Craig Alanson

Alanson began self publishing novels in 2016, writing at nights and on weekends while working as a software developer creating financial reports at a defense contractor, which gave him exposure to military jargon and concepts he would use in his novels.[2][3] His debut novel was Columbus Day, the first book in the Expeditionary Force (ExFor) series. The commercial success of the first two books in the series allowed Alanson to become a full-time writer.[3] Alanson signed with Podium Publishing to produce the audiobook versions of the novels (Podium had previously produced the audiobook of Andy Weir's The Martian).[4] The Expeditionary Force books are performed by award-winning narrator R. C. Bray, who had also narrated The Martian. The audiobook for Columbus Day was nominated for an "Audiobook of the Year" Audie Award in 2018.[5]

In 2017 Alanson wrote a standalone novella called Trouble in Paradise, expanding on the events that take place between books three and four in the ExFor series. The novella laid the foundations for a short spin-off series set within the same fictional universe, entitled Mavericks. In 2019, Alanson committed to write a total of fourteen novels for Expeditionary Force and three Mavericks novels,[6] though the third Mavericks novel was later revised as an ExFor title making it fifteen books in total for ExFor and two for Mavericks.[7][8] Alanson aims to complete the final book in the ExFor series by the end of 2022.[6]

In 2017, Alanson released two young adult novels, a standalone science-fiction story called Aces and a fantasy novel called Ascendant, the first book in the Ascendant trilogy. The Ascendant audiobooks were narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds.[9]

In 2019, the Homefront story within the Expeditionary Force series was released as an audio drama starring Star Trek alumni Kate Mulgrew, Zachary Quinto and Robert Picardo along with the audiobook narrator R.C. Bray.[10] Alanson has expressed a desire to write and release a novelization of the play.[8] In 2019, the Expeditionary Force series was optioned by Milmar Pictures for a Television series.[11]

The audiobook for the twelfth novel in the series, Breakaway, debuted at number one on Audible and reached #5 on The New York Times Best Seller list in June 2021.[12][1]

Alanson lives in Virginia with his wife. He was unable to pursue a career as a pilot in the United States Navy due to red-green color blindness.[8]

• Columbus Day - Audie Award - Audiobook of the Year 2018 (Nominated)[5]

• Craig Alanson in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
• Craig Alanson in Goodreads