Mike Shepherd (author)


Mike Shepherd, born Mike Moscoe, is an American science fiction writer who lives in Vancouver, Washington. He was born in August 2, 1947 in Philadelphia 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.

Literary career

After a career in government, Shepherd sold his first published writing to the science fiction magazine 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".

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 published 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
  9. Rita Longknife: Landing Party

    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 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.
  22. Admiral
  23. Commanding
  24. Indomitable
  25. Stalwart
  26. Longknifes Defend the Legation

    Vicky Peterwald books

Written as Mike Shepherd
  1. Target — A spin-off from Kris Longknife: Daring
  2. Survivor
  3. Rebel
  4. Dominator
  5. 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

    Works in others' series