Dave Duncan (writer)

Not to be confused with David Duncan, the American screenwriter and science fiction novelist. For others of similar name, see David Duncan.

David John Duncan (born 30 June 1933) is an award-winning Scottish Canadian fantasy and science fiction author.

Biography

Duncan was born in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland^[1] and was educated at the High School of Dundee^[2] before studying geology at the University of St Andrews.^[3] After graduating in 1955, Duncan moved to Calgary, Alberta, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1960.^[4] He pursued a career as a geologist in the petroleum industry for nearly three decades before he started writing science fiction and fantasy novels. He made his first sale (A Rose Red City) two years later in 1986 at the age of 53, just two weeks after his 31 year career as a geologist came to an end due to a slump in the oil business, at which point he switched to full-time writing.^[3][5]

Duncan currently lives on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia. He has been married since 1959 to his wife, Janet, and has one son, two daughters, and four grandchildren. He has one brother, Michael, who is a retired agriculturist.^[2]

Writing career

Duncan is known to be a prolific writer and has penned over fifty books.^[6][7] His sixth book, West of January, won the 1990 Aurora award, an award he would win again in 2007 for Children of Chaos.^[8][9] He is a member of SF Canada^[10] and in 2015 he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.^[11][12]

Although Duncan usually writes under his own name, he has also used the pseudonyms Ken Hood and Sarah B. Franklin.

Bibliography

The Seventh Sword

A dying young man named Wally Smith is transferred from Earth into the body of a master swordsman in a technologically backward world by its gods for their own purposes.

1. The Reluctant Swordsman (1988), ISBN 0-345-35291-2
2. The Coming of Wisdom (1988), ISBN 0-345-35292-0
3. The Destiny of the Sword (1988), ISBN 0-345-35293-9
4. The Death of Nnanji (April 2012), ISBN 1-61756-778-7

Pandemia

A Man of His Word

1. Magic Casement (1990), ISBN 0-345-36628-X
2. Faery Lands Forlorn (1991), ISBN 0-345-36629-8
3. Perilous Seas (1991), ISBN 0-345-36630-1
4. Emperor and Clown (1992), ISBN 0-345-36631-X

As mentioned in the forewords, these titles are based on an excerpt from the 1819 poem Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats

The voice I hear this passing night was heard

In ancient days by emperor and clown:

Perhaps the self-same song that found a path

Through the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home,

She stood in tears amid the alien corn;

The same that oft-times hath

Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam

Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

A Handful of Men

1. The Cutting Edge (1992), ISBN 0-345-37896-2
2. Upland Outlaws (1993), ISBN 0-345-37897-0
3. The Stricken Field (1993), ISBN 0-345-37898-9
4. The Living God (1994), ISBN 0-345-37899-7

Omar

1. The Reaver Road (1992), ISBN 0-345-37481-9
2. The Hunters' Haunt (1995), ISBN 0-345-38459-8

The Great Game

1. Past Imperative (1995), ISBN 0-380-78129-8
2. Present Tense (1996), ISBN 0-380-78130-1
3. Future Indefinite (1997), ISBN 0-380-78131-X

The Years of Longdirk

Published using the pseudonym Ken Hood:

1. Demon Sword (1995), ISBN 0-06-105410-0
2. Demon Rider (1997), ISBN 0-06-105758-4
3. Demon Knight (1998), ISBN 0-06-105759-2

The King's Blades

Tales of the King's Blades

1. The Gilded Chain (1998), ISBN 0-380-97460-6
2. Lord of the Fire Lands (1999), ISBN 0-380-97461-4
3. Sky of Swords (2000), ISBN 0-380-97462-2

Chronicles of the King's Blades

1. Paragon Lost (2002), ISBN 0-380-81835-3
2. Impossible Odds (2003), ISBN 0-380-81834-5
3. The Jaguar Knights (2004), ISBN 0-06-055511-4

The King's Daggers

A series of young adult books set in the "King's Blades" world:

1. Sir Stalwart (1999), ISBN 0-380-80098-5
2. The Crooked House (2000), ISBN 0-380-80099-3
3. Silvercloak (2001), ISBN 0-380-80100-0

Omnibus edition of all 3 is titled The Monster War, ISBN 1497627087

Dodec

1. Children of Chaos (2006), ISBN 0-7653-1483-5
2. Mother of Lies (2007), ISBN 0-7653-1484-3

Nostradamus

1. The Alchemist's Apprentice (2007), ISBN 0-441-01575-1
2. The Alchemist's Code (March 2008), ISBN 0-441-01562-X
3. The Alchemist's Pursuit (March 2009), ISBN 978-0-441-01678-5

Brothers Magnus

1. Speak to the Devil (2010), ISBN 978-0-7653-2347-7
2. When the Saints (2011), ISBN 978-0-7653-2348-4

The Starfolk

1. King of Swords (2013), ISBN 147780739X
2. Queen of Stars (2014), ISBN 1477849173

Ivor of Glenbroch

A series of young adult short stories:

1. The Runner and the Wizard (2013), ISBN 1927400392
2. The Runner and the Saint (2014), ISBN 1927400538
3. The Runner and the Kelpie (2014), ISBN 1927400651

Omnibus edition of all 3 is titled The Adventures of Ivor, ISBN 1927400899

Standalone novels

• A Rose-Red City (1987), ISBN 0-345-34098-1
• Shadow (1987), ISBN 0-345-34274-7
• West of January (1989), ISBN 0-345-35836-8
• Strings (1990), ISBN 0-345-36191-1
• Hero! (1991), ISBN 0-345-37179-8
• The Cursed (1995), ISBN 0-345-38951-4
• Daughter of Troy (1998), (as Sarah B. Franklin), ISBN 0-380-79353-9
• Ill Met in the Arena (August 2008), ISBN 0-7653-1687-0
• Pock's World (October 2010), ISBN 1894063473
• Against the Light (January 2012), ISBN 1612182038
• Wildcatter (August 2012), ISBN 1894063902
• The Eye of Strife (April 2015), ISBN 1927400791
• Irona 700 (August 2015), ISBN 1504002180
• Eocene Station (forthcoming, July 2016)^[13]
• Portal of 1000 Worlds (forthcoming, 2016)^[14]

References

External links

• Dave Duncan at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Dave Duncan's Official Website