David A. Drake (September 24, 1945 – December 10, 2023) was an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran, he worked as a lawyer before becoming a writer in the military science fiction genre.
David Drake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 24, 1945 Dubuque, Iowa, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 2023 (aged 78) Silk Hope, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Language | English |
| Alma mater | |
| Genre | Science fiction, fantasy |
| Notable works | Hammer's Slammers, RCN Series |
| Website | |
| david-drake | |
Biography
editDrake graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa, majoring in history (with honors) and Latin. His studies at Duke University School of Law were interrupted for two years when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as an enlisted interrogator with the 11th Armored Cavalry (the Black Horse Regiment) in Vietnam and Cambodia.[1][2] After the war, from 1972 to 1980 he worked as the assistant town attorney in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.[3] In 1981 he transitioned to full-time writing of science fiction literature.[3] With Karl Edward Wagner and Jim Groce, he was one of the initiators of Carcosa, a small press company.[3] He lived in Pittsboro, North Carolina.
In 2019, he announced that he may be suffering from Parkinson's disease.[4] On November 17, 2021 he announced he was retiring from writing novels, due to unspecified cognitive health problems.[5] Drake died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 78.[6]
Works
editHis best-known solo work is the Hammer's Slammers series of military science fiction.[3] His newer RCN Series was a space opera inspired by the Aubrey–Maturin novels.[7] In 1997, Drake began his largest fantasy series, Lord of the Isles, using elements of Sumerian religion and medieval technology. In 2007, Drake finished the series with its ninth volume.
Drake co-authored novels with authors such as Karl Edward Wagner, S.M. Stirling, and Eric Flint.[3] Typically Drake provided plot outlines (5,000–15,000 words) and the co-author did "the real work of developing the outline into a novel".[8] He did not "consider [his] involvement to be that of a real co-author."[8] Drake also contributed to the Heroes in Hell series.[7]
A common element in most of his works was the focus on military, in particular, lives of regular soldiers.[3] Drake's plots often use history, literature, and mythology; in his foreword to The Lord of the Isles, Drake explained that while he had an academic background in history, he regarded himself as an antiquarian rather than a historian and that this perspective informed his approach to writing.[citation needed] Starting with Northworld in 1990,[9] he generally explained the background of each book in an afterword or preface.[original research?] Additionally, Drake's plots frequently involve a contest of political systems.[citation needed]
Some of Drake's works are available for free download in the Baen Free Library.
Bibliography
editAdaptations
edit- Mayfair Games produced the licensed Hammer's Slammers board game (1984) based on David Drake's novel Hammer's Slammers.[10]: 167
- Mongoose Publishing adapted Drake's novel as the licensed setting Hammer's Slammers (2009) for the Traveller role-playing game.[10]: 401
- John Treadaway has adapted Hammer's Slammers into a wargame, of which several editions have been published.[11] The game utilizes various miniatures from companies such as Brigade Models, Old Crow Models, and Ground Zero Games.[12]
References
edit- ^ David Drake (January 2, 2018). "Hawkeye Distinguished Veteran Award".
- ^ "UI honors 6 with Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Memorial Awards". University of Iowa. November 8, 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "SFE: Drake, David A". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Drake, David (November 15, 2019). "Newsletter #112 – David Drake". Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "December 10, 2023: I'm very sad to report that Dave has peacefully passed away". david-drake.com. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Roads to the RCN Series by David Drake - Baen Books". www.baen.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Novel Plot Outlines, David Drake, May 26, 2010
- ^ Northworld, Vengeance, and Justice, David Drake, May 15, 2000
- ^ a b Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
- ^ "The Hammer's Slammers Official Website". www.hammers-slammers.com.
- ^ "Buying Detachments" (PDF). January 11, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
External links
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