Dave Willmarth Books In Order

Publication Order of Battleborne Books

Publication Order of Contender Saga Books

Publication Order of Dark Elf Chronicles Books

Publication Order of The Greystone Chronicles Books

Publication Order of Shadow Sun Books

Dave Willmarth is a science fiction and fantasy author that has been a lifelong fan of anything science fiction and fantasy. Willmarth has also been gaming since the 1970s and has been playing games such as “Dungeons and Dragons,” “Tank” and “Pong” for years. However, the big break was when he discovered the LitRPG/GameLit genre. It opened a whole new world that made it possible to combine fantasy and game elements. While GameLit is a relatively new genre, Dave started writing over three decades ago, when he would write several chapters of fantasy fiction in the evenings after work, even though he never got to finish any of his manuscripts. His discovery of the LitRPG genre was by pure accident as “The Land” by Aleron appeared as an also bought title while he was browsing through suggested recommendations on Amazon. He bought the novel and was instantly hooked into the genre, consuming more than 300 titles in less than ten months of reading. Willmarth published his debut novel “Io Online” the first of the “Greystone Chronicles” in 2017.

Ever since he was a child, Willmarth always dreamed of becoming an author. When he was eight, he was gifted JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” the novel that transported him into the enchanted world of orcs, monsters, dwarves, magic, and elves where he wanted to live. As he grew older, he was fascinated by and read all manner of science fiction and fantasy he could get his hands on. Even though he always wanted to become a writer, it was not to be as he spent more than thirty years working regular office jobs and only found time to pen a chapter here and there on weekends and in the evenings. Nothing came of his efforts as he did not have the confidence or the time to write a full manuscript for a book. During this time, he was also an avid game and spent much of his downtime playing all manner of MMORPGs with guildmates he had met over the years. It was in 2016 that he stumbled onto LitRPG novels which combined his love for gaming with his love of reading to make an explosive amalgamation. He soon found himself interacting with authors in a variety of forums and social media groups and many of them told him that he should try his hand at writing. While he did not have any confidence in “Io Online” his first novel, he was surprised when it exploded in popularity with readers demanding more of the same. Dave Willmarth now has more than ten novels in the “Greystone Chronicles,” “Dark Elf Chronicles,” and the “Shadow Sun” series of novels.

As for his inspiration and influences, he cites the greats such as CS Lewis, RA Salvatore, JRR Tolkien, Isaac Asimov, and even GRR Martin for their masterful storytelling and world-building. He admired, fell in love with, or hated their characters passionately and this is evidenced in many of his plots and characterization. More recently, he has said that he owes a debt to the GameLit/LitRPG authors who provided access to him as a fan and reader and encouraged him to try his hand at writing. He does not have a specific inspiration for his ideas as he gets them from all manner of places. For instance, his debut “Greystone Chronicles” resulted from a mind problem since he needed something taxing so that he could focus. To distract his brain, he usually finds a complicated problem and then tries to work it out in the course of his day. After he read too many LitRPG novels that included unsatisfying immersion systems, he decided that he would build one himself. He then created a platform and the world that he would have loved reading about or living in. He also gets inspiration from TV especially specialist programming such as the Science Channel. Programs on subjects such as quantum theory and astrophysics hold his interest and he has used concepts he gets from them in his novels. For instance, the zombie apocalypse in his 2018 title is caused by particles that are modified versions of theoretical elemental particles that may result when neutron stars collide.

“Io Online” the first novel of “The Greystone Chronicles” by Dave Willmarth is set in the 21st century, where Alexander and his friends play a popular online game name “Io Online” to make a living and for fun. The game is the most popular VRMMORPG in the world and produces a lot of money for gamers many of who use the income to feed their families. While executing an atypical “First Kill” that will possibly result in the discovery of massive loot, they find that demons who had been thought to have gone extinct have invaded their gaming world. They are offered an opportunity to try out a novel immersion system, even though they will have to lose their progression levels and start at a base level once again. Working through the beginner levels, they find out that the new system makes it possible to play in what had been believed to be impossible. Movement has more fluidity, casting is quicker, and even magic works better. It is not long before they get into a war with player killers and soon after, the entire PK guild is targeting them with spawn camping, intended to make them so frustrated that they leave the game. The war soon spills over into populated areas and as innocents are killed, player accounts are shuttered. The guild comes in to assist the citizens in rebuilding their lives though they have to repeatedly defend against all manner of attacks from their enemies. After a powerful shadowy force and the gods of Io get involved, Alexander and the other guild members realize that their actions in-game could have far-reaching consequences not only in the game but also in the real world.

Dave Willmarth’s “Dire Lands, The” opens to Olympus the headquarters of Jupiter Tech getting attacked. The carnage has spread into the real world and Alexander and his fellow members of the guild need to thwart the shadowy and dark forces both in and out of the gaming world. After making alliances, the Greystone Guild finally makes progress and moves out of the basement levels and proceed to higher levels of challenges in the ruins of Dire Keep. They will need to conquer, rebuild, and defend their new lands from some vicious forces coming against them. The dungeons at this level are more dangerous and tougher than anything they faced before and things only get worse when they are betrayed by a friend.

Dave Willmarth’s “Darkness Fallen” has Alexander and his friends in the Greystone Guild focused on expanding their territories. They are conquering new lands, building their new keep, and enlisting people of all races into their citizenry. When they are ready for the fight, they intend to attack the strongholds of the minions of the Dark One. New alliances and friendships are made even as the Dark One’s identity is brought to light and one group is struck by tragedy. It is at this time that an old enemy makes himself known even as he threatens to change the landscape of Io forever. Full of tragedy, tears, triumphs, and laughs, the series is a combination of the gaming world and the real world to makes for a thrilling ride.

One Response to “Dave Willmarth”

1. Joel Williams: 2 years ago

   Hi,

   I am listening to Battleborn and I absolutely love it. I happen to be a blacksmith and a bit if a redsmith. I’m listening to the blacksmithing part of your book. And my issue is that copper is a work hardening metal. So the more you hit it the harder it gets. Quenching it in oil or water actually makes it softer and more pliable. Lower carbon steels are quenched in water. Higher carbon steels are quenched in oil or are air hardening. Non ferrous metals like copper, silver, and gold actually soften when quenched. No one ever gets the blacksmithing scenes right but I love your books and I hope I haven’t offended. Best, Joel.

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