Tom Kratman is the author of several military science-fiction and military thriller novels. He also co-authored several books in a sci-fi series with the author John Ringo.
Both of Tom Kratman’s main series are military in scope, however, one is set in contemporary times while the other in the near future (one that can actually happen, as scary as it might be).
Here are the Tom Kratman books in order for his growing list of novels.
New Tom Kratman Books
Terra Nova (Desert Called Peace #7.5), 2019
Days of Burning, Days of Wrath (Desert Called Peace #8), 2020
Carrera/Desert Called Peace Series
- A Desert Called Peace (Desert Called Peace#1), 2007
- Carnifex (Desert Called Peace #2), 2007
- The Lotus Eaters (Desert Called Peace #3), 2010
- The Amazon Legion (Desert Called Peace #4), 2011
- Come and Take Them (Desert Called Peace #5), 2013
- The Rods and the Axe (Desert Called Peace #6), 2014
- A Pillar of Fire by Night (Desert Called Peace #7), 2018
- Terra Nova: The Wars of Liberation (Desert Called Peace #7.5), 2019
- Days of Burning, Days of Wrath (Desert Called Peace #8), 2020
Countdown Series
- The Liberators (Countdown #1), 2011
- M Day (Countdown #2), 2011
- H Hour (Countdown #3), 2012)
Posleen War Series
co-authored with John Ringo
- Watch on the Rhine (Posleen War #7), 2005
- Yellow Eyes (Posleen War #8), 2007
- The Tuloriad (Posleen War #12), 2009
Standalone Tom Kratman Books
- A State of Disobedience, 2003
- Caliphate, 2008
- Training For War: An Essay, 2008
- Riding the Red Horse (edited anthology), 2014
Tom Kratman Biography
Tom P. Kratman was born in 1956 in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the Boston Latin school, following which he enlisted in the Army in 1974 . He spent much of his life serving in the Army.
First, he served with the 101st Airborne Division, and then he was deployed to Panama where he served with the 193rd Infantry Brigade. Next, he got an Army scholarship which he used to go to Boston College.
After graduation with cum laude, in 1980 he was commissioned as an officer and sent to Panama, where he spent an additional three years. It was in Panama that he met his wife, with whom he has four children.
Then he was for the next four years with the 24th Infantry Division, and he was part of the United States Army Recruiting Command until he joined the 5th Special Forces Group during the Gulf War.
In 1992, Tom Kratman left the Army to go to law school, which he hated with a vengeance. Still, he didn’t want to give up, so he continued, and three years later, in 1995, he got his J.D. degree, while still being part of the Army Reserve on standby. While working as a lawyer, he hated his job even more than he hated being in law school back in the day.
In 2003, he was pulled out of action for the Iraq War, however, while waiting for his plane, he was informed that a heart problem (a 100% blockage in his right coronary artery) was discovered by medics, he couldn’t deploy.
Before retiring in 2006 from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, he spent a few years working as Director, Rule of Law for the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute at the US Army War College. Altogether, Tom Kratman was on and off in the military for over 30 years, which is not a small feat at all.
After his full retirement from the Army, Tom Kratman started writing books and became a full-time author.
Most of Tom Kratman books are science-fiction thrillers with a military theme focusing on the near future. Often, the themes are based on current political events. The books are published by Baen Books, a publishing house that also hosts the works by David Weber.
The author’s writing draws greatly from his experience with the military in terms of getting a lot of technical, tactical, operational and strategic information that other writers would have to heavily research.
In an interview, the author mentioned that when he sits down to write, he stats his process with a central point that focuses on a moral, philosophical, or political issue or question, which he then expands into a rough draft that includes various ideas for the scenes he wants two flesh out.
Tom learned to read at a very early age from his parents, and the books he read mostly in his childhood were science fiction. In several interviews, he mentioned that there is one fictional character that he can’t stand: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan. He calls him “two-goodie-shoes” and “wimp” for failing to kill the guy who shot his wife and little daughter. Thus, often, he asks himself what would Jack Ryan do, and then he gets his character to do the exact opposite.
I have to admit, this is the first author I’ve actually heard of to look down on Jack Ryan (one of my favorite fictional heroes), but I also have to admit that he has a point, especially for the conservative and Republicans’ viewpoint.
Generally, the Tom Kratman books are not overly focused on detailed character development. After all, the author writes military action thrillers focused on the action. Once you read several books by the author, you will notice a commonality between the main characters (retired military persons).
They are all cut from the same cloth. Some might say that once you’ve read about retired Colonel Hennessy, you know how retired Colonel Stauer’s character will develop.
But the action is delivered well. You do get engaged with the plot, and often you’re at the edge of your seat. That, the author does really well.
Praise for Tom Kratman
Kratman’s dystopia is a brisk page turner full of startling twists … [Kratman is] a professional military man … up to speed on military and geopolitical conceits. (Mark Steyn)
Caliphate is Mark Steyn’s America Alone with body count. (John Ringo)
[Kratman’s] audience. . . will enjoy it for it’s realistic action sequences, strong characterizations and thoughts on the philosophy of war. (Publisher’s Weekly)
Tom Kratman makes a strong case in this gripping futuristic political military thriller for when is it acceptable to go beyond civil disobedience to outright revolt against the government. (The Midwest Bookreview)
it’s easy to get sucked into the story and want to cheer for the good guys. (SFRevu)
The usual many good action scenes are on hand, along with. . . intelligent lectures on military science and the expected charming superwaepon, here the old heavy cruiser Des Moines ,fitted with a number of advanced systems, including an Al named Daisy. (Roland Green)
References
Books Reading Order » Science Fiction Authors »
I’m looking for a small article on Progressives that was
at the end of one of your books or Ringo or Williamson.
If you could tell me which book i’d appreciate it considering
the politics of the US today. If not maybe you give me a lead
to which book it’s in. Thank you.
here is all you need to know about “Progressives” They are uneducated fools in love with the idea of slavery of the masses all in the name of equality. Uneducated because despite their official education level..They refuse to see the Forrest that surrounds them while entirely focused on the single tree in front of them. Look into the History of the roman empire. The causes of its down fall. You will see all the same things taking place today in the USA and in most of the western world.
I loved the shorter series and the beginning of the Carrera series, precisely because of the character development. The farther into Carrera I get, the less interesting the books become. Gratuitous details, little interaction with the main characters… it’s like the author has become bored with the story and is just going through the motions.