Mike Shepherd (author)


Mike Shepherd is the pen name of Mike Moscoe, an American science fiction writer who lives in Vancouver, Washington. He was born to a Navy family and travelled a lot as a child. It was not until high school that he finished a year in the school he started.
WWW Official Site

Literary career

Born in Philadelphia, Shepherd sold his first published writing to the science fiction magazine Analog [Science Fiction and Fact|Analog]. It was a short story called "Summer Hopes, Winter Dreams" and appeared in the March 1991 issue.
His short story "A Day's Work on the Moon" was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novelette in 2000.
Shepherd has written about one book a year. His first three books, the Lost Millennium series had a combined sales of just over 20,000 copies, so his editor suggested that he switch genres, to military science fiction set in the future. His next three books, the Society of Humanity series sold better, at over 10,000 copies each, but not as high as was hoped. To make a fresh start for his next series, his editor suggested that he write under a new pseudonym.
His third and ongoing series, published as "Mike Shepherd", covers the exploits of Kris Longknife, a rich young naval officer who struggles to deal with the expectations and reputation of her famous family of military leaders, politicians, and billionaires. The first book, Mutineer, was published in 2004 to greater success than his previous books. In a review for Tor.com, Liz Bourke described the series as "pure fluff" of the good kind, that is, intellectually lightweight but "entertainingly sticky, full of implausible successes, assassins, fleet actions and daredevil do-or-die gallantry".
His contract with Ace Books expired in 2016, ending a 2 decade relationship, and in 2017, he founded his own independent publisher, KL & MM Books, to continue publishing his works, especially the Society of Humanity fictional universe works.

List of works

Lost Millennium

written as Mike Moscoe
  1. First Dawn
  2. Second Fire
  3. ''Lost Days''

Society of Humanity universe

Jump Universe books

First trilogy written as Mike Moscoe, originally referred to as "The Ray Longknife books", renamed in 2012 to "Jump Universe books" and republished under the name Mike Shepherd.
  1. The First Casualty
  2. The Price of Peace
  3. They Also Serve
  4. :Interwar-period War
  5. To Do or Die
  6. :Iteeche War
  7. Rita Longknife: Enemy Unknown
  8. Rita Longknife: Enemy in Sight

Kris Longknife books

Written as Mike Shepherd
  1. Mutineer
  2. Deserter
  3. Defiant
  4. * 3.5. Training Daze Companion short novel
  5. Resolute
  6. Audacious
  7. Intrepid
  8. Undaunted
  9. Redoubtable — previously called Superb, changed after release of Undaunted where the author stated the next volume's working title in the "About the Author" blurb.
  10. Daring — crossover preceding the Vicky Peterwald trilogy, directly preceding Vicky Peterwald: Target
  11. * 9.5. Welcome Home/Go Away Companion short novel
  12. Furious
  13. * 10.5. Kris Longknife's Bloodhound Companion short novel
  14. Defender
  15. Tenacious
  16. Unrelenting — previously called Relentless, changed to Unrelenting in March 2015 At the end, Kris Longknife is ordered back to human space and replaced by Sandy Santiago, beginning her series.
  17. * 13.5 Kris Longknife Among the Kicking Birds , This story was originally part of Kris Longknife - Unrelenting but these 7600 words had to be cut because the novel was too long. Now you can read the full story that was covered in one short paragraph in Unrelenting.
  18. Bold — crossover ending the Vicky Peterwald trilogy, directly succeeding Vicky Peterwald: Rebel
  19. * 14.1. Ruth Longknife's First Christmas: A Kris Longknife Christmas Companion short story
  20. * 14.9. Kris Longknife's Bad Day Companion short novel , This story was the original opening chapters for Emissary, but was cut and replaced.
  21. Emissary There is a 5-year gap between Bold and Emissary. Not available in Trade Paperback, only available in oversized Paperback.
  22. Admiral Not available in Trade Paperback, only available in oversized Paperback.
  23. Commanding Not available in Trade Paperback, only available in oversized Paperback.
  24. Indomitable Not available in Trade Paperback, only available in oversized Paperback.
  25. Stalwart Not available in Trade Paperback, only available in oversized Paperback.

Vicky Peterwald books

Written as Mike Shepherd
  1. Target — A spin-off from Kris Longknife: Daring
  2. Survivor
  3. Rebel
  4. * Kris Longknife 14: Bold is the second crossover between the Kris Longknife and Vicky Peterwald series, taking place between Rebel and Dominator.
  5. Dominator
  6. ''Implacable''

Sandy Santiago books

Written as Mike Shepherd
  1. Kris Longknife's Replacement: Admiral Santiago on Alwa Station Maria Sandy Santiago takes over Alva Station from Kris Longknife.
  2. * 1.5. Kris Longknife’s Maid Goes on Strike Segue between Replacement and Relief. Companion short story
  3. Kris Longknife's Relief: Admiral Santiago on Alwa Station
  4. Kris Longknife's Successor: Grand Admiral Santiago on Alwa Station

Longknives books

  1. Longknifes Defend the Legation
  2. * Occurs immediately after Kris Longknive's ''Indomitable''

Works in others' series

  • ''Patriot's Stand''

Non-series books

A Day's Work on the Moon: A Collection of Short Stories The Job Interview: A Collection of Short Stories
  • ''The Strange Redemption of Sister Mary Ann: A Collection of Short Stories''

Businesses

In 2017, Mike Shepherd established his own independent publisher, KL & MM Books.