Mel Odom | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1957-12-16)December 16, 1957 (age 67) California, U.S. |
| Pen name | Don Pendleton |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Byng High School East Central University |
| Genres | |
| Notable awards | Alex Award (2002) |
| Children | 5 |
Mel Odom (born December 16, 1957, inCalifornia)[1] is an American writer known primarily for science fiction and fantasy novels set in existing properties.
Odom graduated fromByng High School inByng, Oklahoma in May 1976,[2] and later graduated with a bachelor's degree in English fromEast Central University inAda, Oklahoma.[3] He teaches undergraduate courses at theGaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in the Professional Writing program at theUniversity of Oklahoma.[4]
Odom sold his first book in January 1988[5] and wrote dozens more books over the next ten years.[5] He wrote two novels for the F.R.E.E.Lancerscampaign setting forTSR'sTop Secret/S.I. role-playing game,F.R.E.E.Lancers andF.R.E.E.Fall.[5] He followed these with his firstForgotten Realms novel in 1998,The Lost Library of Cormanthyr, and then hisThreat from the Sea trilogy.[5]
Odom has written dozens of novels in several fields – action-adventure, computer strategy guides, fantasy, game-related fiction, horror, juvenile, movie novelizations, science fiction, and young adult – as well as comics.[6]
Odom wrote several novels in the Forgotten Realms series, including the trilogyThe Threat from the Sea, and two short stories. He has gained renown with hisThe Rover andLeft Behind Apocalypse series, and two novels for theNCIS franchise.[citation needed]
He has published original novels for popular TV shows, includingRoswell andSabrina, the Teenage Witch. The most popular show for which he has written original novels isBuffy the Vampire Slayer. He has also written novelizations of movies, including:Blade starringWesley Snipes,[citation needed] andxXx starringVin Diesel.[citation needed]
One of his best known fantasy novels isThe Rover (2001), which in 2002 won theAlex Award, anAmerican Library Association award given to novels written for adults that would also appeal to young readers (see the link below). Three sequels have appeared since then:Destruction of the Books (2004),Lord of the Libraries (2005), andThe Quest for the Trilogy (2007). These stories arehigh fantasy in the tradition ofJ. R. R. Tolkien andThe Lord of the Rings.[citation needed]
In 2003, he publishedApocalypse Dawn, a military spin-off of the enormously popularLeft Behind Series; Odom's book made the Christian bestseller list.[citation needed]
Odom also writesDVD,HD DVD, andBlu-ray reviews for Audio Video Revolution.[citation needed]
He is known to have written under several pen names, among others Jordan Gray.[7] Additionally, under the pseudonym of Don Pendleton, Odom has written severalMack Bolan novels, an action-adventure series.
On February 7, 2015, it was announced that Odom would be writing the new companion novel to the upcomingShadowrun: Hong Kong game. The novel was scheduled to be released in December 2015, coinciding with game.Shadowrun: Hong Kong is the third crowdfunded game set in theShadowrun universe by game developerHarebrained Schemes.[8]
He lives inMoore, Oklahoma, with his wife and five children.[6] By 1998, he had begun playing anAD&D Forgotten Realms campaign with the two oldest.[5]
(under pen name Don Pendleton)
(under pen name Alex Archer)
(under pen name Jordan Gray)
