David Poyer Books In Order

Publication Order of Dan Lenson Books

Publication Order of Hemlock County Books

Publication Order of Tiller Galloway Books

Publication Order of Civil War at Sea Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

David Poyer is an American retired naval officer and author of several best-selling novels. He was born in 1949 in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Poyer later graduated from the United States` Naval Academy in 1971. David used to write as an active naval officer and as a naval reserve captain. His early services included duties in the Atlantic, Caribbean, Persian Gulf, Arctic and Pacific area, until when he retired from the navy back in July 2001.

David Poyer started writing in 1976 and until 2011, he had published around 33 novels. As a result, he is commonly referred to as the most famous living author of the American sea fiction.

Although he is best known for the naval fiction, in 1980s, David Poyer also wrote science fiction and alternative history under the pseudonym David Andreissen. Poyer has also published short nonfiction and fiction in numerous magazines.

David Poyer’s most popular books, set in the present days, follow on the career of Dan Lenson, a U.S. Navy officer. This is a thoughtful surface line navy officer whose ethical questioning at times conflicts with his duty. Another series which is more slanted to the adventures genre, features Lyle “Tiller” Galloway, a former Coast Guard commercial diver. Both series were published by The St. Martin’s Press. According to David Poyer, much of his works usually draws upon his own life experiences in the military service as well as a sport diver and cruising sailor.

David Poyer also published another series of books that’s set in the fictional Hemlock County. The series explores the folklore and history of north-western Pennsylvania along with the Pennsylvania’s oil industry which was the original basis for the American industrial power. The best of these novels is Thunder on a Mountain; a book that’s set in the Greater Depression period. These books were critically praised but they didn’t prove as popular as the sea fiction.

David Poyer currently works as a teacher in the Wilkes University MA low-residency program in Creative Writings at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Poyer lives with another novelist Lenore Hart and his daughter on The Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

DAN LENSON SERIES

David is a master of the sea. Following a decades-long career in the military service in different waters across the world, the life experiences form each of the thrilling novels in this series featuring Captain Daniel Lenson. Whether he is facing threats of the nuclear weapons, hunting some known terrorists or EVEN being hunted himself, Dan Lenson is the protagonist and most compelling leader. Dan Lenson series by David Poyer has also been lauded by several bestselling authors including Vince Flynn, Steve Berry and Stephen Coonts. Below are the first two books in this series.

The Med

The Med is a fast-moving and powerful tale of a Navy-Marine Corps team in action, on a very dangerous mission in the Eastern Mediterranean. Cloaked by all the mists of dawn, the Task Force 61 – carrying aircraft, tanks and more than over 5000 Marines – steams towards Syria with a deadly intent. Their mission here is to rescue 100 hostages alive from a terrorist’s stronghold.

With realism which is seldom seen in most military fiction, The Med is a timely and magnificent novel that brings out human drama of the armed conflict to life in a compelling nature. Driven by flesh-and-blood, believable characters, it’s a painstakingly detailed portrait of the amphibious warfare in a way that only David Poyer is capable of painting it. The Med by David Poyer is today’s most explosive story of international crisis, emotional struggle and personal valor; a disturbingly plausible book that crackles with the non-stop action.

The Med is what most people call a proper military book, it’s in no way one of those dirty and quick action novels. The writer has a military background and it clearly shows in the details that he has put into this novel. In essence, the novel is about a story of the Med fleet and the main focus is on a younger lieutenant. The Med fleet is commanded by a person who has been promoted far above his own ability and when the events require decisive action and clear leadership, he’s not up to the task.

However, we’re presented with a wide range of characters in the novel with whom we can emphasize and also put into perspective in the story. The characters range from the commanding crew to the Chief Petty Officers and marines. Events then lead up to a hostage and a landing so as to put a rescue into effect.

For a first book in a series, this is a very good effort. Even though some aspects of the book don’t work quite well (such as the bizarre behavior of the lieutenant’s wife), they don’t detract the reader from this amazing and authentic military novel.

The Gulf

The Defense policy makers from the Gulf and Britain analyze different aspects of the British policy as well as its repercussions on the Gulf security. Seeking to nurture security and defense dialogue, contributors decide to examine both potential and immediate threats to the Gulf security and they underline the need for Gulf countries to develop a wide range of the consultative mechanisms. This novel offers some valuable perspectives on more critical issues that are involved and it also provides an interesting insight on the views being held by the prominent decision-makers, including General Sir Charles Guthrie, Lord Robertson, HH Sheikh Salem from Kuwait and HH Sheikh Salman from Bahrain.

The second book of the Dan Lenson series carries the strengths as well as weaknesses of the first novel. The strengths include a very clear depiction of daily operations on the US naval vessels and a relatively clear depiction of the United States’ navy role in the Persian Gulf towards the end of Iran-Iraq War. The main character, a LCDR known as Dan Lenson, is a captain whose previous ship was sunk by the Iranian cruise missile and he’s determined to place “USN Turner Van Zandt” on the war footing although it’s involved in something of the shadow war. As a result, it’s Lenson’s duty to exercise the will of the captain, without putting into consideration his personal doubts on the wisdom of it. It’s fairly clear that Benjamin SHaker, the captain, will use Van Zandt in avenging the loss of his previous ship.

There’s a set of secondary stories in this novel: one about the navy senior chief on the minesweeper and another about 2 officers who are attached to the helicopter’s detachment on Van Zandt. There’s also another story about the petty officer who’s a drug dealer and another one about a senatorial aide who’s on an information-seeking mission on the naval policies in the gulf. (The aide here is a very tough woman who asks very tough questions on both the navy leadership and Saudis. She also serves as Dan’s future love interest.) These secondary stories will take the reader’s focus away from Van Zandt’s central story arc, and they are a lot to juggle. Later novels in the series solved this issue by focusing mainly on the naval section of the story.

When viewed as a whole, the Dan Lenson series is one of the best sagas written on the post-World Wars Navy. However, when viewed individually, there are a few weaknesses even though Dan Lenson develops as a great character over time.

2 Responses to “David Poyer”

1. Richard Castillo: 1 year ago

   I patiently was waiting for a new Dan Lenson book last month. The ending to the last book led many to believe there would be another one with his new position at the Naval Academy. Will there, in fact, be another book? P.S. I for years have been sharing my purchased books with a Navy veteran here in my church in Vacaville. Calif. Even though I am a retired U.S. Air Force member and Vietnam Vet.

   Reply
2. Robert Clayton: 1 year ago

   What a pleasure to find you and your works. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a “Can’t put it down” Book. Deep War falls into that category. As a writer of thrillers, I am jealous of your talent. More work for me. Thanks
   R. L. Clayton

   Reply