{{Short description|Science fiction author}} {{Infobox writer | name = Karen Traviss | image = | imagesize = | alt = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | occupation = Author | language = | nationality = | ethnicity = | citizenship = | education = | alma_mater = | period = | genre = Science fiction | subject = | movement = | notableworks = | spouse = | partner = | children = | relatives = | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = | signature_alt = | website = | portaldisp = }} '''Karen Traviss''' is a [[science fiction]] author from [[Wiltshire]], England. She is the author of the ''[[Wess'Har]]'' series, and has written tie-in material based on ''[[Star Wars]]'', ''[[Gears of War]]'', ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'', ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' and the newest ''Nomad'' Series working with Nick Cole and Jason Anspach. Her work crosses various forms of media including novels, short stories, comics, and video games.
==Biography== Traviss is originally from the [[Portsmouth]] area. She worked as both a journalist and defence correspondent before turning her attention to writing fiction,<ref name="Horizons"/> and has served in both the [[Territorial Army (United Kingdom)|Territorial Army]] and the [[Royal Naval Auxiliary Service]]. Traviss is a graduate of the [[Clarion Workshop|Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy workshop]].<ref>[http://www.theclarionfoundation.org/alumlist.htm The Clarion Foundation - Alumni List]</ref>
Her first published novel, ''[[City of Pearl]]'' (2004), centred on the clash of several distinct alien civilizations, several hundred years in the future. It was shortlisted for the [[John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel]] and the [[Philip K. Dick Award]].<ref name="Horizons">{{cite web|title=Interview: Karen Traviss |publisher=Strange Horizons |url=http://www.strangehorizons.com/2006/20060327/traviss-int-a.shtml |date=27 March 2006 |author=Cheryl Morgan |access-date=18 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023171821/http://www.strangehorizons.com/2006/20060327/traviss-int-a.shtml |archive-date=23 October 2014 }}</ref> She has since written five sequels to ''City of Pearl'': ''[[Crossing the Line (novel)|Crossing the Line]]'' (2004), ''[[The World Before (novel)|The World Before]]'' (2005), ''[[Matriarch (novel)|Matriarch]]'' (2006), ''[[Ally (novel)|Ally]]'' (2007), and ''[[Judge (novel)|Judge]]'' (2008).
In 2014, Traviss published ''Going Grey'', a [[techno-thriller]] and the first novel in a series called ''Ringer''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Traviss |first=Karen |title=Going Grey |date=2014-06-13 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4997-1304-6 |language=English}}</ref>
== Media tie-in works == ===''Star Wars''=== In addition to creating her own fictional settings, Traviss has written novels using existing [[intellectual property]]—particularly in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' universe. Traviss wrote the [[Star Wars Republic Commando (series)|''Republic Commando'' series]], beginning with ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Hard Contact|Hard Contact]]'' in 2004 and continuing with ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero|Triple Zero]]'' (2006), ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors|True Colors]]'' (2007), and ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Order 66|Order 66]]'' (2008). In 2009, a related novel featuring the same characters was released (''[[Star Wars Imperial Commando: 501st]]'').<ref>{{cite web|title=Karen Traviss|publisher=Internet Science Fiction Database|access-date=18 October 2014|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?8713}}</ref>
In addition to the ''Republic Commando'' Series, Traviss was one of three authors retained by Lucasfilm and [[Del Rey Books]] to pen a nine novel series called ''[[Legacy of the Force]]'' (the other two authors were [[Aaron Allston]] and [[Troy Denning]]). Her three contributions to the series are ''[[Bloodlines (Star Wars novel)|Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines]]'' (2006), ''[[Sacrifice (Star Wars novel)|Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice]]'' (2007) and ''[[Revelation (Star Wars novel)|Legacy of the Force: Revelation]]'' (2008). Thematically, her work within the ''Star Wars'' universe has frequently centered on [[Mandalorian]]s and their language, culture and history. In particular, her ''Republic Commando'' novels have explored themes of identity with regards to [[clone troopers]], their Mandalorian heritage, and their interaction with [[Jedi]] leadership. Traviss has since parted from Del Rey due to creative differences.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karentraviss.com/page10/files/Why_have_you_stopped_writing_St.html |title=Why have you stopped writing Star Wars? |last1=Traviss |first1=Karen |website=karentraviss.com |publisher=Karen Traviss |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826122310/http://www.karentraviss.com/page10/files/Why_have_you_stopped_writing_St.html |archive-date=2014-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karentraviss.com/page10/files/Is_it_true_you_hate_Jedi_.html |title=Is it true you hate Jedi? |last1=Traviss |first1=Karen |website=karentraviss.com |publisher=Karen Traviss |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191742/http://www.karentraviss.com/page10/files/Is_it_true_you_hate_Jedi_.html |archive-date=2013-12-17}}</ref>
===''Gears of War''=== In addition to ''Star Wars'' novels, Traviss also wrote a ''[[Gears of War]]'' prequel novel, ''[[Gears of War: Aspho Fields]]'' which was released on 28 October 2008. She then went on to write the sequels ''[[Gears of War: Jacinto's Remnant]]'', released on 28 July 2009, ''[[Gears of War: Anvil Gate]]'', released on 31 August 2010 and ''[[Gears of War: Coalition's End]]'', released on 2 August 2011, and ''[[Gears of War: The Slab]]'', released in May 2012. She also served as the lead writer for ''[[Gears of War 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/04/13/gears-of-war-3-writer-is-noted-star-wars-author-karen-traviss/ |title='Gears Of War 3′ Writer Is Noted 'Star Wars' Author Karen Traviss |publisher=MTV Multiplayer |date=2010-04-13 |access-date=2010-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418204925/http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2010/04/13/gears-of-war-3-writer-is-noted-star-wars-author-karen-traviss |archive-date=2010-04-18 }}</ref>
===''Halo''=== She wrote, with [[Eric Nylund]] and [[Tobias S. Buckell]] and other authors, the short story ''Human Weakness'' in ''[[Halo: Evolutions|Halo Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'', which was released in November 2009.
On 21 July 2010 Traviss announced on her blog that she had signed a multi-book deal to write novels set in the [[Halo (series)|Halo]] universe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://karentraviss.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/master-chief-insists.html |title=Karen Traviss, New York Times best-selling author: Master Chief insists |access-date=2010-08-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723074012/http://karentraviss.typepad.com/blog/2010/07/master-chief-insists.html |archive-date=2010-07-23 }}</ref> The first book is set after the events of ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'', and is a continuation of that story line. Explaining why she had agreed to write in the Halo universe, Traviss said that "Believe it or not, I really have found the backbone to turn down other series featuring heavily armoured, unfeasibly cannoned-up chaps struggling to find their place in an unfriendly world. I'm not a soft touch for any old bloke with a codpiece, people. But this is Halo. There's an awkward and upsetting moral dilemma at the heart of the story, and if there's something I can't resist more than money, it's exploring moral dilemmas. (With big weapons, naturally.) You haven't spotted it? Pay attention at the back, there. There is a story."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karentraviss.com/page20/page29/ |title=Old Typepad blog entries |access-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131208064723/http://www.karentraviss.com/page20/page29/ |archive-date=2013-12-08 }}</ref>
Traviss has written comic books as well. She began with a stint on ''[[Gears of War (comics)|Gears of War]]'' before moving on to ''[[Batman: Arkham Unhinged]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Batman: Arkham Unginged gets a new writer|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/09/25/batman-arkham-unhinged-gets-a-new-writer?abthid=50616c93771e71744200001b|date=25 September 2014|access-date=18 October 2014|publisher=IGN|author=Joey Esposito}}</ref> In 2014 she began writing [[G.I. Joe (IDW)|G.I. Joe]] comics for [[IDW Publishing]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Novelist Karen Traviss Flips the Script in IDW's "G.I. Joe" #1|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=55306|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906180407/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=55306|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 6, 2014|author=Karl Keily|publisher=Comic Book Resources|access-date=18 October 2014|date=5 September 2014}}</ref>
==Bibliography ==
===''The Wess'har Wars''=== *''[[City of Pearl]]'' (March 2004) *''[[Crossing the Line (novel)|Crossing the Line]]'' (September 2004) *''[[The World Before (novel)|The World Before]]'' (October 2005) *''[[Matriarch (novel)|Matriarch]]'' (October 2006) *''[[Ally (novel)|Ally]]'' (March 2007) *''[[Judge (novel)|Judge]]'' (March 2008)
===''Star Wars'' novels=== *'''Republic Commando''' **''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Hard Contact|Hard Contact]]'' (November 2004) **''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero|Triple Zero]]'' (February 2006) **''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors|True Colors]]'' (October 2007) **''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Order 66|Order 66]]'' (September 2008) **''[[Star Wars Imperial Commando: 501st|501st]]''<ref>[http://www.randomhouse.com/delrey/starwars/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345508980&view=qa Interview with Karen Traviss on Randomhouse.com]</ref> (October 2009), first and last book of the Imperial Commando series *'''The Clone Wars''' **''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (novel)|The Clone Wars]]'' (July 2008) (novelization of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|The Clone Wars]]'' film) **''No Prisoners''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.karentraviss.com/html/starwars.htm |title=Starwars |access-date=2009-01-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207023025/http://karentraviss.com/html/starwars.htm |archive-date=2009-02-07 }}</ref> (May 2009) *'''Legacy of the Force''' **''[[Bloodlines (Star Wars novel)|Bloodlines]]'' (August 2006), Book 2 of [[Legacy of the Force]] (follows ''[[Betrayal (Star Wars novel)|Betrayal]]''; followed by ''[[Tempest (Denning novel)|Tempest]]'') **''[[Sacrifice (Star Wars novel)|Sacrifice]]'' (May 2007), Book 5 of Legacy of the Force (follows ''[[Exile (Star Wars novel)|Exile]]''; followed by ''[[Inferno (Star Wars novel)|Inferno]]'') **''[[Revelation (Star Wars novel)|Revelation]]'' (February 2008), Book 8 of Legacy of the Force (follows ''[[Fury (Star Wars novel)|Fury]]''; followed by ''[[Invincible (Star Wars novel)|Invincible]]'')
===''Gears of War'' series=== *''[[Gears of War: Aspho Fields|Aspho Fields]]'' (October 2008) *''[[Gears of War: Jacinto's Remnant|Jacinto's Remnant]]'' *''[[Gears of War: Anvil Gate|Anvil Gate]]'' *''[[Gears of War: Coalition's End|Coalition's End]]'' (August 2011) *''[[Gears of War: The Slab|The Slab]]'' (May 2012)
===''Halo'' novels=== *'''Kilo-Five Trilogy''' **''[[Halo: Glasslands]]'', a sequel to ''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]'' (25 October 2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamingtarget.com/article.php?artid=11720|title=Karen Traviss to pen next Halo novel|publisher=Gaming Target}}</ref> **''[[Halo: The Thursday War]]'' (2 October 2012) **''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]'' (21 January 2014)
===''Ringer'' series=== *''Going Grey'' (2014) *''Black Run'' (2017) *''Here We Die'' (2023)
===''Star Wars'' short stories=== *"Omega Squad: Targets", in ''[[Star Wars Insider]] 81'' (reprinted in ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: Triple Zero]]'') *"In His Image", in ''Vader: The Ultimate Guide'' (reprinted in paperback edition of [[Betrayal (Star Wars novel)|Star Wars: Legacy of the Force - Betrayal]]) *"A Two-Edged Sword", sequel to ''In His Image'', in ''[[Star Wars Insider]] 85'' (reprinted in paperback edition of [[Betrayal (Star Wars novel)|Star Wars: Legacy of the Force - Betrayal]]) *"Odds" in ''[[Star Wars Insider]] 87'' (reprinted in ''[[Star Wars Republic Commando: True Colors]]'') *"[[A Practical Man|Boba Fett: A Practical Man]]" e-novella (2006) (reprinted in paperback edition of ''[[Sacrifice (Star Wars novel)|Star Wars: Legacy of the Force - Sacrifice]]'')
=== Other short stories === *"Strings", in ''[[Realms of Fantasy]]'' July 2002 *"A Slice at a Time", in ''[[Asimov's Science Fiction]]'' July 2002 *"Suitable for the Orient", in ''Asimov's Science Fiction'' February 2003 *"Return Stores", in ''Realms of Fantasy'' February 2003 *"The Man Who Did Nothing", in ''Realms of Fantasy'' June 2003 *"Does He Take Blood?", in ''Realms of Fantasy'' August 2003 *"Human Weakness", in ''[[Halo: Evolutions|Halo: Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]'' (Tor Books, November 2009)
=== Comics=== *''[[Gears of War (comics)|Gears of War]]'' #15-24 (February 2011 - June 2012) *''[[Batman: Arkham Unhinged]]'' #44-58 (September 2012 - January 2013) *[[G.I. Joe (IDW Publishing)|''G.I. Joe'' (vol. 4) (IDW Publishing)]] #1-8 (September 2014 - April 2015) *[[Sensation Comics]] Featuring Wonder Woman (DC Comics) #14 (September 2015)
=== Essays === *"I Gotta Get Me One of Those", in the essay anthology ''Navigating the Golden Compass: Religion, Science & Daemonology in Philip Pullman's [[His Dark Materials]]'' (Smart Pop Series, [[BenBella Books]], August 2005) *"Driving GFFA 1: or How Star Wars Loosened My Corsets", in ''Star Wars on Trial : Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Debate the Most Popular Science Fiction Films of All Time'' (ed. [[David Brin]], 2006).
=== Features === *"Guide to the Grand Army of the Republic" in ''[[Star Wars Insider]] 84'' (with co-author [[Ryan Kaufman]]) *"The Mandalorians: People and Culture" in ''[[Star Wars Insider]] 86'' *"Sprinting the Marathon" in ''[[Emerald City (magazine)|Emerald City]]''. Traviss explains why she writes spin-off fiction<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emcit.com/emcit127.php?a=2 | title=Emerald City: Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Reviews - #127 }}</ref>
== References == <references/> * ''See also'' John Hickman. "Implacable Justice: Arguing Politics and Theories of Law via the Encounter with Powerful Alien Species." ''Extrapolation''. (September 2007) 48(2): 302-313. ''Available at'' http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb1421/is_2_48/ai_n29374468/{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.karentraviss.com}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070608183539/http://blogs.starwars.com/karentraviss Karen Traviss' blog on Starwars.com] * [http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/traviss_karen SF Encyclopedia entry] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070428145618/http://www.creativeaudioscape.com/ ''Omega Squad: Targets'' fan made audio drama], produced & directed by Dany Pépin. * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080806035317/http://www.gearheadsofwar.com/story/2008/7/27/142823/944 New Gears 2 info from Comic-Con- The Truth cont.] * {{isfdb name|id=Karen_Traviss}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Traviss, Karen}} [[Category:English science fiction writers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Writers from Portsmouth]] [[Category:English women novelists]] [[Category:British women science fiction and fantasy writers]]