Keith, William H, Jr
Entry updated 6 March 2023. Tagged: Author.
(1950- ) US author who has specialized in Military SF sequences, often Tied to Games or other proprietary worlds; it is presumed that those written for enterprises like the Wargame Battletech are Sharecrops. He is efficient and prolific, but relatively few individual characteristics manifest themselves. Though his very frequent use of pseudonyms – some of them with his brother, Andrew Keith, some of them not necessarily revealed, as well as his work as a ghostwriter – makes it hard to establish his first publications, he may have begun publishing work of genre interest with BattleTech: Decision at Thunder Rift (1986), the first of six contributions to that world. The Freedom's Rangers sequence – all with Andrew Keith (whom see for details) under the joint pseudonym Keith William Andrews – is of some interest, as is the Warstrider sequence, in which humanity must fight back against an enemy force from the stars inimical to all life (see Fred Saberhagen for his seminal Berserker sequence). The Cybernarc sequence beginning with Cybernarc (1991) as by Robert Cain (a House Name) is about a Cyborg detective.
Other Military SF sequences include: the Heritage books beginning with Semper Mars (1998) as by Ian Douglas (Keith's most used pseudonym), in which the discovery of Alien artefacts in the solar system stirs up trouble, and gives hints of the origin of our species; the Legacy books beginning with Star Corps (2003) as by Ian Douglas, in which Aliens cause interstellar problems; the Inheritance and Star Carrier sequences as by Ian Douglas which carry on in the same efficient vein; and yet further Ian Douglas sequences listed below. [JC]
see also: Traveller.
William Henry Keith Jr
born 8 August 1950
works
series
Doctor Who
- Doctor Who and the Rebel's Gamble: A Solo-Play Adventure Game (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1986) [tie to the Doctor Who universe: pb/Harry Quinn]
- Doctor Who and the Vortex Crystal: A Solo-Play Adventure Game (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1986) [tie to the Doctor Who universe: pb/Harry Quinn]
BattleTech
- BattleTech: Decision at Thunder Rift (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1986) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/Jim Holloway]
- BattleTech: Mercenary's Star (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1987) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/David R Deitrick]
- BattleTech: The Price of Glory (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1987) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/David R Deitrick]
- BattleTech: Blood of Heroes (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1993) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/Boris Vallejo]
- BattleTech: Tactics of Duty (New York: Penguin/Roc, 1995) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/Romas Kukalis]
- Battletech 27: Operation Excalibur (New York: Penguin/Roc, 1996) [tie to BattleTech: BattleTech: pb/Roger Loveless]
Freedom's Rangers
- Freedom's Rangers (New York: Berkley Books, 1989) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
- Freedom's Rangers #2: Raiders of the Revolution (New York: Berkley Books, 1989) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
- Freedom's Rangers #3: Search and Destroy (New York: Berkley Books, 1990) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
- Freedom's Rangers #4: Treason in Time (New York: Berkley Books, 1990) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
- Freedom's Rangers #5: Sink the Armada (New York: Berkley Books, 1990) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
- Freedom's Rangers: Snow Kill (New York: Berkley Books, 1991) with Andrew Keith, together as Keith William Andrews [Freedom's Rangers: pb/]
Cybernarc
- Cybernarc (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1991) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
- Cybernarc #2: Gold Dragon (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1991) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
- Cybernarc #3: Island Kill (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1992) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
- Cybernarc #4: Capo's Revenge (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1992) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
- Cybernarc #5: Shark Bait (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1992) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
- Cybernarc #6: End Game (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1993) as by Robert Cain [Cybernarc: pb/Rick Nemo]
Buck Rogers
- Buck Rogers: Nomads of the Sky (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR, 1992) [tie: Buck Rogers: Invaders of Charon: pb/Doug Chaffee]
- Buck Rogers: Warlords of Jupiter (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin: TSR, 1993) [tie: Buck Rogers: Invaders of Charon: pb/David O Miller]
Fifth Foreign Legion
- The Fifth Foreign Legion #1: March or Die (New York: Penguin/Roc, 1992) with Andrew Keith [Fifth Foreign Legion: pb/Richard Hescox]
- The Fifth Foreign Legion #2: Honor and Fidelity (New York: Penguin/Roc, 1992) with Andrew Keith [Fifth Foreign Legion: pb/Richard Hescox]
- The Fifth Foreign Legion (Monument, Colorado: WordFire Press, 2016) with Andrew Keith [omni of the above two: plus The Fitch Foreign Legion: Cohort of the Damned by Andrew Keith alone: pb/]
Warstrider
- Warstrider (New York: AvoNova, 1993) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
- Warstrider: Rebellion (New York: AvoNova, 1993) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
- Warstrider: Jackers (New York: AvoNova, 1994) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
- Warstrider: Symbionts (New York: AvoNova, 1995) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
- Warstrider: Netlink (New York: AvoNova, 1995) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
- Warstrider: Battlemind (New York: AvoNova, 1996) [Warstrider: pb/Dorian Vallejo]
Heritage
- Semper Mars (New York: AvonEos, 1998) as by Ian Douglas [Heritage: pb/Paul Stinson]
- Luna Marine (New York: AvonEos, 1999) as by Ian Douglas [Heritage: pb/Paul Stinson]
- Europa Strike (New York: AvonEos, 2000) as by Ian Douglas [Heritage: pb/Paul Stinson]
Frontier Earth
- Frontier Earth (New York: Ace Books, 1999) as by Bruce Boxleitner [ghost-written for the actor: Frontier Earth: pb/Cliff Miller]
- Searcher (New York: Ace Books, 2001) as by Bruce Boxleitner [ghost-written for the actor: Frontier Earth: pb/Cliff Miller]
Bolo
- Bolo Brigade (New York: Baen Books, 1997) [tie to the Bolo series by Keith Laumer: pb/C W Kelly]
- Bolo Rising (New York: Baen Books, 1998) [tie to the Bolo series by Keith Laumer: pb/Charles Keegan]
- Bolo Strike (New York: Baen Books, 2001) [tie to the Bolo series by Keith Laumer: pb/Dru Blair]
Legacy
- Star Corps (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2003) as by Ian Douglas [Legacy: pb/]
- Battlespace (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2006) as by Ian Douglas [Legacy: pb/]
- Star Marines (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2007) as by Ian Douglas [Legacy: pb/]
Retief
- Retief's Peace (New York: Baen Books, 2005) [tie to the Retief series by Keith Laumer: hb/Kurt Miller]
Inheritance
- Star Strike (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2008) as by Ian Douglas [Inheritance: pb/Fred Gambino]
- Galactic Corps (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2008) as by Ian Douglas [Inheritance: pb/Fred Gambino]
- Semper Human (New York: HarperCollins/Eos, 2009) as by Ian Douglas [Inheritance: pb/Fred Gambino]
Star Carrier
- Star Carrier: Earth Strike (New York: HarperCollins Eos, 2010) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Book Two: Center of Gravity (New York: HarperCollins Eos, 2011) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Book Three: Singularity (New York: HarperCollins Eos, 2012) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Book Four: Deep Space (New York: HarperCollins Eos, 2013) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Dark Matter (New York: HarperVoyager, 2014) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Deep Time (New York: HarperVoyager, 2015) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Dark Mind (New York: HarperVoyager, 2017) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Bright Light (New York: HarperVoyager, 2018) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Star Carrier: Stargods (New York: Harper Voyager, 2020) as by Ian Douglas [Star Carrier: pb/Gregory Bridges]
Star Corpsman
- Bloodstar` (New York: Harper Voyager, 2012) as by Ian Douglas [Star Corpsman: pb/Fred Gambino]
- Abyss Deep (New York: Harper Voyager, 2013) as by Ian Douglas [Star Corpsman: pb/Fred Gambino]
Andromedan Dark
- Altered Starscape (New York: Harper Voyager, 2016) as by Ian Douglas [Andromedan Dark: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Darkness Falling (New York: Harper Voyager, 2017) as by Ian Douglas [Andromedan Dark: pb/Gregory Bridges]
Solar Warden
- Alien Secrets (New York: Harper Voyager, 2020) as by Ian Douglas [Solar Warden: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Alien Hostilities (New York: Harper Voyager, 2021) as by Ian Douglas [Solar Warden: pb/Gregory Bridges]
- Alien Agendas (New York: Harper Voyager, 2023) as by Ian Douglas [Solar Warden: pb/]
individual titles and single contributions to tied series
- Renegade's Honor (Chicago, Illinois: FASA Corporation, 1988) [tie to the Wargame Renegade Legion: pb/David R Deitrick]
- Sharuq (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1993) [pb/]
- Stingray (New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1994) as Bill Keith [pb/John Berkey]
- Diplomatic Act (New York: Baen Books/Starline, 1998) with Peter Jurasik [Peter Jurasik (1950- ) is an actor who has appeared in Babylon 5: hb/Gary Ruddell]
- Star*Drive: Two of Minds (Renton, Washington: Wizards of the Coast, 2000) [tie: Alternity: pb/D Alexander Gregory]
- Android: Free Fall (Roseville, Minnesota: Fantasy Flight Publishing, 2012) [tie to the Board Game: pb/Remko Troost]
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