Dave Duncan (writer)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox person David John Duncan (30 June 1933 – 29 October 2018) was a Scottish Canadian fantasy and science fiction author.

Biography

Duncan was born in Newport-on-Tay, Scotland<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=ELC>Template:Cite book</ref> and was educated at the High School of Dundee<ref name=bookrags>Template:Cite book</ref> before studying geology at the University of St Andrews.<ref name=writers>Template:Cite web</ref> After graduating in 1955, he moved to Calgary, Alberta, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1960.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=writers/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Duncan lived in Victoria, British Columbia. His wife was Janet, whom he married in 1959, and they had one son, two daughters, and four grandchildren. He had one brother, Michael, who was an agriculturist.<ref name=bookrags/>

Duncan died on 29 October 2018 at the age of 85.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Writing career

Duncan was a prolific writer and penned over fifty books.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His sixth book, West of January, won the 1990 Aurora award, an award he would win again in 2007 for Children of Chaos.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was a member of SF Canada<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2015 he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Although Duncan usually wrote under his own name, some of his early books were published under the pseudonyms Ken Hood and Sarah B. Franklin.

Bibliography

The Seventh Sword

A dying petrochemical plant manager named Wallie Smith is transferred from Earth into the body of a master swordsman in a pre-technological world by a goddess for her own purposes.

1. The Reluctant Swordsman (1988), Template:ISBN
2. The Coming of Wisdom (1988), Template:ISBN
3. The Destiny of the Sword (1988), Template:ISBN
4. The Death of Nnanji (2012), Template:ISBN

Pandemia

A Man of His Word

1. Magic Casement (1990), Template:ISBN
2. Faery Lands Forlorn (1991), Template:ISBN
3. Perilous Seas (1991), Template:ISBN
4. Emperor and Clown (1992), Template:ISBN

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

<poem>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.</poem>

A Handful of Men

1. The Cutting Edge (1992), Template:ISBN
2. Upland Outlaws (1993), Template:ISBN
3. The Stricken Field (1993), Template:ISBN
4. The Living God (1994), Template:ISBN

Omar

1. The Reaver Road (1992), Template:ISBN
2. The Hunters' Haunt (1995), Template:ISBN

The Great Game

1. Past Imperative (1995), Template:ISBN
2. Present Tense (1996), Template:ISBN
3. Future Indefinite (1997), Template:ISBN

The Years of Longdirk

Published using the pseudonym Ken Hood:

1. Demon Sword (1995), Template:ISBN
2. Demon Rider (1997), Template:ISBN
3. Demon Knight (1998), Template:ISBN

The King's Blades

Tales of the King's Blades

1. The Gilded Chain (1998), Template:ISBN
2. Lord of the Fire Lands (1999), Template:ISBN
3. Sky of Swords (2000), Template:ISBN

Chronicles of the King's Blades

1. Paragon Lost (2002), Template:ISBN
2. Impossible Odds (2003), Template:ISBN
3. The Jaguar Knights (2004), Template:ISBN
4. One Velvet Glove (2017), Template:ISBN
5. The Ethical Swordsman (2019), Template:ISBN

The King's Daggers

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

1. Sir Stalwart (1999), Template:ISBN
2. The Crooked House (2000), Template:ISBN
3. Silvercloak (2001), Template:ISBN

Omnibus edition of all three is titled The Monster War, Template:ISBN

Dodec

1. Children of Chaos (2006), Template:ISBN
2. Mother of Lies (2007), Template:ISBN

Nostradamus

1. The Alchemist's Apprentice (2007), Template:ISBN
2. The Alchemist's Code (2008), Template:ISBN
3. The Alchemist's Pursuit (2009), Template:ISBN

Brothers Magnus

1. Speak to the Devil (2010), Template:ISBN
2. When the Saints (2011), Template:ISBN

The Starfolk

1. King of Swords (2013), Template:ISBN
2. Queen of Stars (2014), Template:ISBN

Ivor of Glenbroch

A series of young adult short stories:

1. The Runner and the Wizard (2013), Template:ISBN
2. The Runner and the Saint (2014), Template:ISBN
3. The Runner and the Kelpie (2014), Template:ISBN

Omnibus edition of all three is titled The Adventures of Ivor, Template:ISBN

The Enchanter General

1. Ironfoot (2017)
2. Trial by Treason (2018)
3. Merlin Redux (2019)

Standalone novels

• A Rose-Red City (1987), Template:ISBN
• Shadow (1987), Template:ISBN
• West of January (1989), Template:ISBN
• Strings (1990), Template:ISBN
• Hero! (1991), Template:ISBN
• The Cursed (1995), Template:ISBN
• Daughter of Troy (1998), (as Sarah B. Franklin), Template:ISBN
• Ill Met in the Arena (August 2008), Template:ISBN
• Pock's World (October 2010), Template:ISBN
• Against the Light (January 2012), Template:ISBN
• Wildcatter (August 2012), Template:ISBN
• The Eye of Strife (April 2015), Template:ISBN
• Irona 700 (August 2015), Template:ISBN
• Eocene Station (August 2016), Template:ISBN
• Portal of a Thousand Worlds (February 2017), Template:ISBN
• Pillar of Darkness (January 2019), Template:ISBN
• The Traitor's Son (May 2024), Template:ISBN
• Corridor to Nightmare (August 2024), Template:ISBN

External links

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• Template:Cite web