Dan Koboldt
Agent
Dan Koboldt is the author of the Gateways to Alissia trilogy (Harper Voyager), the Build-A-Dragon Sequence (Baen), and Silver Queendom (Angry Robot). He is also the editor of Putting the Science in Fiction and Putting the Fact in Fantasy (Writer’s Digest), and the creator of the sci-fi adventure serial The Triangle (Realm). As a genetics researcher, he has co-authored more than 100 publications in Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other scientific journals. Dan is also an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman. He lives with his wife and children in Ohio, where the deer take their revenge by eating the flowers in his backyard.
Find Dan on his website, or follow him on Twitter @DanKobolt.
Bibliography
- Build-A-DragonDomesticating Dragons (#1)Dan Koboldt
- Build-A-DragonDeploying Dragons (#2)Dan Koboldt
- StandaloneSilver QueendomDan Koboldt
- Non-FictionPutting the Fact in FantasyDan Koboldt
- Non-FictionPutting the Science in FictionDan Koboldt
- Gateways to AlissiaThe Rogue Retrieval (#1)Dan Koboldt
- Gateways to AlissiaThe Island Deception (#2)Dan Koboldt
- Gateways to AlissiaThe World Awakening (#3)Dan Koboldt
Reviews
Build-A-Dragon
Domesticating Dragons (#1)
“With characteristic verve, Koboldt contrasts the playful adventure plot with the eerily dystopian setting and a searing examination of corporate greed and ambition. Fans of inventive speculative fiction are sure to be pleased.”
“Koboldt does a fantastic job… a fantastic, and definitely different, follow-up to his debut trilogy. I’ll take more of this, please!”
“Lab-based science fiction, with its grounding in the real world, real situations and people who feel like friends rather than out-of-this-world superheroes is a lot of fun when it’s done right. It’s done right in DOMESTICATING DRAGONS, with its geeky hero who saves the day, gets the girl and fulfills all of our dreams of dragons.”
“DOMESTICATING DRAGONS was an enjoyable read. Koboldt put his training as a geneticist to good work… but it’s not SO hard-sciencey that you can’t follow along.”
“A fun ride through the science of bringing dragons to life, not as monsters but as pets.”
“A fun read, with an engaging cast of characters, not the least of which, unsurprisingly, are the dragons.”
“I recommend the book to anyone interested in genetic engineering to get a picture of a possible future. For dragon lovers, this is a must-read!”
“I have no idea if any of this is even remotely plausible but it’s a lot of fun!”
“Koboldt weaves a highly entertaining, fast-paced, and technically adroit tale in DOMESTICATING DRAGONS, one which should whet the appetite of anyone who dreams of having their own dragon someday.”Keith Willis, author of the Kilbourne Knight series
Deploying Dragons (#2)
“Full of thrilling invention and discovery and show-stealing dragons, this one is for every reader who's ever dreamed of riding or at least training their very own winged beast.”
Standalone
Silver Queendom
"This epic fantasy about a crew of misfits with just a touch of magic and heartbreaking backstories is a rollicking good time of a read. Readers who fell for Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief are going to be head over heels for Koboldt’s latest."
"Koboldt keeps the pace flying through the ensuing daring heist. Readers will hope to see more of Darin and company in future installments."
"Rivalries, double-crosses, as well as schemes gone wrong and right fill the pages of this entertaining ride of a story."
"Silver Queendom is a palate cleanser with its charming main characters and fast paced action. The comedic elements and promise of heist filled adventures are why I picked up this book. The heartfelt bond between the characters is why I finished. I hope we see more of the Red Rooster crew."
"If you have a fondness for heist stories, this one is not to be missed, especially if you enjoy the good humor and camaraderie of a fantastic group of characters. Recommended for avid fantasy fans and newcomers to the genre alike."
"This was a fun and easy read, the various rivalries and risks were exciting, and Darin’s schemes were intelligent and fun to follow. All in all, this is a strong start to what I certainly hope is a series we might get return to."
"Koboldt delivers imaginative action and cool twists [...] and strong character interactions. Combine it with minimal world-building and you get fast-paced low fantasy goodness that can be easily devoured in one sitting. "
"I can’t wait to read more from Dan Koboldt. I really jive with his writing style and would recommend Silver Queendom to anyone in need of a fast and fun book."
"One of the most entertaining fantasy books I have read in a long time"
"Silver Queendom by Dan Koboldt impressed me in the best of ways. He brought an exciting story to life in a way that made reading effortless with a loveable group of ragtag protagonists building a home together. [...] I highly recommend this gem."
"It has many prominent female characters, to my delight. This was a fun read and I enjoyed it a lot."
Non-Fiction
Putting the Fact in Fantasy
"Putting the Fact in Fantasy contains 52 essays meant to help fantasy authors build believable worlds. This is an excellent resource that I’ll use in my own writing."
"This definitely is a resource that I could find myself going back to time and time again.”
Putting the Science in Fiction
"The entries are brief, knowledgeable, and highly entertaining, like hearing an exasperated friend rant about his or her area of expertise.”Booklist
"Every writer should have a copy on his or her bookshelf.”
"The basic information is here as jumping off points, some delve into much more detail, and many offer up other resources to dig into the topics more deeply…a useful, well-written resource. Recommended.”
"One of the most entertaining and enjoyable books we have read recently. It is a thoughtful, engrossing, well-written and well-edited compendium of guidance on a wide range of subjects.”
"Putting the Science in Fiction is definitely a resource every writer should have in their toolbox.”
"The chapters are concisely written and easy to read. This book is for you if you’re interested in making more storytelling more accurate and interesting, whether your medium is comics, novels, film, or television, or you’re simply a curious nerd like me who finds books like this fascinating.”
"This book is a brilliant resource, both for writers and for those with a more general interest in science.”
"I found this book very helpful and think that as a resource I will be referring to it for a long time to come."
"[A] fabulous collection of articles about scientific topics of interest to authors. Topics are wide-ranging and include biology, medicine, computer science, geology, and space travel, among others.
"I recommend it to just about everyone—writers, readers—anyone looking to have some of their questions about habitable atmospheres, nanotechnology, and space flight answered"
Gateways to Alissia
The Rogue Retrieval (#1)
"With a world that can offer both sci-fi and fantasy storytelling, Koboldt has a very large canvas to work with, and The Rogue Retrieval is an excellent first stroke. Recommended."
"Koboldt has written a cracking debut novel with The Rogue Retrieval and there is something for both high fantasy and urban fantasy readers. I am already looking forward to Bradley's next adventure."
"Dan Koboldt’s new book is an entertaining urban fantasy with a fascinating angle, great if you’re in the mood for something light, fluffy and fun. I’m looking forward to see where the story will go."
"The next book in this series (oh please let there be a next book!) is set up to be marvelous."
"The writing is crisp, the story moves quickly, and the characters are well drawn… This is a more than impressive first novel; it is a rollicking good read.”Galaxy's Edge Magazine
"This is a fast-paced adventure with likable characters."
"The fun of this story is watching the team dodge, lie and fight their way across a medieval world where their charade could cost them their lives.”
"A cool premise, a likeable hero, and suspenseful action make The Rogue Retrieval a fun read.”Eric James Stone, Nebula award winner and author of Unforgettable
"A great concept and lots of fun. One of those books you wish you thought of yourself and wonder why you haven’t read it before.”Auston Habershaw, Writers of the Future winner and author of The Iron Ring
"Quinn is the sort of character who you want to see win–or at least survive to run away another day.”J.C. Nelson, author of the Grimm Agency series
The Island Deception (#2)
“The short chapters, entertaining characters, and witty dialog certainly helped the pages turn long into the night, and when I finally finished only one thought came to mind: when’s the next one out? In my eyes, when a book leaves you with that feeling you know you’ve got a winner. Recommended.”
"if you like your heroes touched with a spark (or snark) of anti-hero, Quinn is a gem. Whether he’s real or paste is anybody’s guess – sometimes even his own. I can’t wait to discover how Quinn’s adventure plays out (hopefully in The World Awakening next year), whichever side he decides he’s on."
"The Island Deception is a fast, fun sequel to The Rogue Retrieval. Once again Quinn and crew step through that portal to further the interests of a shadowy corporation. The return to Alissia increases the stakes and sets up the stage for book 3. Bring on The World Awakening."
"I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, The Rogue Retrieval, and this sequel didn’t disappoint.”
"A lively, even compulsive, read. More Quinn Bradley, please.”
"Good job, Koboldt. I both love and hate you now.”
The World Awakening (#3)
"The World Awakening is a great conclusion to what is a very readable and highly enjoyable series. Characters that are more than the sum of their parts, a world that has so much to offer, and a story that races along apace – the Gateways to Alissia books have it all."
"The World Awakening is a terrific story, and it brings the saga of Alissia to a fantastic, resounding and satisfying conclusion. And I enjoyed every step of the journey"
"The World Awakening is a satisfying end to a fun trilogy. It delivers on the promises of the first two books"
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and the humor were great, and the ending even had a couple of surprises."
"By the end of The World Awakening, plots, subplots, and character arcs weave together for a rousing conclusion, one that lays bare the genesis and the future of the gateway, as well as the fates of the doomed, the redeemed, and the enchanted. A pitch perfect showpiece from a new and already accomplished writer."
Awards & Accolades
Build-A-Dragon
Domesticating Dragons (#1)
Standalone
Non-Fiction
Putting the Fact in Fantasy
#71 in the Science Fiction & Fantasy Literary Criticism category on Amazon
#164 in the Fiction Writing Reference category on Amazon