David Weber | |
|---|---|
.png) Weber atCONduit 17 (26 May 2007) | |
| Born | David Mark Weber (1952-10-24)October 24, 1952 (age 73) |
| Occupation | Novelist, short story author |
| Language | English |
| Education | Warren Wilson College Appalachian State University (MA) |
| Genre | Science fiction (esp.military science fiction),fantasy,alternate history) |
| Notable works | Honor Harrington series,Safehold series,War God series |
| Spouse | Sharon Weber/Sylvia Hipp(first wife) |
| Children | 3 |
David Mark Weber (born October 24, 1952) is an Americanscience fiction andfantasy author. He has written several science-fiction and fantasy books series, the best-known of which is theHonor Harrington science-fiction series. Hisfirst novel, which he worked on with Steve White, sold in 1989 toBaen Books. Baen remains Weber's major publisher.
Born inCleveland, Ohio, on October 24, 1952,[1] Weber began writing while infifth grade.[2] Some of Weber's first jobs within the writing/advertising world began after high school when he worked as copywriter, typesetter, proofreader, and paste-up artist. He later earned an undergraduate degree fromWarren Wilson College in Asheville, North Carolina and anM.A. in history fromAppalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.[3]
Weber's first published novels grew out of his work as a wargame designer for theTask Force board wargameStarfire.[4] Weber used theStarfire universe as a setting for short stories that he wrote for the company'sNexus magazine, and he also wrote theStarfire novelInsurrection (1990) withStephen White afterNexus was canceled; this book was the first in a tetralogy that concluded with their final collaboration,The Shiva Option (2002), which was included inThe New York Times Best Seller list.[5]
Weber was influenced byC. S. Forester,Patrick O'Brian,Keith Laumer,H. Beam Piper,Robert A. Heinlein,Roger Zelazny,Christopher Anvil andAnne McCaffrey.[2][6][7]
Weber's novels range fromepic fantasy (Oath of Swords,The War God's Own) tospace opera (Path of the Fury,The Armageddon Inheritance) toalternate history (1632 series withEric Flint) andmilitary science fiction with in-depth characterization.[8]
A lifetime military history buff, David Weber has carried his interest of history into his fiction. He is said to be interested in most periods of history, with a strong emphasis on the military and diplomatic aspects.[9]
Weber prefers to write about strong characters. He develops a character's background story in advance in considerable detail because he wants to achieve that degree of comfort level with the character.[2] Weber has said he writes primarily in the evenings and at night.[9]
Weber says he makes an effort to accept as many invitations to science fiction conferences and conventions as he can, because he finds the direct feedback from readers that he gets at conventions extremely useful. He makes a habit ofTuckerizing people from fandom, particularly in the Honor Harrington books (see, e.g.,Jordin Kare).[9]
In 2008, Weber donated his archive to the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections atNorthern Illinois University.[10]
Weber received fourDragon Awards.[1]
Weber and his wife, Sharon, live inGreenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs".[4]
Weber is alay speaker in theUnited Methodist Church, and he tries to explore in his writing how religions (both real-life and fictional) can be forces for good on the one hand, and misused to defend evil causes on the other.[11][12]
Weber belongs to the AmericanSmall Business Administration, theScience Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and theNational Rifle Association of America.[13][14]
Weber's main works are contained in the following series:
| Series |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared universe |
| ||||||
| Standalone | |||||||
