DIX, Shane 1960-

PERSONAL: Born 1960.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Ace Books, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014.

CAREER: Stay-at-home parent and writer.

WRITINGS:

SCIENCE FICTION

(With Sean Williams) The Unknown Soldier, Aphelion Publications (North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia), 1995.

(With Sean Williams) Geodesica: Ascent, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2005.

"EVERGENCE" SERIES; WITH SEAN WILLIAMS

The Prodigal Sun, Voyater (Pymble, New South Wales, Australia), 2000.

The Dying Light, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2000.

A Dark Imbalance, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2001.

"ORPHANS" SERIES; WITH SEAN WILLIAMS

Echoes of Earth, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Orphans of Earth, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Heirs of Earth, Ace Books (New York, NY), 2004.

"STAR WARS: THE NEW JEDI ORDER: FORCE HERETIC" SERIES; WITH SEAN WILLIAMS

Remnant, Del Rey (New York, NY), 2003.

Refugee, Del Rey (New York, NY), 2003.

Reunion, Del Rey (New York, NY), 2003.

SIDELIGHTS: Shane Dix and his frequent collaborator Sean Williams are the authors of several well-received science fiction trilogies. They have written both stand-alone works and books that fit into established series, including the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order line. Their novel Remnant, the first in their "Force Heretic" trilogy for that series, was praised by Science Fiction Chronicle reviewer Don D'Ammassa for transcending the usual "routine tie-in novel" formula: "It's inventive, action packed, and ingelligently constructed," D'Ammassa declared.

Dix and Williams's first trilogy, the "Evergence" books, follow Morgan Roche, an intelligence agent for the Commonwealth of Empires, as she attempts to defeat evil forces even though she is not entirely sure who is behind these forces and what they are trying to accomplish. The first book in the trilogy, The Prodigal Sun, is a revised version of the duo's first book together, 1995's The Unknown Soldier. This installment opens with Morgan accompanying an artificial intelligence to the place where it is to be installed. Morgan expects an uneventful journey, until her ship stumbles across a tiny capsule, containing a soldier with apparently very few memories, drifting in deep space. Then her ship, the Midnight, is attacked and blown up. Morgan escapes, along with the mysterious soldier, her artificial intelligence, and two others, but the planet on which they land is no safer. It is being used as a prison, but some of the residents have formed a band of rebels. Morgan and her fellow travelers join up with these insurgents as they attempt to escape from those who want to take possession of the artificial intelligence.

"Like a lot of space opera, the story here is far from new," Jonathan Strahan wrote in a review of The Prodigal Sun for Eidolon.net, but Dix and Williams deliver "a very satisfying classic Golden Age-style yarn." AllSciFi.com contributor Harriet Klausner also enjoyed the third book in the trilogy, A Dark Imbalance, describing it as "exciting," "thought provoking," and "fast-paced," with "strong characterizations."

Dix and Williams are also the authors of three books about the destruction of the planet Earth, titled Echoes of Earth, Orphans of Earth, and Heirs of Earth. In the first book "engrams," humanoid simulations of real people that have been created for use in space missions, stumble across a massive construction site begun by the alien Spinners far out in space. The engrams learn to talk to the artificial intelligence that inhabits the site, and they discover a wonderful, transformatory alien invention that they decide to bring back to Earth with them. However, activating the technology alerts another group of aliens, the incredibly advanced Starfish, to their presence, and the Starfish come and destroy their planet. Only two sentient beings survive: Carol Hatzis, a human, and Peter Alander, an engram. D'Ammassa also gave this book a positive review in Science Fiction Chronicle, calling it "chock full of marvelous events, cosmic significance, mysterious alien motivations, and the wonder of outer space."

Orphans of Earth follows Carol and Peter as they attempt to make contact with human colonies on other planets to warn them about the danger. They team up with another group of aliens, the passive Yvel, who have been successfully hiding from the Starfish for 2500 years. As the series continues into the third book, Heirs of Earth, Carol and the remaining surviving humans learn more about the war between the Starfish and the Spinners in which they have been caught up and begin to see a path that might ensure their survival. The concluding two volumes of the trilogy were also warmly greeted by critics. Klausner called Orphans of Earth "space opera at its finest."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Library Journal, January, 2003, Jackie Cassada, review of Orphans of Earth, p. 165.

Science Fiction Chronicle, March, 2002, Don D'Ammassa, review of Echoes of Earth, p. 38; January, 2003, Don D'Ammassa, review of Orphans of Earth, p. 29; June, 2003, Don D'Ammassa, review of Remnant, p. 45.

ONLINE

AllSciFi.com,http://www.allscifi.com/ (December 10, 2004), Harriet Klausner, review of A Dark Imbalance; (December 29, 2004), Harriet Klausner, review of Orphans of Earth.

Eidolon.net,http://www.eidolon.net/ (February 11, 2000), Jonathan Strahan, review of The Prodigal Sun.

Galactium.com,http://www.galactium.com/ (December 10, 2004), "Shane Dix."

SciFi.com,http://www.scifi.com/ (December 30, 2004), Paul Di Filippo, review of Heirs of Earth.*