Science fiction author, writing big cosmic
mysteries involving long-lost
alien races, artifacts,
hyperspace travel,
planet-wide disasters, and other common SF elements, all with a healthy (though sometimes unneeded) dose of
summer blockbuster action. A common theme of his novels are examinations of
the Fermi Paradox and the
Drake equation -
why is the universe silent? In his larger epic works the thoughts put forth in the action usually imply that space-faring civilizations only last so long - that we are lost to the others in time, as well as space.
Short Bio
Jack, a former
customs officer and
motivational trainer, began to write
science fiction in 1980 at the suggestion of his wife Maureen. In 1986 he had his first novel published in the
Ace Specials Series. Since then his works have been nominated for numerous SF awards over the years (he has been a
Nebula finalist seven out of the last eight years). He seems to be well-revered for being one of those 'ordinary guys' who decided to pick up a pen one day, perservered, and is now a frequently published and well-regarded author of a rather
marginalized genre of fiction. He's no literary giant, but the books are often enjoyable yarns, in the tradition of
Clarke and
Asimov.
Bibliography
The Hercules Text
1986
A Talent for War
1989*
Engines of God 1995*
Standard Candles (Short Stories)
1996
Ancient Shores
1996
Eternity Road
1998*
Moonfall
1999
Infinity Beach (U.K.: Slow Lightning)
2001*
Hello Out There (inc. The Hercules Text / A Talent for War)
2000
Deepsix
2002
Chindi 2003
Omega 2004
Polaris 2005
(* denotes my personal recommendations & be warned that Chindi and Omega are definite duds!)
Jack McDevitt's homepage: http://www.sfwa.org/members/McDevitt/