Favorite Gun Fiction Authors?
- Thread starter jAK-47
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Jason Demond
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Lee Child, just put out is eighth Reacher book called, The Enemy. I just finished it the other night, and it was good. He is the only Brit author I can stand.
Nightcrawler
Member
*blush*
Come on, guys, I'm a rank amateur...
Thanks, though.
Come on, guys, I'm a rank amateur...
Thanks, though.
Locke
Member
Hey, it just asked for Favorite Gun Fiction Authors: it didn't specify that you had to be a pro. I cannot tell a lie, it's Nightcrawler.
Ryan
Ryan
Kamicosmos
Member
Joel Rosenberg, the same writer of The Guardians of the Flame series?
And he posts here occasionally? Wow!!! Those books are still sitting on my shelves next to the Dragonlance books I read around the same time in Jr High in the Mid-80's. Both series were (and continue to be) very inflential in my life, and both have been read probably a dozen times.
Um, otherwise, pretty much all have been mentioned here, although I haven't read any Koontz yet. Will pick a couple up next time I'm at one of the Big Uber BookMalls, err Stores...
And he posts here occasionally? Wow!!! Those books are still sitting on my shelves next to the Dragonlance books I read around the same time in Jr High in the Mid-80's. Both series were (and continue to be) very inflential in my life, and both have been read probably a dozen times.
Um, otherwise, pretty much all have been mentioned here, although I haven't read any Koontz yet. Will pick a couple up next time I'm at one of the Big Uber BookMalls, err Stores...
James Bondrock
Member
I remember those! The .460 Weatherby Magnum (can you imagine the recoil from that thing held in a rigid position?) you mention was his second long range rifle. His first was a Marlin .444 lever action. How far would you have to hold over a target at 800 yards? Fifty feet? Maybe he had a spotter on the other end.
Crownvicman
Member
Harry Turtledove. Read "Guns of the South" and the "Worldwar" series.
grendelbane
Member
In the case of science fiction I think that you can add two more names, one old, and one new.
The old would of course be doc smith
The new would be S. M. Stirling.
In his Draka novels he presents a clear time-line of firearms development in his alternate Draka universe. Not surprisingly, the Draka are a little bit ahead of us.
Braggin' rights to the first person who can post the alpha-numeric designation of "Uncle Tom's carbine".
The old would of course be doc smith
The new would be S. M. Stirling.
In his Draka novels he presents a clear time-line of firearms development in his alternate Draka universe. Not surprisingly, the Draka are a little bit ahead of us.
Braggin' rights to the first person who can post the alpha-numeric designation of "Uncle Tom's carbine".
Hypnogator
Member
Guess I'm showing my age, but one of the best, most gun-knowledgeable SF writers ever was H. Beam Piper. His novel, "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen" shows extensive knowledge of both firearms and military history.
My current favorite is David Drake.
My current favorite is David Drake.
I'm an S.M. Sterling fan as well, one of those O'Dwyer VLEs, among other fun gun related commentary, appears in his latest.
John D. MacDonald is also great, although there's one where Travis McGee vents some anti-handgun feelings.
Being into wierd stuff, I'd also have to nominate E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth books; in the latest (second) book the hero packs a PPD-40, and there are interesting ideas about how alien cultures would approach smallarms design. Mostly he dosen't get so specific, but it's pretty great action/sci-fi adventure.
The whole Executioner series, and anything else in the Gold Eagle imprint, (Able Team, Pheonix Force, Deathlands, etc, etc...) are pretty lousy, but are decent airplane time killers. Gold Eagle turns them out like Nike makes sneakers. Jerry Ahern was better, IMHO, because in the gun magazine columns he used to write you could see pictures of him shooting a Detonics .45 in each hand... research?
Freehold, which I want to say is by Michael Williamson, is another one that's popped up on the boards which I enjoyed very much.
Koontz has mostly good reads, although Phantoms tried my patience.
John D. MacDonald is also great, although there's one where Travis McGee vents some anti-handgun feelings.
Being into wierd stuff, I'd also have to nominate E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth books; in the latest (second) book the hero packs a PPD-40, and there are interesting ideas about how alien cultures would approach smallarms design. Mostly he dosen't get so specific, but it's pretty great action/sci-fi adventure.
The whole Executioner series, and anything else in the Gold Eagle imprint, (Able Team, Pheonix Force, Deathlands, etc, etc...) are pretty lousy, but are decent airplane time killers. Gold Eagle turns them out like Nike makes sneakers. Jerry Ahern was better, IMHO, because in the gun magazine columns he used to write you could see pictures of him shooting a Detonics .45 in each hand... research?
Freehold, which I want to say is by Michael Williamson, is another one that's popped up on the boards which I enjoyed very much.
Koontz has mostly good reads, although Phantoms tried my patience.
How about going back to one of the original Authors of gun fiction,Zane Grey, he helpped start it. Kind of like him because he lived in our town of Delphos,Ohio for a while before he had to move to the west for health reasons,and started his writting. He and his brother also played in the towns baseball league while they were here.
fish2xs
Member
Dick Marcinko
I'm surprised nobody mentioned him yet. His earlier stuff
is the best, but I'll read any of the 'Rouge Warrior' series.
I'm surprised nobody mentioned him yet. His earlier stuff
is the best, but I'll read any of the 'Rouge Warrior' series.
HankB
Member
What about A. E. Van Vogt? His novels "The Weapon Shops of Isher" and the sequel, "The Weapon Makers" are both science fiction classics of a bygone era. I love the motto of The Weapon Shops: "The Right to Buy Guns is the Right to be Free."
Kudos to L. Neil Smith, as well, for his "Probability Broach" books. (Which way to the NAC? )
Gordon R. Dickson, though not a "gun fiction" writer, clearly thought about the topic a bit. His soldiers were armed with things like "spring guns" which didn't have a lot of electronic doo dads, since the enemy could home in on the electronics and do nasty things. Spring guns were too simple to mess with remotely.
Kudos to L. Neil Smith, as well, for his "Probability Broach" books. (Which way to the NAC?
)Gordon R. Dickson, though not a "gun fiction" writer, clearly thought about the topic a bit. His soldiers were armed with things like "spring guns" which didn't have a lot of electronic doo dads, since the enemy could home in on the electronics and do nasty things. Spring guns were too simple to mess with remotely.
Frank Exchange Of Views
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I enjoy reading S.M. Stirling myself - his attention to detail is impressive, though sometimes I get the impression of really good research as opposed to "hands-on."
Even more interesting is that in two of his series and two standalone novels he really falls out on the collective/militia service side of the Second Amendment argument.
In Stone Dogs, his American (Alliance for Democracy) infiltrators into the Domination of the Draka talk about how anybody could own handguns, military-style rifles, etc. before the war – character even cites the “right-to-bear-arms†clause of the Constitution – though apparently by the time of the story only reservist keep “sealed†weapons at home and there are “hunting clubs.â€
In Island on the Seas of Time – modern day Nantucket gets blown into 1250 B.C.- the “Nantucketers†actually address the Second Amendment as they attempt to rebuild a mini-American Republic. This one is pretty explicit, the “citizens†are disarmed of their modern firearms (kept in the island armory) while being reissued their militia crossbows.
The Peshawar Lancers is likewise pretty explicit when we learn that only the police or military have weapons in the cities.
Finally, in Conquistador the crosstiming “pirate kingdom†allows its people to have rifles of WWII/Garand level while keeping the late-tech HK G36’s for its “gate patrol.â€
Now, I will be the first to admit I have no idea what Stirling really believes here – Niven’s Law springs to mind – so I will continue to read his stuff in the future if it looks interesting.
Even more interesting is that in two of his series and two standalone novels he really falls out on the collective/militia service side of the Second Amendment argument.
In Stone Dogs, his American (Alliance for Democracy) infiltrators into the Domination of the Draka talk about how anybody could own handguns, military-style rifles, etc. before the war – character even cites the “right-to-bear-arms†clause of the Constitution – though apparently by the time of the story only reservist keep “sealed†weapons at home and there are “hunting clubs.â€
In Island on the Seas of Time – modern day Nantucket gets blown into 1250 B.C.- the “Nantucketers†actually address the Second Amendment as they attempt to rebuild a mini-American Republic. This one is pretty explicit, the “citizens†are disarmed of their modern firearms (kept in the island armory) while being reissued their militia crossbows.
The Peshawar Lancers is likewise pretty explicit when we learn that only the police or military have weapons in the cities.
Finally, in Conquistador the crosstiming “pirate kingdom†allows its people to have rifles of WWII/Garand level while keeping the late-tech HK G36’s for its “gate patrol.â€
Now, I will be the first to admit I have no idea what Stirling really believes here – Niven’s Law springs to mind – so I will continue to read his stuff in the future if it looks interesting.
jAK-47
Member
the “citizens†(OF NANTUCKET) are disarmed of their modern firearms (kept in the island armory) while being reissued their militia crossbows.
I thought Klinton vacationed on Martha's Vineyard! Man I'll never forget Ted Kennedy's famous word's when they were looking at the sonar while attempting to find John Jr's plane. Flabby Teddy said, "There's my car!!"
I'm reading Koontz's new one, "Odd Thomas" but the hero hates guns. I can't wait to start Sanford's "Rules of Prey".
jAK-47
I thought Klinton vacationed on Martha's Vineyard!
Man I'll never forget Ted Kennedy's famous word's when they were looking at the sonar while attempting to find John Jr's plane. Flabby Teddy said, "There's my car!!" I'm reading Koontz's new one, "Odd Thomas" but the hero hates guns. I can't wait to start Sanford's "Rules of Prey".
jAK-47
Crownvicman
Member
"Finally, in Conquistador the crosstiming “pirate kingdom†allows its people to have rifles of WWII/Garand level while keeping the late-tech HK G36’s for its “gate patrol.â€"
I kind of interperted that as the Gate Security people needing weapons like their enemies so they would not be made. And weren't the Garands more along the lines of M-14s of Beretta BM59s? And remember, the people were allowed to walk around armed in New Virginia.
I kind of interperted that as the Gate Security people needing weapons like their enemies so they would not be made. And weren't the Garands more along the lines of M-14s of Beretta BM59s? And remember, the people were allowed to walk around armed in New Virginia.
Kingknives
Member
If you go to read Stephen Hunter's novels, it helps to know that....
Point of Impact
Dirty White Boys
and Black Light
...are meant to be read as a trilogy. The last book ties the first two books together. So if you read "Black Light" before reading the other two it may not be as enjoyable.
And yes, Stephen Hunter is hands down the best gun novelist by far.
Point of Impact
Dirty White Boys
and Black Light
...are meant to be read as a trilogy. The last book ties the first two books together. So if you read "Black Light" before reading the other two it may not be as enjoyable.
And yes, Stephen Hunter is hands down the best gun novelist by far.
mack69
Member
Re:
There is a book series that I have been reading since I was a kid....
The Mack Bolan, the Executioner series by Don Pendelton, these also include the Stonyman books as well. Lots of covert ops anti terrorist stuff. Though Don Pendleton passed a number of years ago his style lives on in a number of other writers who continue to churn out the series. I find them quite enjoyable and they have a very real touch to them in regards to things going on in this world. Sometimes so much so that it seems you read it in the books then hear about a similar issue in the news...mack
There is a book series that I have been reading since I was a kid....
The Mack Bolan, the Executioner series by Don Pendelton, these also include the Stonyman books as well. Lots of covert ops anti terrorist stuff. Though Don Pendleton passed a number of years ago his style lives on in a number of other writers who continue to churn out the series. I find them quite enjoyable and they have a very real touch to them in regards to things going on in this world. Sometimes so much so that it seems you read it in the books then hear about a similar issue in the news...mack
Stephen Hunter is hands down the best gun novelist by far.
From your winking smiley, I'm not sure if you were serious or not, but I would agree that Hunter is the best. Not only in writing about the guns, but also about the men behind them.
Every gunnie should read Pale Horse Coming .
The only complaint I have about Hunter is that I think he has over used the Earl Swagger character the same way that Clancy has his Jack Ryan.
I would love to see Hunter write a book with Nick Memphis from Point of Impact as the main character.
David
Frank Exchange Of Views
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Crownvicman,
That is a good point regarding Gate Security and the armed New Virginians- I will have to go back and read it again.
You are correct that the "militia" or whatever rifles were box-fed Garands of some stripe - I just took them basically Garand copies with probably a BAR magazine.
I probably shouldn't have tossed The Peshawar Lancers into this mix since it takes place in an Anglo-Indian fusion empire after comets essentially destroy Northen Europe/America and the Empire evacuates to India. Oh well - like the above on Conquistador, it has been a while and I may be recalling patterns that may or may not be there.
That said - any other skiffy people know whatever happened to Stirling's proposed Draka Great War novel? Besides the airship bombing of Istanbul, I should think it would feature some interesting Draka small arms action in the trenches.
That is a good point regarding Gate Security and the armed New Virginians- I will have to go back and read it again.
You are correct that the "militia" or whatever rifles were box-fed Garands of some stripe - I just took them basically Garand copies with probably a BAR magazine.
I probably shouldn't have tossed The Peshawar Lancers into this mix since it takes place in an Anglo-Indian fusion empire after comets essentially destroy Northen Europe/America and the Empire evacuates to India. Oh well - like the above on Conquistador, it has been a while and I may be recalling patterns that may or may not be there.
That said - any other skiffy people know whatever happened to Stirling's proposed Draka Great War novel? Besides the airship bombing of Istanbul, I should think it would feature some interesting Draka small arms action in the trenches.
Crownvicman
Member
Frank, I didn't mean to come on a little strong. I'm sitting home with a broken collar bone and I've been reading alot of paperback sci-fi novels. I just finished Conquistador two days ago.
The Island on the Seas of Time confiscation of weapons did bother me, though. I have not read any of the Draka stories other than Drakon. None of my local bookstores seem to have them in stock.
The Island on the Seas of Time confiscation of weapons did bother me, though. I have not read any of the Draka stories other than Drakon. None of my local bookstores seem to have them in stock.
Frank Exchange Of Views
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Crownvicman,
No worries - I did not think you came on strong at all, in fact you gave me something to think about when I re-read the book; a good thing for me because sometimes I can be a little too politicized in my views...
I did add the comment about Lancers because the thought I posted struck me while shaving this morning. Fortunately not too hard.
Like I said, I really do not know where Stirling stands on this - I just know that when I get one of his (non-Snowbrother series) books I generally enjoy them.
I know that the original three Draka novels were combined in a hardcover omnibus (under the title The Domination I think) a year or two ago - I do not think the paperbacks are still in print. I have "issues" with the omnibus format because things get edited out for length, but I suppose that is the price we pay.
Hope you are up and around again soon.
No worries - I did not think you came on strong at all, in fact you gave me something to think about when I re-read the book; a good thing for me because sometimes I can be a little too politicized in my views...
I did add the comment about Lancers because the thought I posted struck me while shaving this morning. Fortunately not too hard.
Like I said, I really do not know where Stirling stands on this - I just know that when I get one of his (non-Snowbrother series) books I generally enjoy them.
I know that the original three Draka novels were combined in a hardcover omnibus (under the title The Domination I think) a year or two ago - I do not think the paperbacks are still in print. I have "issues" with the omnibus format because things get edited out for length, but I suppose that is the price we pay.
Hope you are up and around again soon.
My impression of the Island in the Sea of Time weapons confiscation bit was that it turned out to be a terrible idea, albeit well intentioned. It seemed like a good idea because everyone was feeling a little unhinged, but it turned out that they centralized everything for easy theft. They ended up totally screwed, especially considering how priceless modern firearms became in that situation. They had to fight those Aztecs with homemade swords, and the main fighting of the next two books all went back to that one stupid idea. IIRC, once they got domestic production up and running, everyone was carrying.
In his latest one, there's a bit about how pretty much any geek could build a mean smallarm, or even something to knock a military satellite out of orbit.
In his latest one, there's a bit about how pretty much any geek could build a mean smallarm, or even something to knock a military satellite out of orbit.
I hate to reply to myself, but I just found smstirling.com and had a look at his latest... Dies The Fire. There are ten sample chapters online and they rock pretty hard.
"A new trilogy, the first book will be published in August 2004, and will be followed by "The Protector's War" and "A Meeting at Corvallis".
This trilogy is set in the world that the island of Nantucket left behind when it became an "Island in the Sea of Time"... "
It's SHTF that would actually make us THR members cry; guns no longer work. I just ripped through the ten sample chapters, and the people on Nantucket in the first trilogy definitely got the better deal.
"A new trilogy, the first book will be published in August 2004, and will be followed by "The Protector's War" and "A Meeting at Corvallis".
This trilogy is set in the world that the island of Nantucket left behind when it became an "Island in the Sea of Time"... "
It's SHTF that would actually make us THR members cry; guns no longer work. I just ripped through the ten sample chapters, and the people on Nantucket in the first trilogy definitely got the better deal.
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