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Rosenberg, Joel

(1954-2011) Canadian author, in the US from an early age; he began publishing sf with "Like the Gentle Rains" in Asimov's for February 1982, but clearly felt more comfortable with tales of novel length. His first book, The Sleeping Dragon (1983), a Sword-and-Sorcery fantasy, began the Recursive Guardians of the Flame sequence, which ends with Not Really the Prisoner of Zenda (2003). Other fantasy series include the D'Shai sequence comprising D'Shai (1991) and Hour of the Octopus (1994); the Keepers of the Hidden Ways beginning with Keepers of the Hidden Ways: The Fire Duke (1995) and ending with Keepers of the Hidden Ways: Book Three: The Crimson Sky (1990); and the Mordred's Heirs sequence comprising Paladins (2004) and Paladins II: Knight Moves (2006), set in an Alternate History where Mordred won [for details of all fantasy series see Checklist]. Of sf interest is the Thousand Worlds sequence comprising Ties of Blood and Silver (1984), Emile and the Dutchman (fixup 1986), Not for Glory (fixup 1988) and Hero (1990), set in several millennia hence in a human-settled galaxy, where mercantile Libertarians profit ad libitum; the premise of the series is that each planet was settled by citizens of a distinct nation, and retains national characteristics. Not for Glory and Hero focus on the Jewish planet of Metzada, from which tough mercenaries (who rather resemble Gordon R Dickson's Dorsai) issue forth into combat. The stereotyping of Israelis, French, Germans and Dutch (and others) seems light-hearted; and the gestural libertarianism that underlies the premise also arguably governed Rosenberg's own twenty-first century campaign against gun control in America.

He should not be confused with the born-again Christian writer Joel C Rosenberg (1967-    ). [JC]

Joel Rosenberg

born Winnipeg, Manitoba: 1 May 1954

died Minneapolis, Minnesota: 2 June 2011

works

series

Guardians of the Flame

• The Sleeping Dragon (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1983) [Guardians of the Flame: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
• The Sword and the Chain (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1984) [Guardians of the Flame: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
• The Silver Crown (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1985) [Guardians of the Flame: pb/Vincent Segrelles]
  • Guardians of the Flame: The Warriors (Garden City, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1985) [omni of the above three: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Steve Ferris]
• The Heir Apparent (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1987) [Guardians of the Flame: pb/Richard Bober]
• The Warrior Lives (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1989) [Guardians of the Flame: hb/Keith Parkinson]
  • Guardians of the Flame: The Heroes (New York: GuiltAmerica, 1989) [omni of the above two: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Janny Wurts]
    • Guardians of the Flame: The Legacy (New York: Baen Books, 2004) [omni of the above two: vt of the above: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Dominic Harman]
• The Road to Ehvenor (New York: Penguin Books/Roc, 1991) [Guardians of the Flame: hb/Keith Parkinson]
• The Road Home (New York: Penguin Books/Roc, 1995) [Guardians of the Flame: pb/Donato Giancola]
  • Guardians of the Flame: To Home and Ehvenor (New York: Baen Books, 2004) [omni of the above two: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Dominic Harman]
• Not Exactly the Three Musketeers (New York: Tor, 1999) [Alexandre Dumas: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Greg Call]
• Not Quite Scaramouche (New York: Tor, 2001) [Guardians of the Flame: hb/Todd Lockwood]
• Not Really the Prisoner of Zenda (New York: Tor, 2003) [Anthony Hope: Guardians of the Flame: hb/Todd Lockwood]

D'Shai

• D'Shai (New York: Ace Books, 1991) [D'Shai: pb/Darrell K Sweet]
• Hour of the Octopus (New York: Ace Books, 1994) [D'Shai: pb/Darrell K Sweet]

Keepers of the Hidden Ways

• Keepers of the Hidden Ways: The Fire Duke (New York: William Morrow/AvoNova, 1995) [Keepers of the Hidden Ways: hb/Matt Stawicki]
• Keepers of the Hidden Ways: Book Two: The Silver Stone (New York: Avon Books, 1996) [Keepers of the Hidden Ways: hb/Matt Stawicki]
• Keepers of the Hidden Ways: Book Three: The Crimson Sky (New York: Avon Eos, 1995) [Keepers of the Hidden Ways: pb/]

Thousand Worlds

• Ties of Blood and Silver (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1984) [Thousand Worlds: pb/Vincent Di Fate]
• Emile and the Dutchman (New York: New American Library/Signet Books, 1984) [fixup: Thousand Worlds: pb/Vincente Segrelles]
• Not for Glory (New York: New American Library, 1988) [fixup: Thousand Worlds: pb/Leonard Telesca]
• Hero (New York: Penguin Books/Roc, 1990) [Thousand Worlds: pb/Steve Huston]

Mordred's Heirs

• Paladins (New York: Baen Books, 2004) [Mordred's Heirs: hb/Gary Ruddell]
• Paladins II: Knight Moves (New York: Baen Books, 2006) [Mordred's Heirs: hb/Gary Ruddell]

individual titles

• Murder in LaMut: Legends of the RiftWar (New York: HarperCollins/Voyager, 2002) with Raymond E Feist [single contribution to the Raymond E Feist series: Legends of the RiftWar: hb/Geoff Taylor]

links

• Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Picture Gallery

Entry from The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (2011-current) edited by John Clute and David Langford.
Accessed 01:59 am on 20 July 2025.
<https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/rosenberg_joel>