Shepherd, Joel
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(1974- ) Australian author whose work has been primarily restricted to two series. The Cassandra Kresnov sequence, comprising Crossover (2001), Breakaway (2003), Killswitch (2004), 23 Years on Fire (2013) and Operation Shield (2014), follows the intricate exploits and discoveries of the eponymous weaponized Android in a large-scale Space Opera venue, with two Galactic Empires in a state of continuing War with one another, the League, whose capital is Earth and which possesses the Technology to manufacture her, and the Federation, whose conservative mores are inimical to AIs. Much of the complicated action takes place on the Federation planet of Callay, where Cassandra applies her skills in ambivalent (but extremely violent) contexts. In Operation Shield, with Cassandra now burdened with friends, enemies, lovers and three adopted children, the story arc may be peaking, though Military SF tropes continue to dominate the action.
Shepherd's second series, the Trial of Blood and Steel sequence beginning with Sasha (2007), is martial fantasy. [JC]
Joel Shepherd
born Adelaide, South Australia: 1974
works
series
Cassandra Kresnov
- Crossover (Moss Vale, New South Wales: HarperCollins/Voyager, 2001) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Carol McLean-Carr]
- Breakaway (Moss Vale, New South Wales: HarperCollins/Voyager, 2003) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Carol McLean-Carr]
- Killswitch (Moss Vale, New South Wales: HarperCollins/Voyager, 2004) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Carol McLean-Carr]
- 23 Years on Fire (Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2013) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Stephan Martinière]
- Operation Shield (Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2014) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Stephan Martinière]
- Originator (Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 2015) [Cassandra Kresnov: pb/Stephan Martinière]
A Trial of Blood and Steel
- Sasha (Sydney, New South Wales: Hachette Australia, 2007) [Trial of Blood and Steel: pb/Jeremy Reston]
- Petrodor (Sydney, New South Wales: Hachette Australia, 2008) [Trial of Blood and Steel: pb/Jeremy Reston]
- Tracato (Sydney, New South Wales: Hachette Australia/Orbit, 2009) [Trial of Blood and Steel: pb/Jeremy Reston]
- Haven (Sydney, New South Wales: Hachette Australia/Orbit, 2010) [Trial of Blood and Steel: pb/Jeremy Reston]
links
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