner (1992)
Tyrannosaur (1994)
Enemy of My Enemy (1995) (with Ben Ohlander)
Redliners (1996)
All the Way to the Gallows (1996)
Patriots (1996)
Other Times Than Peace (2006)
Voyage Across the Stars (2012)
Dinosaurs & A Dirigible (2014)
The Spark (2017)
The Forlorn Hope (1984)
Birds of Prey (1984)
Killer (1985) (with Karl Edward Wagner)
Active Measures (1985) (with Janet Morris)
Strangers and Lovers (1985)
Bridgehead (1986)
Lacey and His Friends (1986)
Kill Ratio (1987) (with Janet Morris)
Vettius and His Friends (1989)
Target (1989) (with Janet Morris)
The Undesired Princess and the Enchanted Bunny (1990) (with L Sprague de Camp)
The Hunter Returns (1991) (with Jim Kjelgaard)
Old Nathan (1991)
Starliner (1992)
Tyrannosaur (1994)
Enemy of My Enemy (1995) (with Ben Ohlander)
Redliners (1996)
All the Way to the Gallows (1996)
Patriots (1996)
Other Times Than Peace (2006)
Voyage Across the Stars (2012)
Dinosaurs & A Dirigible (2014)
The Spark (2017)
Collections
Time Safari (1982)
From the Heart of Darkness (1983)
The Military Dimension (1991)
The Military Dimension Mark II (1995)
The Warmasters (2002) (with Eric Flint and David Weber)
Grimmer Than Hell (2003)
Mountain Magic (2004) (with Eric Flint, Henry Kuttner and Ryk E Spoor)
Balefires (2007)
Lest Darkness Fall & Related Stories (2011) (with L Sprague de Camp, Frederik Pohl and S M Stirling)
Night & Demons (2012)
From the Heart of Darkness (1983)
The Military Dimension (1991)
The Military Dimension Mark II (1995)
The Warmasters (2002) (with Eric Flint and David Weber)
Grimmer Than Hell (2003)
Mountain Magic (2004) (with Eric Flint, Henry Kuttner and Ryk E Spoor)
Balefires (2007)
Lest Darkness Fall & Related Stories (2011) (with L Sprague de Camp, Frederik Pohl and S M Stirling)
Night & Demons (2012)
Novellas
Series contributed to
Heroes in Hell
6. Masters in Hell (1987) (with C J Cherryh, Bill Kerby and Janet Morris)
11. Explorers in Hell (1989) (with Janet Morris)
6. Masters in Hell (1987) (with C J Cherryh, Bill Kerby and Janet Morris)
11. Explorers in Hell (1989) (with Janet Morris)
Crisis of Empire
1. An Honorable Defense (1988) (with Thomas T Thomas)
2. Cluster Command (1989) (with William C Dietz)
3. The War Machine (1989) (with Roger MacBride Allen)
4. Crown of Empire (1994) (with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro)
1. An Honorable Defense (1988) (with Thomas T Thomas)
2. Cluster Command (1989) (with William C Dietz)
3. The War Machine (1989) (with Roger MacBride Allen)
4. Crown of Empire (1994) (with Chelsea Quinn Yarbro)
Anthology series
Fleet (with Bill Fawcett)
1. The Fleet (1988)
2. Counterattack (1988)
3. Breakthrough (1989)
4. Sworn Allies (1990)
5. Total War (1990)
6. Crisis (1991)
1. The Fleet (1988)
2. Counterattack (1988)
3. Breakthrough (1989)
4. Sworn Allies (1990)
5. Total War (1990)
6. Crisis (1991)
Anthologies edited
A Century of Horror 1970-1979 (1987) (with Martin H Greenberg)
Space Gladiators (1989) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
A Separate Star (1989) (with Sandra Miesel)
Heads to the Storm (1989) (with Sandra Miesel)
Space Infantry (1989) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
The Eternal City (1989)
Space Dreadnoughts (1990) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
Armageddon (1998) (with Billie Sue Mosiman)
Foreign Legions (2001) (with Eric Flint and David Weber)
Dogs of War (2002)
The World Turned Upside Down (2005) (with Jim Baen and Eric Flint)
Battlestations (2011) (with Bill Fawcett)
Space Gladiators (1989) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
A Separate Star (1989) (with Sandra Miesel)
Heads to the Storm (1989) (with Sandra Miesel)
Space Infantry (1989) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
The Eternal City (1989)
Space Dreadnoughts (1990) (with Martin H Greenberg and Charles G Waugh)
Armageddon (1998) (with Billie Sue Mosiman)
Foreign Legions (2001) (with Eric Flint and David Weber)
Dogs of War (2002)
The World Turned Upside Down (2005) (with Jim Baen and Eric Flint)
Battlestations (2011) (with Bill Fawcett)
Anthologies containing stories by David Drake
Savage Heroes (1975)
The Far Reaches of Fear (1976)
Frights (1976)
Whispers (1977)
The Rivals of Dracula (1977)
Frights 2 (1979)
The Year's Best Horror Stories VII (1979)
New Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos (1980)
Machines That Kill (1984)
Mercenaries of Tomorrow (1985)
A Century of Horror 1970-1979 (1987)
Whispers VI (1987)
New Destinies, Vol. VIII (1989)
Vampires: The Greatest Stories (1991)
Horror Story Volume 3 (1991)
The Best of Whispers (1994)
Alien Pregnant by Elvis (1994)
Commando Brigade 3000 (1994)
100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories (1995)
Forever After (1995)
100 Tiny Tales of Terror (1996)
Dragons (1997)
Dangerous Vegetables (1998)
100 Twisted Little Tales of Torment (1998)
Catfantastic V (1999)
Drakas! (2000)
The Far Reaches of Fear (1976)
Frights (1976)
Whispers (1977)
The Rivals of Dracula (1977)
Frights 2 (1979)
The Year's Best Horror Stories VII (1979)
New Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos (1980)
Machines That Kill (1984)
Mercenaries of Tomorrow (1985)
A Century of Horror 1970-1979 (1987)
Whispers VI (1987)
New Destinies, Vol. VIII (1989)
Vampires: The Greatest Stories (1991)
Horror Story Volume 3 (1991)
The Best of Whispers (1994)
Alien Pregnant by Elvis (1994)
Commando Brigade 3000 (1994)
100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories (1995)
Forever After (1995)
100 Tiny Tales of Terror (1996)
Dragons (1997)
Dangerous Vegetables (1998)
100 Twisted Little Tales of Torment (1998)
Catfantastic V (1999)
Drakas! (2000)
Short stories
| The Butcher's Bill [short story] | |||
| Caught in the Crossfire [short story] | |||
| Cultural Conflict | |||
| Hangman | |||
| Standing Down | |||
| Killer [short story] (1974) (with Karl Edward Wagner) | |||
| The Shortest Way (1974) | |||
| Under the Hammer (1974) | |||
| Awakening (1975) | |||
| The Barrow Troll (1975) | World Fantasy (nominee) | ||
| But Loyal to His Own (1975) | |||
| Dragon's Teeth (1975) | |||
| Something Had to Be Done (1975) | |||
| Blood Debt (1976) | |||
| Children of the Forest (1976) | |||
| Firefight (1976) | |||
| The Hunting Ground (1976) | |||
| Smokie Joe (1977) | |||
| Best of Luck (1978) | |||
| Nemesis Place (1978) | |||
| The Red Leer (1979) | |||
| The Automatic Rifleman (1980) | |||
| Men Like Us (1980) | |||
| Than Curse the Darkness (1980) | |||
| The Dancer in the Flames (1982) | |||
| Out of Africa (1983) | |||
| The Fool (1987) | |||
| Rescue Mission (1988) | |||
| The End of the Hunt (1989) | |||
| Cannibal Plants From Heck (1994) | |||
| A Very Offensive Weapon (1995) | |||
| Dragon, the Book (1999) | |||
| The Tradesmen (2000) |
Awards
|
David Drake recommends
Cyberstealth (1989)
(Cyberstealth, book 1)
Shariann Lewitt
"Vivid glimpses of high-tech hardware, and the black paranoid universe of a military at war."
Legion of the Damned (1993)
(Legion of the Damned, book 1)
William C Dietz
"A tough, moving novel of future warfare."
The Seer King (1997)
(Seer King, book 1)
Chris Bunch
"A vast and intricate tapestry woven by a writer who knows both history and war."
The Sum of All Men (1998)
(Runelords, book 1)
David Farland
"In The Runelords David Farland has created a vivid, detailed, different world that becomes perfectly believable. The characters are real, the action fast, and the sum a brilliant and engrossing novel."
The Outlanders (1998)
(LonTobyn, book 2)
David B Coe
"The Outlanders is an unusual, excellent novel of triumph and redemption. Very well done."
A Cavern of Black Ice (1999)
(Sword of Shadows, book 1)
J V Jones
"A Cavern Of Black Ice has vivid action, real characters, and a richly detailed setting. It's a splendid achievement."
Illumination (2001)
(Eiden Myr, book 1)
Terry McGarry
"Illumination is unique, a fantasy as richly complex as the sutures of an ammonite's shell. Quite marvelous!"
Gods in Darkness (2002)
(Kane)
Karl Edward Wagner
"These are the novels that returned heroic fantasy to the vitality it had when Robert E. Howard committed suicide."
Gods of Fire and Thunder (2002)
(Books of the Gods, book 5)
Fred Saberhagen
"Fred Saberhagen again shows his remarkable talent for being exotic, exciting, and comfortable all in the same work."
Kop (2007)
(Kop, book 1)
Warren Hammond
"Kop is about as good as noir crime gets since Dashiel Hammett stopped writing. Yes I know what I just said."
Elom (2008)
William H Drinkard
"Engaging characters in a story told with the feel of a myth passed down by word of mouth."
Servant (2009)
(Dark God, book 1)
John D Brown
"A complex, powerful story of a youth trying to learn who he is and what he is, with no allies he can trust in a world stalked by a monster. A book that copies nothing I have read before and which goes its own way brilliantly."
The Desert of Souls (2011)
(Dabir and Asim, book 1)
Howard Andrew Jones
"An Arabian Nights adventure as written by Robert E Howard. It is exciting, inventive, and most of all fun."
The View from the Imperium (2011)
(Imperium , book 1)
Jody Lynn Nye
"An unusual story well-told, with characters it's a real pleasure to spend time with."
Southern Gods (2011)
John Hornor Jacobs
"Southern Gods is scary, smart, and effective both as Lovecraftian fiction and as a Southern Regional novel set in 1951."
Homeworld (2013)
(Homeworld, book 1)
Eric S Brown and Tony Faville
"A detailed, action-filled look at war's sacrifices at the sharp end and at war's pointless cynicism at the level of grand strategy."
Empire of Silence (2018)
(Sun Eater, book 1)
Christopher Ruocchio
"Empire of Silence has the sweep and political complexity of Dune (though no sandworms). It builds to a blazing climax, followed by a satisfying conclusion. I recommend the book."
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