David Drake Books in Order

Where to Start with David Drake

David Drake was a defining voice of modern military science fiction. A Vietnam veteran who served with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Drake transformed his wartime trauma into some of the most visceral, psychologically authentic sci-fi and fantasy ever written. Because he penned over 100 novels and short stories, his bibliography can look intimidating. Here is where you should begin:

• For Military Sci-Fi: Start with the original collection, Hammer's Slammers (1979). It introduces Colonel Alois Hammer's tank mercenaries and establishes the gritty, realistic tone of the entire Hammerverse.
• For Space Opera: Begin with With the Lightnings (1998), the first novel in the Lt. Leary/RCN series. Inspired by Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin naval adventures, it is a lighter but incredibly engaging space adventure.
• For Fantasy: Pick up Lord of the Isles (1997), the starting point for his major epic fantasy setting inspired by Sumerian mythology and medieval technology.
• For a Powerful Standalone: Read Redliners (1996). Often called Drake's masterpiece, it deals directly with the psychological weight of PTSD, combat trauma, and the complex relationship between soldiers and the civilians they protect.

The Hammer's Slammers Universe (The Hammerverse)

Drake's breakout work began as a series of episodic short stories. While you can read individual stories as standalones, following the publishing order allows you to see how Drake's style and universe evolved. Alternatively, the three-volume Complete Hammer's Slammers omnibus editions published by Night Shade Books compile these stories and novels into a structured, chronological format.

If you are reading the individual books, the standard publication order is:

1. Hammer's Slammers (1979) - The foundational short story collection.
2. Cross the Stars (1984) - A companion novel exploring the aftermath of the mercenary life.
3. At Any Price (1985) - A novel focusing on the planetary conflicts and alien worlds of the Slammers' universe.
4. Counting the Cost (1987) - Introduces larger military campaigns and political intrigue.
5. Rolling Hot (1989) - Follows a recruit's perspective during a chaotic retreat.
6. The Warrior (1991) - Explores the psychological toll on veteran commanders.
7. The Sharp End (1993) - A transition novel focusing on a survey team instead of heavy armor.
8. The Voyage (1994) - A space exploration novel set in the shared Hammerverse.
9. The Tank Lords (1997) - A collection gathering key novellas and stories.
10. Paying the Piper (2002) - The final full novel set directly within the Slammers' timeline.

The Lt. Leary / RCN Series

This 13-book series is widely considered one of Drake's most consistent and enjoyable projects. The novels follow the adventures of Daniel Leary, an officer in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy, and Adele Mundy, a librarian and spy. Together, they navigate interstellar conflicts that parallel the political landscape of the historic Mediterranean and Napoleonic wars.

We recommend reading this series strictly in publication order, as the political landscape and character relationships develop continuously:

1. With the Lightnings (1998)
2. Lt. Leary, Commanding (2000)
3. The Far Side of the Stars (2003)
4. The Way to Glory (2005)
5. Some Golden Harbor (2006)
6. When the Tide Rises (2008)
7. In the Stormy Red Sky (2009)
8. What Distant Deeps (2010)
9. The Road of Danger (2012)
10. The Sea Without a Shore (2014)
11. Death's Bright Day (2016)
12. Though Hell Should Bar the Way (2018)
13. To Clear Away the Shadows (2019)

Note that the final book, To Clear Away the Shadows, shifts focus away from Daniel and Adele to secondary characters on a scientific voyage, acting as an atmospheric epilogue to the series.

Lord of the Isles (Epic Fantasy)

Drake was not just a science fiction writer; his Lord of the Isles series is a sprawling high-fantasy epic. The series is divided into the primary six-book sequence and a concluding three-book sequel series titled Crown of the Isles. You should read the original six books before starting the sequel trilogy.

The Main Series:

1. Lord of the Isles (1997)
2. Queen of Demons (1998)
3. Servant of the Dragon (1999)
4. Mistress of the Catacombs (2001)
5. Goddess of the Ice Realm (2003)
6. Master of the Cauldron (2004)

Crown of the Isles Sequel Trilogy:

1. The Fortress of Glass (2006)
2. The Mirror of Worlds (2007)
3. The Gods Return (2008)

Major Co-Authored Sagas

Drake was a prolific collaborator, outlining detailed plots for other major writers to execute. Two of these collaborations are essential reading for military SF and alternate history fans:

The Belisarius Series (with Eric Flint)

This six-book alternate history series follows the historical Byzantine general Belisarius, who is aided by a futuristic crystalline intelligence to stop a dark threat in India. Read them in chronological order:

1. An Oblique Approach (1998)
2. In the Heart of Darkness (1998)
3. Destiny's Shield (1999)
4. Fortune's Stroke (2000)
5. The Tide of Victory (2001)
6. The Dance of Time (2006)

The General / Raj Whitehall Series

Set on a fallen colony planet, this series features a commander aided by a pre-collapse military supercomputer to reunify his world. Drake outlined the series, while S.M. Stirling wrote the first seven novels. Later books featured Eric Flint and Tony Daniel.

1. The Forge (1991) - with S.M. Stirling
2. The Hammer (1992) - with S.M. Stirling
3. The Anvil (1993) - with S.M. Stirling
4. The Steel (1993) - with S.M. Stirling
5. The Sword (1995) - with S.M. Stirling
6. The Chosen (1996) - with S.M. Stirling
7. The Reformer (1999) - with S.M. Stirling
8. The Tyrant (2002) - with Eric Flint
9. The Heretic (2013) - with Tony Daniel
10. The Savior (2014) - with Tony Daniel

The Honorverse Connection: Clarifying the Bibliography

Many online bibliographies list David Drake under the Honorverse series (created by David Weber). This is a common point of confusion for readers. Drake did not write the Honorverse novels. He only contributed a single novella, "A Grand Tour," to the first Honorverse anthology, More Than Honor (1998). Interestingly, Drake noted that writing this novella alongside Weber helped him test the dual-protagonist concept that he immediately adapted to write his own RCN series.