Jerry Eugene Pournelle
pen names: Wade Curtis (early works).
born Shreveport, Louisiana: 7 August 1933
died Studio City, California: 8 September 2017
Jerry Pournelle was an American author of hard science fiction, a scientist in the area of operations research and human factors research, an essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers.
His first books included a non-fiction title and two non-SF novels.
His debut SF story, Peace with Honor (1971) in Analog, began his CoDominium series, for which he is probably best known, and which features the military strategist protagonist Falkenberg and his mercenary force, Falkenberg's Legion.
Pournelle's work often features strong military themes. These earlier CoDominium stories concern the joining together of American and Soviet interests in the conquering of space. There are several fixup novels with additional material such as Mercenaries (1989), some novels in collaboration with S.M. Stirling such as Go Tell the Spartans (1991) and Prince of Sparta (1993).
A notable story, A Spaceship for the King (December 1971-February 1972) in Analog, and King David's Spaceship (1981) in book form, is set during the birth of a Second Empire, long after the rise and fall of a First Empire of Man.
His Laurie Jo Hansen series is also set in this Second Empire, and comprises of the High Justice (1977) collection of linked stories, and Exiles to Glory (1978).
The series climax, The Mote in God’s Eye (1974) (co-authored with Larry Niven) is a first contact story set during the Second Empire. A sequel, The Gripping Hand (1993) followed.
He is also known for his Janissaries series, beginning with Janissaries (1979), however following The Mote in God’s Eye, he began collaborating more closely with Larry Niven, and together they produced Inferno (1976); a sequel, Escape from Hell (1977); Oath of Fealty (1981); and Footfall (1985).
He also co-wrote the Heorot series, beginning with The Legacy of Heorot (1987) with Larry Niven and Steven Barnes.
He is another author who has frequently appeared as an answer to a query in our SFF Chronicles Book Search forum.
A list of his works is to be found here: Summary Bibliography: Jerry Pournelle
SFF Chronicles CoDominium Reading-Order: Jerry Pournelle's CoDominium Reading-Order Flowchart.
Wikipedia page: Jerry Pournelle - Wikipedia
pen names: Wade Curtis (early works).
born Shreveport, Louisiana: 7 August 1933
died Studio City, California: 8 September 2017
Jerry Pournelle was an American author of hard science fiction, a scientist in the area of operations research and human factors research, an essayist, journalist, and one of the first bloggers.
His first books included a non-fiction title and two non-SF novels.
His debut SF story, Peace with Honor (1971) in Analog, began his CoDominium series, for which he is probably best known, and which features the military strategist protagonist Falkenberg and his mercenary force, Falkenberg's Legion.
Pournelle's work often features strong military themes. These earlier CoDominium stories concern the joining together of American and Soviet interests in the conquering of space. There are several fixup novels with additional material such as Mercenaries (1989), some novels in collaboration with S.M. Stirling such as Go Tell the Spartans (1991) and Prince of Sparta (1993).
A notable story, A Spaceship for the King (December 1971-February 1972) in Analog, and King David's Spaceship (1981) in book form, is set during the birth of a Second Empire, long after the rise and fall of a First Empire of Man.
His Laurie Jo Hansen series is also set in this Second Empire, and comprises of the High Justice (1977) collection of linked stories, and Exiles to Glory (1978).
The series climax, The Mote in God’s Eye (1974) (co-authored with Larry Niven) is a first contact story set during the Second Empire. A sequel, The Gripping Hand (1993) followed.
He is also known for his Janissaries series, beginning with Janissaries (1979), however following The Mote in God’s Eye, he began collaborating more closely with Larry Niven, and together they produced Inferno (1976); a sequel, Escape from Hell (1977); Oath of Fealty (1981); and Footfall (1985).
He also co-wrote the Heorot series, beginning with The Legacy of Heorot (1987) with Larry Niven and Steven Barnes.
He is another author who has frequently appeared as an answer to a query in our SFF Chronicles Book Search forum.
A list of his works is to be found here: Summary Bibliography: Jerry Pournelle
SFF Chronicles CoDominium Reading-Order: Jerry Pournelle's CoDominium Reading-Order Flowchart.
Wikipedia page: Jerry Pournelle - Wikipedia
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