John Ringo
Encyclopedia
John Ringo is an American science fiction
and military fiction author. He has had several New York Times
best sellers
. His books range from straightforward science fiction
to a mix of military and political thrillers. To date, he has over two million copies of his books in print, and his works have been translated into seven different languages.
, Iran
and Switzerland
before settling with his parents and six siblings in Alabama
. This amount of travel led to what he refers to as a "wonderful appreciation of the oneness of humanity and a permanent aversion to foreign food."
After graduation, Ringo joined the U.S. Army
and rose to the rank of Specialist as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division
. During his four years of active duty, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment which was reflagged into 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment when the 82nd regimentally organized its 3rd Brigade on 3 October 1986, plus two years of reserve duty with the Florida National Guard. Among his awards are the Combat Infantryman Badge
, Parachutist Badge
, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal
, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Grenada)
, and the National Defense Service Medal
.
After discharge, he enrolled in college and studied marine biology
, picking up an associate's degree
. However, he quickly discovered that marine biology would only "pay for beans" and became a database manager to support his wife and two daughters. His life had settled into a fairly sedate pattern when, in 1999, he had the idea for a science fiction story that involved an alien invasion and a military response that became the novel A Hymn Before Battle, the title being a homage to the poem "Hymn Before Action
" by Rudyard Kipling
.
He submitted the novel to publisher Jim Baen
of Baen Books
. The book was initially rejected, but Jim Baen
, through his discussion with John Ringo on the publisher's website forum personally took a look at the novel and quickly bought it.
The success of the book, and the books that followed, allowed Ringo to quit his database management job and devote his life full-time to writing. Since 2000, John Ringo has been very prolific and has written or co-written with David Weber
, Michael Z. Williamson
, Julie Cochrane, Linda Evans
, Travis Taylor, and Tom Kratman
33 novels in the past ten years. One of the appeals of his works is his inclusion of fans' names into novels as "red shirts
" who die gloriously. He also has often integrated elements of the 82nd Airborne into his works, 2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry in A Hymn Before Battle, his old 1/508th Parachute Infantry in Yellow Eyes, and the 555th "Triple Nickels/Black Panthers" in Gust Front and its sequels.
He has also has penned a number of op-ed pieces for the New York Post
, been a guest commentator for Fox News
and National Geographic
, and is currently working with a screenwriting partner in adapting three of his novels, A Hymn Before Battle, Ghost, and Princess of Wands to the screen.
These books are somewhat controversial as scenes of rape, sex with (what in the west are considered) minors and bondage/S&M are prominently featured. However Ringo treats these themes in a very frank and uncomplicated manner, lacking any real agenda apart from perhaps "be honest with thyself, but do good unto others". Ringo has mentioned he felt more or less compelled to write these novels.
All books titles in the series are phrases taken from the poem "Jabberwocky
", which is mentioned repeatedly in the later novels.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
and military fiction author. He has had several New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
best sellers
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
. His books range from straightforward science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
to a mix of military and political thrillers. To date, he has over two million copies of his books in print, and his works have been translated into seven different languages.
Biography
Ringo's childhood was spent largely in transit; by the time he graduated from high school, he and his family had spent time in 23 foreign countries, with Ringo alone attending classes at fourteen different schools. Among the countries he spent the most amount of time in were GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
before settling with his parents and six siblings in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. This amount of travel led to what he refers to as a "wonderful appreciation of the oneness of humanity and a permanent aversion to foreign food."
After graduation, Ringo joined the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and rose to the rank of Specialist as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division
U.S. 82nd Airborne Division
The 82nd Airborne Division is an active airborne infantry division of the United States Army specializing in parachute landing operations. Based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the 82nd Airborne Division is the primary fighting arm of the XVIII Airborne Corps....
. During his four years of active duty, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment which was reflagged into 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment when the 82nd regimentally organized its 3rd Brigade on 3 October 1986, plus two years of reserve duty with the Florida National Guard. Among his awards are the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, Parachutist Badge
Parachutist Badge (United States)
The Parachutist Badge, also commonly referred to as "Jump Wings" or "Snow Cone", is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces awarded to members of the United States Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy...
, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal
Good Conduct Medal
The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States military. The Navy Good Conduct Medal was first issued in 1869, followed by a Marine version in 1896. The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal was issued in 1923 and the Army Good Conduct Medal in 1941. The Air Force was...
, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Grenada)
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
, and the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
.
After discharge, he enrolled in college and studied marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
, picking up an associate's degree
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
. However, he quickly discovered that marine biology would only "pay for beans" and became a database manager to support his wife and two daughters. His life had settled into a fairly sedate pattern when, in 1999, he had the idea for a science fiction story that involved an alien invasion and a military response that became the novel A Hymn Before Battle, the title being a homage to the poem "Hymn Before Action
Hymn Before Action
Hymn Before Action is a poem written by Rudyard Kipling in 1896. It takes the form of a prayer by troops to God and to Mary on the eve of battle.-Publication history and reception:...
" by Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling
Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the 1907 Nobel Prize for Literature...
.
He submitted the novel to publisher Jim Baen
Jim Baen
James Patrick "Jim" Baen was a noted U.S. science fiction publisher and editor. In 1983 he founded his own publishing house, Baen Books, specializing in the adventure, fantasy, military science fiction and space opera genres...
of Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
. The book was initially rejected, but Jim Baen
Jim Baen
James Patrick "Jim" Baen was a noted U.S. science fiction publisher and editor. In 1983 he founded his own publishing house, Baen Books, specializing in the adventure, fantasy, military science fiction and space opera genres...
, through his discussion with John Ringo on the publisher's website forum personally took a look at the novel and quickly bought it.
The success of the book, and the books that followed, allowed Ringo to quit his database management job and devote his life full-time to writing. Since 2000, John Ringo has been very prolific and has written or co-written with David Weber
David Weber
David Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
, Michael Z. Williamson
Michael Z. Williamson
Michael Z. Williamson is a science fiction and military fiction author. Born in Birkenhead, England, he and his family emigrated to Canada, then the United States in 1978. Williamson frequently utilizes the pen names "Mad Mike", and "Crazy Einar". He is retired from the United States...
, Julie Cochrane, Linda Evans
Linda Evans (author)
Linda Evans is an American science fiction writer from Archer, Florida. She is an author of nine novels and four anthologies, as well as of several other co-authored novels. In 1996 her published novels had sold more than 100,000 copies.-Early life:...
, Travis Taylor, and Tom Kratman
Tom Kratman
Tom Kratman is a United States science fiction author specializing in the subgenre of military science fiction.His works are published by Baen.-Biography:...
33 novels in the past ten years. One of the appeals of his works is his inclusion of fans' names into novels as "red shirts
Redshirt (character)
A "redshirt" is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates with fans of Star Trek , from the red shirts worn by Starfleet security officers who frequently die during episodes.-Star Trek:...
" who die gloriously. He also has often integrated elements of the 82nd Airborne into his works, 2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry in A Hymn Before Battle, his old 1/508th Parachute Infantry in Yellow Eyes, and the 555th "Triple Nickels/Black Panthers" in Gust Front and its sequels.
He has also has penned a number of op-ed pieces for the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
, been a guest commentator for Fox News
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
and National Geographic
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
, and is currently working with a screenwriting partner in adapting three of his novels, A Hymn Before Battle, Ghost, and Princess of Wands to the screen.
Troy Rising series
- Live Free or Die (February 2010) (ISBN 1-4391-3332-8) sample chapters
- Citadel (January 2011) (ISBN 1-4391-3400-6) sample chapters
- The Hot Gate (May 2011) (ISBN 1-4391-3432-4) sample chapters
Legacy of the Aldenata series
Posleen War—Central Storyline
- A Hymn Before BattleA Hymn Before BattleA Hymn Before Battle is the first book in John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series. Earth is introduced to extraterrestrial life by the Galactics, who tell the leaders of the World that an invasion by another alien race, the Posleen, is coming...
(2000) (ISBN 0-671-31941-8) free online edition - Gust FrontGust Front (novel)Gust Front is the second book in John Ringo'sLegacy of the Aldenata series. Earth has had some time to prepare for the Posleen invasion, but it may not be enough to stop the onslaught....
(2001) (ISBN 0-671-31976-0) free online edition - When the Devil DancesWhen The devil dancesWhen the Devil Dances is the third book in John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series. It follows the exploits of Michael O'Neal and other members of humanity as they defend Earth against an alien invasion by the Posleen....
(2002) (ISBN 0-7434-3540-0) free online edition - Hell's FaireHell's FaireHell's Faire is the fourth book in John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series. Earth has been fighting the Posleen invasion, and suffered tremendous casualties. New weapons and tactics are being employed by the humans, but the Posleen are adapting as well....
(2003) (ISBN 0-7434-3604-0) free online edition
Hedren War
- Eye of the StormEye of the Storm (Ringo novel)Eye of the Storm is a novel by John Ringo, as part of the Legacy of the Aldenata series. It is set after the defeat of the Posleen on Earth, and introduces a new threat from outside the galaxy - the Hedren.-Plot:...
(2009); (ISBN 1-4391-32739) free online edition
Posleen War Sidestories
- Watch on the RhineWatch on the Rhine (book)Watch on the Rhine is the seventh book in John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series, co-authored with Tom Kratman. The book, which is a spin-off of the main series, focuses on the Posleen invasion of Europe, with an emphasis on Germany...
(2005) (with Tom KratmanTom KratmanTom Kratman is a United States science fiction author specializing in the subgenre of military science fiction.His works are published by Baen.-Biography:...
; ISBN 0-7434-9918-2) free online edition - Yellow EyesYellow EyesYellow Eyes is a novel in John Ringo's Legacy of the Aldenata series, co-authored with Tom Kratman. The book, which is a spin-off of the main series, focuses on the Posleen invasion of Central America, with an emphasis on Panama...
(2007) (with Tom Kratman; ISBN 1-4165-2103-8) free online edition - The TuloriadThe TuloriadThe Tuloraid is a novel by John Ringo and Tom Kratman, as part of the Legacy of the Aldenata series. It is set after the defeat ofthe Posleen on Earth, and follows the struggle of that race to survive....
(2009) (with Tom Kratman; ISBN 978-1-4391-3304-0)sample chapters
Cally's War Spinoff Series
- Cally's WarCally's WarCally's War is a novel by John Ringo and Julie Cochrane, and is partof the Legacy of the Aldenata series. It follows Michael O'Neal's daughter Cally, who, raised from an early age by her paternal grandfather to be familiar with weapons and tactics, becomes a professional assassin....
(2004) (with Julie Cochrane) (ISBN 0-7434-8845-8) free online edition - Sister TimeSister TimeSister Time is a novel by John Ringo and Julie Cochrane, and is partofthe Legacy of the Aldenata series, specifically a spin off that features Michael O'Neal's...
(2007) (with Julie Cochrane) (ISBN 1-4165-4232-9) free online edition - Honor of the ClanHonor of the ClanHonor of the Clan is a novel by John Ringo and Julie Cochrane, and is part of the Legacy of the Aldenata series, specifically a spin off that features Michael O'Neal's daughters Cally and Michelle. Michelle has been raised off planet by the Indowy race, and has been trained in highly advanced...
(2009) (with Julie Cochrane) (ISBN 1-4165-5591-9) free online edition
Spinoff Books
- The HeroThe Hero (novel)The Hero is a novel by John Ringo and Michael Z. Williamson, and is partof the Legacy of the Aldenata series. It is set in the future after the defeat of the Posleen, and features a Darhel named Tirdal who is the first of his race to be assigned to a military team. The Darhel have a genetically...
(2004) (with Michael Z. WilliamsonMichael Z. WilliamsonMichael Z. Williamson is a science fiction and military fiction author. Born in Birkenhead, England, he and his family emigrated to Canada, then the United States in 1978. Williamson frequently utilizes the pen names "Mad Mike", and "Crazy Einar". He is retired from the United States...
; ISBN 0-7434-8827-X) free online edition
Empire of Man Series
- March Upcountry (ISBN 0-671-31985-X) free online edition
- March to the Sea (ISBN 0-671-31826-8) free online edition
- March to the Stars (ISBN 0-7434-3562-1) free online edition
- We Few (ISBN 0-7434-9881-X) (2005) free online edition
The Council Wars Series
- There Will Be Dragons (ISBN 0-7434-7164-4) free e-text online edition, free online mp3 audiobook edition (downloadable by chapters)
- Emerald Sea (ISBN 0-7434-8833-4) free online edition
- Against the Tide (ISBN 0-7434-9884-4) free online edition
- East of the Sun, West of the Moon (ISBN 1-4165-2059-7) free online edition
Paladin of Shadows Series
- Ghost (ISBN 1-4165-0905-4) free online edition
- Kildar (ISBN 1-4165-2064-3) free online edition
- Choosers of the Slain (ISBN 1-4165-2070-8) free online edition
- Unto the Breach (ISBN 1-4165-0940-2) free online edition
- A Deeper Blue (ISBN 1-4165-2128-3) free online edition
These books are somewhat controversial as scenes of rape, sex with (what in the west are considered) minors and bondage/S&M are prominently featured. However Ringo treats these themes in a very frank and uncomplicated manner, lacking any real agenda apart from perhaps "be honest with thyself, but do good unto others". Ringo has mentioned he felt more or less compelled to write these novels.
Looking Glass series
- Also called the "Voyage of the Space Bubble" series
All books titles in the series are phrases taken from the poem "Jabberwocky
Jabberwocky
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense verse poem written by Lewis Carroll in his 1872 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, a sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland...
", which is mentioned repeatedly in the later novels.
- Into the Looking GlassInto the Looking GlassInto the Looking Glass, by John Ringo, is the first in the Looking Glass military hard science fiction series. The story involves travel through portals called looking glasses, the discovery of alternate worlds and the aliens that inhabit them....
(2005) (ISBN 0-7434-9880-1) free online edition - Vorpal Blade (2007) (with Travis S. Taylor; ISBN 1-4165-2129-1) free online edition
- Manxome Foe (2008) (with Travis S. Taylor; ISBN 1-4165-5521-8) free online edition
- Claws that Catch (2008) (with Travis S. Taylor; ISBN 1-4165-5587-0) free online edition
Non-series novels
- The Road to Damascus (a BoloBolo (self-aware tank)A Bolo is a fictional type of artificially intelligent superheavy tank. They were first imagined by Keith Laumer, and have since been featured in science fiction novels and short story anthologies by him and others.-Description and fictional history:...
book with Linda EvansLinda Evans (author)Linda Evans is an American science fiction writer from Archer, Florida. She is an author of nine novels and four anthologies, as well as of several other co-authored novels. In 1996 her published novels had sold more than 100,000 copies.-Early life:...
; ISBN 0-7434-7187-3) free online edition - Von Neumann's War (with Travis S. Taylor; ISBN 1-4165-2075-9) free online edition
- Princess of Wands (ISBN 1-4165-0923-2) free online edition
- The Last CenturionThe Last CenturionThe Last Centurion is a 2008 stand-alone novel by John Ringo. It is written in "blog style" from the point of view of a US Army officer known as "Bandit Six"...
(2008) (ISBN 1-4165-5553-6) free online edition
Short stories
- "Let's Go to Prague" (2003)
- included in The Service of the SwordThe Service of the SwordThe Service of the Sword, published in 2003, was the fourth anthology of stories set in the fictional Honorverse.The book contains the following stories:"Promised Land" by Jane Lindskold- External links :...
(ISBN 0-7434-3599-0) edited by David WeberDavid WeberDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
, and are set in Weber's HonorverseHonorverseThe Honorverse refers to the military science fiction book series and sub-series created by David Weber and published by Baen Books. The series is set primarily after Honor Harrington's October 1, 3961, birth; although she is the protagonist in most of the stories, more recent entries make only...
.
- included in The Service of the Sword
- "A Ship Named Francis" (2003)
- included in The Service of the SwordThe Service of the SwordThe Service of the Sword, published in 2003, was the fourth anthology of stories set in the fictional Honorverse.The book contains the following stories:"Promised Land" by Jane Lindskold- External links :...
(ISBN 0-7434-3599-0) edited by David WeberDavid WeberDavid Mark Weber is an American science fiction and fantasy author. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Weber and his wife Sharon live in Greenville, South Carolina with their three children and "a passel of dogs"....
, and are set in Weber's HonorverseHonorverseThe Honorverse refers to the military science fiction book series and sub-series created by David Weber and published by Baen Books. The series is set primarily after Honor Harrington's October 1, 3961, birth; although she is the protagonist in most of the stories, more recent entries make only...
.
- included in The Service of the Sword
- Other contributions to Jim Baen's UniverseJim Baen's UniverseJim Baen's Universe was a bimonthly online fantasy and science fiction magazine created by Jim Baen . It is recognized by the SFWA as a Qualifying Short Fiction Venue. JBU began soliciting materials in January 2006 and launched in June 2006...
—launched in 2005, a members-only science fiction and fantasy e-zine edited by Eric FlintEric FlintEric Flint is an American author, editor, and e-publisher. The majority of his main works are alternate history science fiction, but he also writes humorous fantasy adventures.- Career :...
.
See also
- Sluggy FreelanceSluggy FreelanceSluggy Freelance is a popular, long-running daily webcomic written and drawn by Pete Abrams. The comic has over 100,000 daily readers and premiered on August 25, 1997...
, a webcomicWebcomicWebcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
featured in the Posleen Series books; a SheVa tank is named after the character Bun-bun. A character styled after Bun-bun is featured in the Council Wars series. - Schlock MercenarySchlock MercenarySchlock Mercenary is a comedic webcomic written and drawn by Howard Tayler. It follows the tribulations of a star-travelling mercenary company in a satiric, mildly dystopian 31st-century space opera setting...
, a webcomicWebcomicWebcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
. The Troy Rising series is inspired by the universe of Schlock MercenarySchlock MercenarySchlock Mercenary is a comedic webcomic written and drawn by Howard Tayler. It follows the tribulations of a star-travelling mercenary company in a satiric, mildly dystopian 31st-century space opera setting...
at the point of first contact. (The webcomicWebcomicWebcomics, online comics, or Internet comics are comics published on a website. While many are published exclusively on the web, others are also published in magazines, newspapers or often in self-published books....
itself takes place far into the future.) - The CrüxshadowsThe CrüxshadowsThe Crüxshadows is an Dark Electro group from Florida. Their sound is made up of a combination of male vocals, electric violin, guitar, and synth...
, mentioned in the Paladin of Shadows series; the protagonist makes numerous mentions of the song "Winterborn" in particular. The main characters in Claws That Catch also play "Return" in order to defeat the aliens. The book Eye of the Storm quotes their song of the same name a few times. In the novel Von Neumann´s War the song "Citadel" is the anthem of the soldiers and it is played during the final showdown.
External links
- Fleet Strike: John Ringo's homepage
- PJTV interview with Glenn Reynolds and John Ringo: Discussing various works
- Publication catalog on Baen website
- Fantastic Fiction Author Page
- Bibliography on SciFanSciFanSciFan is an online database for fans of science fiction and fantasy books.The site provides detailed bibliographies, linking books together into series' where appropriate and, in turn, grouping series by universe...
- The Last Centurion: Website for his latest mainstream novel, written in the guise of the main character from the book, "Bandit Six".