Daniel H. Wilson


Daniel H. Wilson is a Cherokee citizen and novelist. Several of his books have been on the New York Times bestsellers list. of techno-thrillers such as Robopocalypse, The Andromeda Evolution, and How to Survive a Robot Uprising. Formerly, he worked as a television host and robotics engineer.

Early life, family and education

Daniel H. Wilson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the elder of two children. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.
Wilson attended Booker T. [Washington High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)|Booker T. Washington High School], graduating in 1996. He earned his B.S. in Computer Science at the University of Tulsa in 2000, spending one semester studying philosophy abroad in Melbourne, Australia at the University of Melbourne. He completed an M.S. in Robotics, another M.S. in Machine Learning, and his PhD in Robotics in 2005 at the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His thesis, Assistive Intelligent Environments for Automatic Health Monitoring, focused on providing automatic location and activity monitoring in the home via low-cost sensors such as motion detectors and contact switches. He has worked as a research intern at Microsoft Research, the Xerox PARC, Northrop Grumman, and Intel Research Seattle.

Novels

;Collections
;Anthologies edited
;Stories
  • "The Nostalgist"
  • "Parasite"
  • "Helmet"
  • "Freshee's Frogurt"
  • ""
  • "The Executor"
  • "Small Things"
  • "Kismet"
  • "The Blue Afternoon that Lasted Forever"
  • ""
  • "Bastion"
  • "Miss Gloria"
  • "Blood Memory"
  • "Special Automatic"
  • "One for Sorrow: A Clockwork Dynasty Story"
  • "Jack, the Determined"
  • "All Kinds of Proof"
  • "A History of Barbed Wire"
  • ""
  • ""
  • "Ocasta"
  • ""
  • ""

    Comic books

  • "Earth 2: World's End"
  • "Earth 2: Futures End"
  • "Earth 2: Society"
  • "Spring"

    Graphic novels

  • "Quarantine Zone", illustrated by Fernando Pasarin

    Apps

  • "Mayday! Deep Space", developed with Mountain Machine Studios and voiced by Osric Chau, Bitsie Tulloch, and Claire Coffee

    Critical studies and reviews of Wilson's work

;Press Start to play

  • Film adaptations

''How to Survive a Robot Uprising''

How to Survive A Robot Uprising, published during Wilson's final year of graduate school in late 2005, was optioned by Paramount Pictures. A screenplay was written by Tom Lennon and Ben Garant, and produced by Michael De Luca. Mike Myers was attached to star. The book's sequel How to Build a Robot Army was also optioned by Paramount Pictures. However, the options eventually expired.
In October 2010, the book was re-optioned by writer-director Steve Pink with Jack Black in mind to star.

''Bro-Jitsu''

In May 2007, Bro-Jitsu was optioned by Nickelodeon Movies and Wilson hired to write the screenplay.

''Robopocalypse''

In November 2009, Wilson sold his novel Robopocalypse to Doubleday, with Jason Kaufman coming on as editor. One day before rights to the novel were purchased, Wilson sold film rights to DreamWorks SKG, with Steven Spielberg officially signing on to direct. On March 7, 2018, Michael Bay replaced Spielberg as director over Spielberg's scheduling conflicts.

''Amped''

In November 2010, Wilson sold his novel Amped to Doubleday, working again with editor Jason Kaufman. Film rights to the novel were sold to Summit Entertainment, with Alex Proyas attached to direct.

''The Nostalgist''

In 2014, Wilson's short story was adapted into the short film The Nostalgist written and directed by Giacomo Cimini. The short film premièred June 19, 2014, at the Palm Springs International Shortfest.

''Alpha'' screenplay

In 2014, it was announced that Lionsgate Studios acquired the distributing rights to Wilson's screenplay for the sci-fi film Alpha. Anthony Scott Burns is attached to direct, and Brad Pitt is reportedly involved in production as well. A decade later, its status is unclear.

''Hole in the Sky''

Hole in the Sky was released in October 2025. Before the novel's debut, it was already optioned by Netflix via Aggregate Films for a feature film.

Television host

Wilson hosted The Works, a TV series on the History Channel. It debuted on July 10, 2008. Ten episodes of The Works aired, in which Wilson explained the hidden workings of common items, including sneakers, guns, beer, garbage, robots, skydiving, power tools, steel, motorcycles, and tattoos. Wilson has also appeared as himself in Modern Marvels and Countdown to Doomsday.

Personal life

Wilson resides in Portland, Oregon.