Dave Duncan Books In Order

Publication Order of The Seventh Sword Books

Publication Order of A Man of His Word Books

Publication Order of A Handful of Men Books

Publication Order of Omar Books

Publication Order of Years of Longdirk Books

Publication Order of The Great Game Books

Publication Order of The King's Blades Books

Publication Order of The King's Daggers Books

Publication Order of Dodec Books

Publication Order of Venice Trilogy Books

Publication Order of The Brothers Magnus Books

Publication Order of The Starfolk Books

Publication Order of The Enchanter General Books

Publication Order of Ivor of Glenbroch Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Anthologies

David Duncan was born in Newport-on-Tay, in Scotland in 1933. He spent his early years being educated and learning just as any normal boy would do. He spent his high schooling years at the High School of Dundee and following his graduation he went on to do studies in geology from the University of St. Andrews. In 1955 after his graduation, Dave moved over to Canada to settle in at Calgary, Albert. In 1960 he became a Canadian citizen and started a career as a geologist within the petroleum industry. He stayed in that career path for nearly 30 years before he decided to take up writing as a career. His passion was in science fiction and fantasy, and within just two years of starting his first attempts at writing, he had already made his first sale with the book A Rose Red City. He was 53 at the time of publishing. It so happened that this sale happened just two weeks after his 31-year career came to end during a slump in the oil business. This allowed him to switch to be a writer full-time. Currently Dave Duncan lives on Vancouver Island in Victoria, British Columbia. He lives there with his wife Janet whom he married in 1959 and they have one son, two daughters and now four grandchildren.

Ever since Dave Duncan began to write, he was always known to be very prolific in his work and to date he has written and published over fifty books. In 1990 his book West of January won the Aurora award. This award he won again in 2007 with his book Children of Chaos. Also in 2015 due to his extensive work in the field of science fiction he was inducted into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Although Dave Duncan usually writes under his own name, he has also been known to write under the name of Ken Hood and Sarah B. Franklin.

In Dave Duncan’s first full series, the Seven Sword it is clear to see his love for science. The series is set in a medieval world and a goddess from that world comes into our time to bring a chemical engineer back with her for some purpose that is not made clear until the end of the third and fourth books. The sword motif of this series many see to be cliché by now, but in this series it is handled very well, the other interesting point is that there is very minimal use of magic, thus giving this series a very grounded and real life feeling.

The next series is actually broken up into a few different sections: A Man of His Word set and A Handful of Men. All of these titles are based on an excerpt from an 1819 poem called Ode to a Nightingale by John Keats. Here is the excerpt as shown in the front cover of the books:

The voice I hear this passing night was heard

In ancient days by emperor and clown:

Perhaps the self-same song that found a path

Through the sad heart of Ruth, when sick for home,

She stood in tears amid the alien corn;

The same that oft-time hath

Charm’d magic casements, opening on the foam

Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn.

Omar is one of his shorter series, only including two books, and is followed by The Great Game which shares similarities with his first series in that it begins with a prediction done by an oracle that soon there would be two people from very different worlds that would be brought together to share a magic fate. The first book, Past Imperative opens with a young man of strong reputation from 1914 awakes under police guard and is accused of some heinous crime that he did not commit. The story weaves through many dimensions and time as the characters find themselves in a quest for fate.

The Years of Longdirk is the first series that Dave Duncan published under the name of Ken Hood. The series presents the question to show what could have happened if Ogedai Khan did not die in 1241 and the Mongols had then continued their advance to conquer of Europe, thus preventing Christianity to never grow into the major religion that it is today. The first book in the series Daemon Sword, introduces us to a young Scotsman who finds himself a target by an English hexer who is also possessed by a Daemon.

The next the books by Dave Duncan is the King’s Blade Series in which it begins with troublemakers, orphans and other boys all around the age of 14 who are brought or find their way to the grand Ironhall in Starkmore. If they are accepted, then they will begin training in order to become an elite bodyguard. These young warriors will be the best in the land. These bodyguards become the sworn elite guard of the King and his heirs. As they are sworn to give their life to protect and serve there is a dangerous ritual that each must undergo. In the ritual the king or a person of his choosing will stab the Guard through the heart. If the guard is true to his oath the wound immediately heals, but if not then he dies on the spot. The series tells the tale of different characters but all taking place at about the same time. The third book resolves the story and ties everything together.

The next set of series written by Dave Duncan include Dodec, Nostradamus, Brother Magnus, the Starfold, and Ivor of Glenbroch. Each series give a different spin on events based on historic characters and ideas.

Dave Duncan has also published several stand alone novels including is first which was A Rose-Red City as mentioned above. Each book has its own unique flavor, but still done in the compelling and detailed storytelling that is Dave Duncan’s style.

While living in his home in British Columbia, Dave Duncan continues to enjoy life with his family and is constantly at work a new project. It is rare to see him without some new idea or continuing idea for one of his books.

2 Responses to “Dave Duncan”

1. Tiffany Tosh: 2 years ago

   I love Dave Duncan’s books, especially the King’s Blade series. I need to go back and read them again. Thanks for the updated book list.

   Reply
2. Sharron Shanz: 4 years ago

   Thank you, very helpful . I am going through getting the books I’ve not read. Dave Duncan is my favorite author.

   Reply