Travis Taylor (author)

Travis Shane Taylor is a science fiction author who lives near Huntsville, Alabama in the southeastern United States. He holds a doctorate in Optical Science and Engineering and master's degrees in Physics and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville); a master's degree in Astronomy from the University of Western Sydney; and a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He is also a licensed professional engineer in the state of Alabama. [ [http://www.doctravis.com Travis S. Taylor] ]

Professional biography

Taylor grew up in rural North Alabama, but details of his early life and education are not part of his public biography. He has stated that he worked for over sixteen years for the United States Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and contractors of those organizations on "various programs", although a detailed resume is not available.Fact|date=June 2008 Currently, he is working on space propulsion techniques which he personally describes as "advanced".Fact|date=June 2008 He is also working on "very large telescopes", space-based beamed energy systems, future combat technologies and systems and next generation space launch concepts.Fact|date=June 2008

His professional work includes the following papers:
*"Rewriteable magneto-optic compact disk based optical processor" Thesis, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1994
*"Laboratory simulation of atmospheric turbulence induced optical wavefront distortion" Dissertation, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 1999
*"Advanced solar and laser sail propulsion concepts for interstellar space travel" Thesis, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2001 [University of Alabama in Huntsville Library Catalog, http://librarycatalog.uah.edu/ accessed 2007 April 29.]

Taylor also claims to have worked with HUMINT, IMINT, SIGINT and MASINT concept studies.Fact|date=June 2008 He lists his hobbies such as competitive karate, piloting, SCUBA diving, riding mountain bikes and road bikes and singing in rock bands.

Bibliography

"Warp Speed"

Taylor's first novel examines ideas for using quantum mechanics and general relativity to create a method of warping space, first for use as a superluminal propulsion system and later as a weapon. The novel introduces Taylor's first recurring character, Dr. Neal Anson Clemons, the physicist who is the primary creator of the warp drive. Much of Dr. "Doc" Clemons's character appears to be inspired by Taylor's own life, from academic background and competitive karate training to sharing the same nickname. Clemons' middle name is shared with Robert Anson Heinlein, a clear homage to an influential science fiction writer.

The strong resemblance between Clemons and Taylor, along with the tremendous skill, intellect and competence demonstrated by Clemons (and multiple other characters), has given rise to commentary and critiques characterizing Clemons as a "Mary Sue": a character patterned after the author's personality and appearance, but possessing exaggerated abilities and/or attractiveness. Taylor has been described as "irked" at such reactions; he is quoted as saying:

"Have people become so average that they can't believe that some of our nation's current heroes and successes couldn't exist? What about Chuck Yeager? What about Jim Lovell? What about Story Musgrave? What about Arnold Schwarzenegger? What about Pat Tillman? What about Judy Resnik? You can name hundreds of American Superpeople. What about Madonna? Think how old she is and how she keeps plugging away better than many 20 year olds and smarter at it to boot. A good friend of mine is 52, a national class cyclist, and Chief Scientist of a major DoD contractor firm... what about him? Would you call them all Mary Sues? Look at any fighter pilot or astronaut and you'll see someone that I guess could not really exist because they aren't average. I based Anson on real people I have known in my life. The female characters as well. Calling them Mary Sues is an insult to those people and to the American Dream."citequote

Regardless of such criticism, "Warp Speed" belongs to the genre known as an Edisonade, and the heroes of this genre are inevitably multitalented. The argument that Clemons is a conscious projection of the author into the novel is less easily dismissed, but it is common for the protagonist of a first novel to be strongly inspired by the author's personal experiences. "Warp Speed" was voted #3 best science fiction book of 2005 by The Preditors & Editors Readers Poll [ [http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/vote0510c.htm Preditors & Editors Readers Poll] ] .

"The Quantum Connection"

Revisiting the world created by "Warp Speed", Taylor shows the world from the point of view of another character named Steven Montana. Montana is a stereotypical slacker who works in the technology industry. His world was brought to a sudden halt by events from "Warp Speed", and "The Quantum Connection" picks up the story several years after the original events. The book explores the ideas of quantum mechanics, nanotechnology, inter-planetary defense and realistic space-born warfare. It also introduces the "Grey Aliens" of UFOlogy. This book was voted #5 on the [http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/vote0510c.htm Preditors & Editors 2005 Science Fiction Book of the Year] poll.

"Von Neumann's War"

Released in July 2006, "Von Neumann's War" is a new series and not related to the "Warp Speed" and "The Quantum Connection" universe. It is co-authored by Baen Books author John Ringo. The novel is about an invasion of the present day Sol System by alien robotic Von Neumann probes, and the battle by Earth's forces to stop them cold. It is a combination of Taylor's hard science fiction and John Ringo's military perspective on the genre. It is supplemented by an e-book available from Baen called [http://www.webscription.net/chapters/1011250015/1011250015.htm?blurb "Neighborhood Watch Final Report"] which is a mock-up of the (fictional) classified technical report to the National Reconnaissance Office describing the discovery of the invasion force on Mars at the beginning of the novel.

"An Introduction to Planetary Defense"

Subtitled "A Study of Modern Warfare Applied to Extra-Terrestrial Invasion" and co-authored with Bob Boan, R.C. Anding and T. Conley Powell, this book offers a serious look at defending Earth in the event of an extraterrestrial invasion. Rather than outlining extreme (and possibly paranoid) possibilities for the sake of entertainment, the authors keep most of their speculation within the known possible world (although they do allow for the possibility of faster-than-light travel).

Despite the fact that the book was rushed into print and suffers from the hasty release, most notably because of poor editing (the e-book in particular, which is not issued by Baen, is cumbersome to use), it was well-received by fans. Some have commented that it is written as if Taylor is "preaching to the choir," those who are already familiar with the global covert intelligence community. The book makes several assumptions that are common among its intended readership but not necessarily shared by the general public. In particular, the authors insist that any alien contact should be kept secret if at all possible, despite the hindrance this would present to a coordinated global defense effort, not to mention the difficulties of maintaining such secrecy in the first place. They also list perceived problems within the United States, such as shortsightedness and inadequate knowledge of the subject matter on the part of politicians, and a tendency on the part of NASA to focus on superficial observations that are more beneficial to public relations.

The book goes on to suggest that an organization be given funding and authority to investigate and prepare for extraterrestrial contact. Its conclusion is a variant on the Precautionary Principle: the authors advise that it would be better for humanity to prepare for an incursion which never happens than to suffer from an invasion for which we have not prepared.

"One Day On Mars"

Taylor's fifth book was described by one promotional blurb as "24 on Mars".Fact|date=June 2008 The story does take place on Mars, where a group of separatists have launched an attack against the federal military personnel from Earth who have been instructed to guard them and the surrounding area. A senator, who is there to help with the peace negotiations, and his family get caught up in the subsequent battle and butchery. The senator can only hope to reach safety before he becomes nothing more than a pawn in the separatist leaders' nefarious plan. This book and its sequel "The Tau Ceti Agenda" both feature the heavy use of Mech-like warriors, very similar to those seen in the Gundam series.

Works Featuring Stories by Taylor

*"Cosmic Tales: Adventures in Sol System":"The Cleaning Lady":"Are We There Yet?" (nonfiction)
*"Future Washington":"Agenda"
*"Jim Baen's Universe Magazine":"Back to the Moon" (nonfiction)

External links

* [http://www.doctravis.com/ Travis S. Taylor's personal website]
* [http://www.thefutureandyou.libsyn.com/?search_string=travis&Submit=Search&search=1 "The Future And You" podcast] (featuring several interviews with Taylor, in which he describes his expectations of the future)
* [http://www.baen.com/ Baen Books]
* [http://www.johnringo.com/ John Ringo's website]
* [http://bar.baen.com/ Forum on Baen Books website] (the section called "The Doc's Inn" is dedicated to Taylor's works
* [http://www.baen.com/author_catalog.asp?author=tstaylor Baen Books publication catalog]

References