Author Archives: admin
Newsletter #59
Dear People, Just as I predicted in Newsletter 58, I’m completely wrung out. Most of that is connected with the one major thing in this newsletter: I completed OUT OF THE WATERS, the second (of four) fantasies in my new … Continue reading
Loose Cannon
In 2011, Baen Books reprinted the paired Tom Kelly thrillers (SKYRIPPER and FORTRESS) as an omnitrade under the combined title LOOSE CANNON . The mass market paperback is due out August 2012. Tom Doherty really liked Tom Kelly; I didn’t, … Continue reading
Out of the Waters
Out of the Waters is the second in the Books of the Elements fantasy series from Tor. AUTHOR’S NOTE Out of the Waters is set in a fictional city named Carce (pronounced CAR-see). Things occur in this novel and in … Continue reading
Newsletter #58
Dear People, I’m completely wrung out, but I’m going to be even more exhausted soon. I finished the rough draft of OUT OF THE WATERS, the second fantasy in the new Tor series at 154,384 words and have just completed … Continue reading
Newsletter #57
Dear People, The most exciting news this time has very little to do with me. I am therefore turning the stage over to my webmaster, Karen Zimmerman: The new web site is up at http://david-drake.com. Our very simple original web … Continue reading
Finding Dave’s Books
Some links to places you can find Dave’s books: Baen Books Authorized electronic versions through BaenEBooks.com Tor-Forge at Macmillan Night Shade Books Audible.com AudiobookStand.com Amazon Kindle Store AddALL.com In Print Book Search AddALL.com Used and Out of Print Search
Do you use a computer for your work?
I’ve been composing on a computer since 1986, when IBM came out with its first laptop. From 1981 I was using a dedicated word-processor for second and third drafts, but I was composing with a pencil on legal pad. (Many … Continue reading
Has there been any gaming interests in your books?
Yes, in several fashions. Mayfair Games brought out a Hammer’s Slammers board game back in the ’80s. Intracorps licensed electronic game rights to Hammer’s Slammers in the mid ’90s. They got seriously into development, but they were overextended and went … Continue reading
Have any movies been made from your books?
Years ago I had a few TV options on short stories, none of which were ever picked up. While I would be delighted to have somebody buy the right to make a movie from my fiction, I’ve never made it … Continue reading
Why are so many of your despicable characters named “Platt?”
There’s a person named Charles Platt who’s lived in the US for many years but who has all the attributes that go into the term ‘Chinless Wonder’ for the British upper classes. (His uncle was in the House of Lords.) … Continue reading
Will you ever write more books in the Northworld Series?
Probably not. I’m proud of the existing trilogy; in some ways they’re my best and most subtly complex books (observe, for example, the way in Vengeance and Justice that words are echoed either from the end of a section to … Continue reading
What’s the connection between the novella A Grand Tour and the RCN series?
Dave Weber asked me for a novella for his first shared universe anthology set in the Honor Harrington universe (Worlds of Honor). I’d been thinking of doing a series of space operas based on Patrick O’Brian’s Aubrey/Maturin series, so I … Continue reading
What advice do you have for a beginning writer?
I sold my first story when I was an undergraduate. I’d always liked to tell stories; in high school I started writing them down, and at age 19 I started submitting them. I think it’s necessary for a successful writer … Continue reading
What’s the relationship between Joachim Steuben of the Hammer series and Johann Vierziger?
Vierziger is named in a manner of speaking after the Mifune character in Sanjuro where he takes an obvious alias from the chrysanthemum trees growing in the garden. My intent was to do something that had no obvious natural explanation … Continue reading
Are you going to write more Hammer stories?
I’ll probably do more, but I don’t have current plans.
Is the painting the way you envisage your character/tank/ship?
This time the short answer is, it doesn’t matter. The cover does not illustrate my book, it advertises my book. A good cover sells the book to people who will like the book. A bad cover either doesn’t sell the … Continue reading
What say do you have in your cover art?
I’m frequently asked what control I have over cover art. The short answer is, all I want. There’s nothing about cover control written into my contracts, but I’m on terms of friendship with both my publishers. If I said, ‘I … Continue reading
Who do I contact about sub-rights to Dave’s work?
My literary agent, Kay McCauley, at kaymcc25@aol.com should get the initial query. She will redirect it if and as required.
Novel Plot Outlines
Updated February 2014 Dave wrote detailed plot outlines (5,000-15,000 words) plots for other writers to develop into novels. As Dave says, “They did the real work of developing the outline into a novel. I don’t consider my involvement to be … Continue reading
Essays
Essays and Miscellaneous Writings updated March 2015 “Accidentally and By the Back Door” The New York Review of Science Fiction, 2004. 17:3(195): p. 17-18. ——— The Complete Hammer’s Slammers v.1. 2006, San Francisco CA: Night Shade Books. ——— The Complete … Continue reading
Books Edited by Dave
Armageddon. D. Drake, B. S. Mosiman and M. H. Greenberg, eds. 1998, Baen. Battlestation Book One. D. Drake and B. Fawcett, eds. Battlestation Series. 1992, Ace. ——— reprinted in Battlestations. D. Drake and B. Fawcett, eds. 2011, Prime Books. Battlestation: … Continue reading
Hammer’s Slammers Wargaming Handbooks
Hammer’s Slammers Handbooks In 2010 Pireme Publishing launched the definitive guide to wargaming the characters and actions in David Drake’s Hammer’s Slammers books. Hammer’s Slammers – The Crucible contains: • A unique Slammers story introduction by David Drake • Character … Continue reading
Text Interviews
Text interviews: 10 Questions with Legendary Science Fiction Writer David Drake posted by Ryan Schneider on his blog, May 28, 2013. The Enquiring Hitchhiker Interviews Author David Drake posted by Jonathan David Baird at The Freehold, October 11, 2012. A … Continue reading
The Motorcycle Way to Complex Plotting
Written for the Tor/Forge May 2010 Newsletter THE MOTORCYCLE WAY TO COMPLEX PLOTTING Writers use various tools in their work. One of my tools is my motorcycle. Well, plural: my motorcycles. Bikers learn quickly that if they expect to … Continue reading
Podcast Interviews
Podcast interviews: Baen Free Radio Hour Podcast Series: Each interviewer has a thrust of his own, so these interviews aren’t auditory cookie-cutter productions, exactly…. The Baen Free Radio Hour Podcast : Dave reads a Martial poem. (Begins about 42:54.) May … Continue reading
A Belated Thank-You
Dave’s Introduction to a volume of August Derleth short stories titled That is Not Dead: Black Magic and Occult Stories, volume 3 of 4 being produced by The August Derleth Society in conjunction with Arkham House Publishers, February 2009. A … Continue reading
The Forgotten Planet
Written August 2009 for posting at SF Signal’s web page MIND MELD: Books That Hold Special Places in Our Hearts and On Our Shelves THE FORGOTTEN PLANET When I was 13 in 1958, I was enrolled in the Teen-Age Bookclub … Continue reading
The Fortress of Glass
My friend Mark Van Name is, among other things, a business consultant. After I sold the final trilogy in the Isles Series to Tor but before I started work on the three books, he asked me if I would like … Continue reading
The Complete Hammer’s Slammers – Volume 2
This volume features the first four Hammer Novels: At Any Price (1985), Counting the Cost (1987), Rolling Hot (1989) and The Warrior (1991) as well as new artwork and new interstitial material. Volume 2 also features an Introduction by David … Continue reading
The Warrior
The Warrior. Hammer’s Slammers Series. 1991, Riverdale, NY: Baen. 275 p. 0671720589 (pb). $4.95 ——— with Counting the Cost (audiobook), Audible.com, 2011 includes two pieces: “The Warrior” also available in: ————– Caught in the Crossfire. 1998, Riverdale, NY: Baen ————– … Continue reading
Counting the Cost
Counting the Cost. Hammer’s Slammers Series. 1987, Riverdale, NY: Baen. 267 p. 0671653555. $3.50. Also available in: ————– Caught in the Crossfire. 1998, Riverdale, NY: Baen. ————– The Complete Hammer’s Slammers, v.2. 2006, San Francisco, CA: Night Shade Books. ————– … Continue reading
At Any Price
1985, Riverdale, NY: Baen. 0-671-55978-8 ——- with Rolling Hot (audiobook), Audible.com, 2011 Contains three short pieces: “At Any Price” also available in: ————– The Butcher’s Bill. 1998, Riverdale, NY: Baen. ————– The Complete Hammer’s Slammers, v.2. 2006, San Francisco, CA: Night … Continue reading
Cross the Stars
AFTERWORD: WHERE I GET MY IDEAS If you decide to write about far-famed Achilles, make him active, hot-tempered, inexorable, and fierce; let him deny that laws were made for him, let him think his sword rules all. –Horace, The Art … Continue reading
Manly Wade Wellman
On March 17, 1970, I met Manly for the first time, in his writing office above a drugstore in the center of Chapel Hill. According to my journal for the day: Talked to Mr. Wellman (“My parents wrote my great-uncle … Continue reading
The Books of the Elements
updated 30 April 2014 The Books of the Elements are a series of four fantasy novels set in a city and empire named Carce, which very similar to that of Rome in 30 ad. I wanted to create a setting … Continue reading
How complete are your plots?
How complete do you make the plot of a story before you write it? I do very heavy plots. I usually have at least 10% of the story/novel wordage in the plot. Here’s an example: the plot for The Far … Continue reading
Do you plot sequentially?
Do you write sequentially, from beginning of the plot to the end? I do plots beginning to end, and I do very long plots, but there’s not a right way.
How do you write your drafts?
How do you go about writing your drafts? I work on a notebook computer outside, then edit the hardcopy and go through at least three drafts.
How many stories are you working on at any one time?
At any one time, how many stories are you working on? I work on one thing at a time. Other people like multiple jobs, but for me I concentrate very heavily and I get crazy when I’m taken off it.
What novel have you enjoyed writing the most?
What novel have you personally enjoyed the most writing? Once I apparently answered this question, ‘Northworld.’ I can’t imagine why I did that, because I was so stressed while writing Northworld that I was having back spasms that made it … Continue reading
What genre do you feel is your best to write in?
Which genre do you feel is your best to write in? Best is tricky. I don’t know really. I can do some things in the military that others who’ve had different lives can’t, but I personally think some of the … Continue reading