Robert E. Vardeman
Encyclopedia
Robert Edward Vardeman (1947- ) is an American
science fiction
fan
and writer
. He got his start in writing by writing for science fiction fanzines, and was nominated for the 1972 Hugo Award
for Best Fan Writer
. Vardeman is one of the founders of Bubonicon
, a science fiction convention
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
. He is the author of more than fifty fantasy and science fiction novels. He created the Cenotaph Road
series of science fantasy
novels; co-wrote the Swords of Raemllyn series (with George W. Proctor) and the The War of Powers
series with Victor Milan
; and wrote Ruins of Power
, a MechWarrior: Dark Age
story. He wrote the original story novels Mutiny on the Enterprise
focusing on Captain Kirk battling his own crew, and "The Klingon Gambit," another official Star Trek novel.
Vardeman's fantasy series include the War of Powers (6 volumes co-authored with Victor Milan), Cenotaph Road (6 volumes), The Swords of Raemllyn (9 volumes co-authored with Geo. W. Proctor), The Jade Demons (4 books), The Keys to Paradise trilogy, The Demon Crown trilogy, and a British-published trilogy called "The Accursed." Vardeman is currently involved in the novelizations of the fantasy game series, God of War.
Vardeman's science fiction works include the Weapons of Chaos trilogy, 3 published books in the "Masters of Space" series, the Biowarriors trilogy, and the stand-alone novels "The Sandcats of Rhyl," "Road to the Stars," and "Ancient Heavens." The 1991 techno-thriller
"Death Fall" is a related novel, although works set in a contemporary setting are often not categorized as science fiction.
Vardeman also had a series of 3 mystery novels published, involving the "psychic detective" Peter Thorne.
Vardeman wrote a number of game-related tie in works, including:
"Dark Legacy" (1996) - for the Magic: The Gathering game
"The Great Helium War" (1998) - for the Crimson Skies game
"Hell Heart" (2000) - for the Vor: The Maelstrom game
"Ruins of Power" (2003) - for the Mechwarrior: Dark Age branch of the Battletech game
An anthology of his short fiction, "Stories From Desert Bob's Reptile Ranch," was published in 2007.
, but the second book in that series then stated that Vardeman was "writing as Daniel Moran." Vardeman started publishing two other series under pseudonyms in the late 1980s - the fantasy series "After the Spell Wars" under the name F.J. Hale, and the Star Frontier science fiction series under the name of Edward S. Hudson. Both these series are being republished under his own name. He also wrote Tom Swift: Gateway to Doom (1983) from Tom Swift III and The Microbots
, part of the Tom Swift IV
series of books; as well as writing numerous westerns under the pen names Karl Lassiter and Jackson Lowry. He also wrote in mid-1970's for Book Creations, Inc., under house pseudonym Paul Kenyon, The Baroness. Similar work includes 8 novels written for the Nick Carter adventure series, the novel "Sea Fire" under the name Cliff Garnett, more than 100 novels written for a major western series, plus 8 novels written for another western series that was less enduring.
Vardeman is a longtime resident of Albuquerque
, New Mexico
. He graduated from the University of New Mexico
with a B.S. in physics
and a M.S. in materials science. He worked for Sandia National Laboratories
in the Solid State Physics Research Department before becoming a full-time writer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
fan
Science fiction fandom
Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or "fandom" of people actively interested in science fiction and fantasy and in contact with one another based upon that interest...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He got his start in writing by writing for science fiction fanzines, and was nominated for the 1972 Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
for Best Fan Writer
Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer
The Hugo Awards are presented every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
. Vardeman is one of the founders of Bubonicon
Bubonicon
Bubonicon is an annual multigenre convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico, typically held during the last weekend of August. It is the largest general-interest science fiction convention in New Mexico and among the oldest in the Southwest.-History:...
, a science fiction convention
Science fiction convention
Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and...
in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
. He is the author of more than fifty fantasy and science fiction novels. He created the Cenotaph Road
Cenotaph Road
Cenotaph Road is a famous road in Teynampet in Chennai.This road connects Mount Road to Turn Bulls Signal. The road has an important branch of ICICI Bank...
series of science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
novels; co-wrote the Swords of Raemllyn series (with George W. Proctor) and the The War of Powers
The War of Powers
The War of Powers is a series of 6 epic fantasy fiction novels, co-written by Robert E. Vardeman and Victor Milan. The books were first published in 1980.-Novels:The books were originally published as series of six novels:*The Sundered Realm...
series with Victor Milan
Victor Milan
Victor Woodward Milán is an American writer known for libertarian science fiction and an interest in cybernetics. In 1986 he won the Prometheus Award for Cybernetic Samurai. He has also written several shared universe works for the Forgotten Realms, Star Trek, and Wild Cards Universes...
; and wrote Ruins of Power
MechWarrior: Dark Age
MechWarrior: Dark Age was a tabletop wargame by WizKids set in the BattleTech universe that uses the Clix system...
, a MechWarrior: Dark Age
MechWarrior: Dark Age
MechWarrior: Dark Age was a tabletop wargame by WizKids set in the BattleTech universe that uses the Clix system...
story. He wrote the original story novels Mutiny on the Enterprise
Mutiny on the Enterprise
Mutiny on the Enterprise is a Star Trek: The Original Series novel written by Robert E. Vardeman.-Plot:A much needed peace mission to the Orion Arm is delayed when the Enterprise becomes damaged while in orbit around a living planet. Further problems arise when a mysterious female guest causes much...
focusing on Captain Kirk battling his own crew, and "The Klingon Gambit," another official Star Trek novel.
Vardeman's fantasy series include the War of Powers (6 volumes co-authored with Victor Milan), Cenotaph Road (6 volumes), The Swords of Raemllyn (9 volumes co-authored with Geo. W. Proctor), The Jade Demons (4 books), The Keys to Paradise trilogy, The Demon Crown trilogy, and a British-published trilogy called "The Accursed." Vardeman is currently involved in the novelizations of the fantasy game series, God of War.
Vardeman's science fiction works include the Weapons of Chaos trilogy, 3 published books in the "Masters of Space" series, the Biowarriors trilogy, and the stand-alone novels "The Sandcats of Rhyl," "Road to the Stars," and "Ancient Heavens." The 1991 techno-thriller
Techno-thriller
Techno-thrillers are a hybrid genre, drawing subject matter generally from spy/action thrillers, fantasy/war novels, and science fiction...
"Death Fall" is a related novel, although works set in a contemporary setting are often not categorized as science fiction.
Vardeman also had a series of 3 mystery novels published, involving the "psychic detective" Peter Thorne.
Vardeman wrote a number of game-related tie in works, including:
"Dark Legacy" (1996) - for the Magic: The Gathering game
"The Great Helium War" (1998) - for the Crimson Skies game
"Hell Heart" (2000) - for the Vor: The Maelstrom game
"Ruins of Power" (2003) - for the Mechwarrior: Dark Age branch of the Battletech game
An anthology of his short fiction, "Stories From Desert Bob's Reptile Ranch," was published in 2007.
Pseudonyms
He started to write the Keys to Paradise fantasy series under the pseudonym "Daniel Moran," unaware at first of writer Daniel Keys MoranDaniel Keys Moran
Daniel Keys Moran , also known by his initials DKM, is an American computer programmer and a science fiction writer.-Biography:Moran was born to Richard Joseph Moran and Marilynn Joyce Moran...
, but the second book in that series then stated that Vardeman was "writing as Daniel Moran." Vardeman started publishing two other series under pseudonyms in the late 1980s - the fantasy series "After the Spell Wars" under the name F.J. Hale, and the Star Frontier science fiction series under the name of Edward S. Hudson. Both these series are being republished under his own name. He also wrote Tom Swift: Gateway to Doom (1983) from Tom Swift III and The Microbots
Tom Swift IV
Tom Swift IV is the unofficial name of this series of juvenile science fiction adventure novels, the fourth to feature a protagonist named Tom Swift. Unlike the previous series, it was not created by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, but was created by Byron Preiss Visual Productions for Simon & Schuster,...
, part of the Tom Swift IV
Tom Swift IV
Tom Swift IV is the unofficial name of this series of juvenile science fiction adventure novels, the fourth to feature a protagonist named Tom Swift. Unlike the previous series, it was not created by the Stratemeyer Syndicate, but was created by Byron Preiss Visual Productions for Simon & Schuster,...
series of books; as well as writing numerous westerns under the pen names Karl Lassiter and Jackson Lowry. He also wrote in mid-1970's for Book Creations, Inc., under house pseudonym Paul Kenyon, The Baroness. Similar work includes 8 novels written for the Nick Carter adventure series, the novel "Sea Fire" under the name Cliff Garnett, more than 100 novels written for a major western series, plus 8 novels written for another western series that was less enduring.
Vardeman is a longtime resident of Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He graduated from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
with a B.S. in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and a M.S. in materials science. He worked for Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories
The Sandia National Laboratories, managed and operated by the Sandia Corporation , are two major United States Department of Energy research and development national laboratories....
in the Solid State Physics Research Department before becoming a full-time writer.