Meeting a Science Fiction Icon

Posted on by Ken

Last week I attended a small writer’s conference with some pretty well known science fiction authors whose careers I’ve been following for years.  Special guests at the conference included David Weber. Yes THE David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington, Safehold, Dahak series, and much more! I stood in the presence of a living legend who has sparked the imaginations of so many readers. I listened as a true master craftsman told us about his writing career and I even got to hear about some of his upcoming projects. 

Sometimes meeting the people whose creative work you admire can actually be a negative experience. Be it a musician or a writer. The person who actually creates the art can be quite different than the person we imagine them to be. Getting a chance to meet David Weber was a tremendous experience. It took me a little bit of time to contain my enthusiasm. I was happy to learn just how genuine and nice a person that Mr. Weber was. Very easy to talk to. Just listening to him speak left you with a sense that David Weber is a master storyteller. One whose skill I’m working to achieve with each book that I write. I have a few authors whose skill and mastery at storytelling I’d like to emulate both in science fiction and in other genres. 

  For me it was awe inspiring to meet the man who created such rich worlds that I’ve spent so many hours of my life lost in. I’ve been on Dahak’s command deck with Colin MacIntyre as he struggle to save humanity from an invading fleet of over a million ships. I’ve witnessed Honor Harrington serve in the Royal Manticorian Navy as she ascended the ranks and overcame astonishing odds. I’ve even enjoyed seeing Merlin fight for humanity’s future and soul in the Safeholdian universe. 

Reading David Weber’s work for so many years was a major driving force that inspired me to write science fiction. It was nice to discover the person behind the stories and learn that we had some things in common. We’re both just two people who are trying to do what’s best for our family, and we’re both fathers with kids who are of similar ages. If you’ve raised teenagers then I’m sure we have some common ground too. 

No meeting would be complete without a picture being taken so here is mine with one of my favorite authors in the universe.

Last but not least, my current status. 

I’m writing Fracture – First Colony Book 8 and am making great progress. Tentative release for this will be the latter half of June. Vigilance – First Colony book 7 is currently in production for audio and also has a tentative release in June. The month of June is going to be a great month for releases.

Have you ever met an author in person? How’d it go?

9 thoughts on “Meeting a Science Fiction Icon”

  1. I’m glad to hear you had such a great experience with David! He truly is a wonderful author and person. I count myself lucky to know him. His Honorverse has introduced me to so many wonderful people, including my girlfriend! I’ve been a member of TRMN for seven years and had the honor of helping to put on MantiCon for its first four years. I always look forward to spending time with David and Sharon.

    I’m currently finishing my second pass on the Ascension series and waiting for First Colony – Book 8.
    Keep up the great work, Ken!

    In Service to the Queen,
    Drew Drentlaw, GCE, MC, DSO, GS, QBM, CBM
    Commander, HMS Invincible – RMN
    Editor, BuPlan
    Baron Glencairn

    1. I met Sharon too. She’s great. A girlfriend who also reads science fiction is a win in my book. 🙂

      Thanks,
      Ken

  2. It’s great to hear that you had such a great time meeting someone who inspired you! I’d like to say that I just finished book seven of the first colony series and I’m already looking forward to the next one! Ill have to keep checking in to see how its progressing. Keep up the great work!

  3. I met David Weber in July of 2011 at a local science fiction convention in Omaha. I had resisted reading his Honor Harrington series for years because I foolishly thought a female protagonist couldn’t keep a series afloat for all those books. Boy, was I wrong! I started my journey through the Star Kingdom of Manticore with “The Shadow of Saganami”, and read everything he had printed almost as quickly as he would write it. This led me to read the rest of his portfolio, and I discovered the Starfire series of books. It was remarkably similar to a board game that my friends and my brother would play that was also called Starfire. It turns out that David was one of the authors of the expansion pack that we loved to play.

    I have attended several other conventions where David was the GOH, and I could sit and listen to him read excerpts from his books as long as he wants to. He is a consummate storyteller and also very engaging to hold a conversation with. One of my favorite memories is having breakfast with him the day after I was outbid in my quest to win his Redshirt Auction. My wife and I had the rare privilege of joining him at his table for breakfast in the hotel.

    If I could post a photo, Ken, I would share one with you. I am the guy on the left, also.

  4. I met Ray Bradbury a long time ago. It was weird. He didn’t speak like his books are written. He was indeed interesting, though not even close to what I expected.

  6. hi Ken,
    Since you saw David Webber tell him to get back to work, we want more honor books, and yea I know she will retire soon, that is ok.

    I enjoyed your post very much.

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