S.M. Stirling

Stephen Michael Stirling is a French-born (1953) Canadian-American science fiction and fantasy author. Stirling is probably best known for his Draka series of alternate history novels and the more recent time travel/alternate history Nantucket series and Emberverse series.

Stirling's novels are generally conflict-driven and often describe military situations and militaristic cultures. In addition to his books' military, adventure and exploration focus, he often describes societies with cultural values significantly different from modern western views. One of his recurring topics is the influence of the culture on an individual's outlook and values, with a particular emphasis on the idea that most people and societies consider themselves (mostly) moral.

Stirling also has a fascination with technological development, and frequently turns to explorations of this within the context of many of his novels. The Draka (see below) for instance, chose and faced a different imperative in their conquest of Africa, and turned earlier to breech-loading firearms and steam power than the rest of the Western World. The stranded islanders of Nantucket must try to rebuild their technological base once the island is stranded in 1250 BC, while the dazed survivors of the 'Change' now face a world where electricity, firearms, and internal combustion no longer work.

Stirling also tends to write strong female characters who have prominent roles within the story.

In the past he has frequently collaborated with other authors, including David Drake, Jerry Pournelle, Anne McCaffrey and Raymond E. Feist.

Space Opera novels and short stories

CoDominium

• Necessity (short story in The Burning Eye, War World Volume I) (1988)
• Shame and Honor (short story in Sauron Dominion, War World Volume III) (1991)
• Go Tell the Spartans (1991) (with Jerry Pournelle)
• Prince of Sparta (1993) (with Jerry Pournelle)
• Blood Feuds (1993) (with Judith Tarr and Susan Shwartz and Harry Turtledove (Part of the War World sub-series in the CoDominium series, originally created by Jerry Pournelle.)
• Blood Vengeance (1994) (with Susan Shwartz, Judith Tarr, Harry Turtledove and Jerry Pournelle (Also part of the "War World" sub-series)
• Kings Who Die (short story in Invasion, War World Volume IV) (1994)

Known Space

• The Children's Hour (1991) (with Jerry Pournelle) (Part of the Man-Kzin Wars series)
• The Man Who Would Be Kzin - (with Greg Bear) (short story published in Man-Kzin Wars IV)
• In the Hall of the Mountain King - (with Jerry Pournelle) (short story published in Man-Kzin Wars V)

Federated Sentient Planets?

• The City who Fought? (1993) (with Anne McCaffrey) (Part of The Ship Who Sang? series)
• The Ship Avenged? (1997) (Part of The Ship Who Sang series)

Honorverse?

• A Whiff of Grapeshot? (1998) (short story in the anthology More Than Honor?

Babylon 5?

• Betrayals? (book 6) (1996)

Other sites: Stirling homepage, Wikipedia,