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David Drake
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{{Short description|American science fiction and fantasy author (1945–2023)}} {{Other people|David Drake}} {{Use American English|date=April 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] --> | image = David drake.jpg | imagesize = 150px| | name = David Drake | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1945|9|24}} | birth_place = [[Dubuque, Iowa]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2023|12|10|1945|9|24}} | death_place = [[Silk Hope, North Carolina]], U.S. | occupation = Author | language = English | education = | alma_mater = {{Plain list| * [[University of Iowa]] * [[Duke University School of Law]] }} | genre = [[Science fiction]], [[fantasy]] | period = | movement = | notableworks = [[Hammer's Slammers]], [[RCN Series]] | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = |<!-- [[Joel Rosenberg (science fiction author)|Joel Rosenberg]]<ref>Dedication in Rosenberg's [[Guardians of the Flame|"The Road Home"]]</ref> --> | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = {{URL|http://david-drake.com/}} }} '''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. ==Biography== Drake 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 War|Vietnam]] and [[Cambodian Civil War|Cambodia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://david-drake.com/2018/veteran-award/ |title=Hawkeye Distinguished Veteran Award |date=January 2, 2018 |author=David Drake }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://now.uiowa.edu/2017/11/ui-honors-6-hawkeye-distinguished-veterans-memorial-awards |title=UI honors 6 with Hawkeye Distinguished Veterans Memorial Awards |date=November 8, 2017 |publisher=[[University of Iowa]]}}</ref> After the war, from 1972 to 1980 he worked as the assistant town attorney in [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=SFE: Drake, David A |url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/drake_david_a |website=[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]] |access-date=2021-12-19}}</ref> In 1981 he transitioned to full-time writing of science fiction literature.<ref name=":0" /> With [[Karl Edward Wagner]] and Jim Groce, he was one of the initiators of [[Carcosa]], a small press company.<ref name=":0" /> He lived in [[Pittsboro, North Carolina]]. In 2019, he announced that he may be suffering from [[Parkinson's disease]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Drake |first=David |date=November 15, 2019 |title=Newsletter #112 – David Drake |url=https://david-drake.com/2019/newsletter-112/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |language=en-US}}</ref> On November 17, 2021 he announced he was retiring from writing novels, due to unspecified cognitive health problems.<ref name="newsletter 123">{{Cite web|url=https://david-drake.com/2021/newsletter-123-the-last-one/|title=Newsletter #123 – the last one|date=2021-11-17|access-date=2021-11-26|publisher=David Drake — Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer|last=Drake|first=Dave}}</ref> Drake died on December 10, 2023, at the age of 78.<ref>{{cite web |title=December 10, 2023: I'm very sad to report that Dave has peacefully passed away. |url=https://david-drake.com |website=david-drake.com |access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref> ==Works== His best-known solo work is the [[Hammer's Slammers]] series of military science fiction.<ref name=":0" /> His newer [[RCN Series]] was a [[space opera]] inspired by the [[Aubrey–Maturin series|Aubrey–Maturin novels]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=The Roads to the RCN Series by David Drake - Baen Books |url=https://www.baen.com/roadstorcn |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=www.baen.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1997, Drake began his largest fantasy series, ''[[Lord of the Isles (David Drake)|Lord of the Isles]]'', using elements of [[Sumer]]ian 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]].<ref name=":0" /> 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".<ref name=outlines>[http://david-drake.com/2010/plot-outlines/ Novel Plot Outlines], David Drake, May 26, 2010</ref> He did not "consider [his] involvement to be that of a real co-author."<ref name=outlines/> Drake also contributed to the ''[[Heroes in Hell]]'' series.<ref name=":1" /> A common element in most of his works was the focus on military, in particular, lives of regular soldiers.<ref name=":0" /> 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.{{Fact|date=May 2024}} Starting with ''Northworld'' in 1990,<ref>[http://david-drake.com/2000/northworld/ Northworld, Vengeance, and Justice], David Drake, May 15, 2000</ref> he generally explained the background of each book in an afterword or preface.{{Original research inline|date=May 2024}} Additionally, Drake's plots frequently involve a contest of political systems.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Some of Drake's works are available for free download in the [[Baen Free Library]]. ==Bibliography== {{main article|David Drake bibliography}} ==Adaptations== * [[Mayfair Games]] produced the licensed ''[[Hammer's Slammers (board game)|Hammer's Slammers]]'' board game (1984) based on David Drake's novel ''[[Hammer's Slammers]]''.<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline |title=Designers & Dragons |publisher=[[Mongoose Publishing]] |year=2011|isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|167}} * [[Mongoose Publishing]] adapted Drake's novel as the licensed setting ''Hammer's Slammers'' (2009) for the ''[[Traveller (role-playing game)|Traveller]]'' role-playing game.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|401}} * John Treadaway has adapted Hammer's Slammers into a [[Miniature wargaming|wargame]], of which several editions have been published.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hammers-slammers.com/|title=The Hammer's Slammers Official Website|website=www.hammers-slammers.com}}</ref> The game utilizes various miniatures from companies such as Brigade Models, Old Crow Models, and Ground Zero Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hammers-slammers.com/pdf/Buying_detachments.pdf|title=Buying Detachments|date=January 11, 2013|access-date=March 16, 2023}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|David Drake}} *[http://david-drake.com/ David Drake's web site] *{{isfdb name | id=David_Drake |name=David Drake}} *[http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/authors/David_Drake.htm David Drake at Fantastic Fiction] *[http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/drake_david_a "Drake, David A"] at ''[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'', Third Edition *[https://aspace.lib.uiowa.edu/repositories/2/resources/3225 David Drake's Papers] are housed at the University of Iowa {{World Fantasy Special Award Non-professional}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Drake, David}} [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:20th-century American novelists]] [[Category:21st-century American novelists]] [[Category:American alternate history writers]] [[Category:American fantasy writers]] [[Category:American male novelists]] [[Category:United States Army personnel of the Vietnam War]] [[Category:American science fiction writers]] [[Category:Duke University School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Military science fiction writers]] [[Category:People from Pittsboro, North Carolina]] [[Category:University of Iowa alumni]] [[Category:United States Army soldiers]] [[Category:World Fantasy Award–winning writers]] [[Category:Novelists from Iowa]] [[Category:Novelists from North Carolina]] [[Category:American male short story writers]] [[Category:20th-century American short story writers]] [[Category:21st-century American short story writers]] [[Category:20th-century American male writers]] [[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
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