John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling Posleen War series, which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle and six sequels, the technothriller series starting with Ghost, a dark fantasy Princess of Wands, and several other novels for Baen. Previous collaborations include novels in the Posleen War series and four novels in the bestselling Prince Roger series with David Weber. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his fiction. Recently he has done stints as an op-ed writer for the New York Post and a guest commentator for Fox News. With his younger years spent in the military, cave diving, rock-climbing, rappelling, spear-fishing, and sailing, the author is now happy to let other people risk their necks. He prefers to read, and of course write, science fiction, and hang out in cigar bars.
Travis S. Taylor—"Doc" to his friends—has earned his soubriquet the hard way: he has a doctorate in optical science and engineering, a master's degree in physics, and a masters degree in aerospace engineering, all from the University of Alabama in Huntsville; a masters degree in astronomy from the University of Western Sydney in Australia, and a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University. Dr. Taylor has worked on various programs for the Department of Defense and NASA for the past sixteen years. He's currently working on advanced propulsion concepts, very large space telescopes, space-based beamed energy systems, and next generation space launch concepts. In his copious spare time, Doc Travis is also a black belt martial artist, a private pilot, a scuba diver, races mountain bikes, competes in triathalons and has been the lead singer and rhythm guitarist in several hard rock bands. He currently lives with his wife and daughter in north Alabama.