About the Author
Short Biography
Long Biography
Dan Koboldt is a genetics researcher and fantasy/science fiction author from the Midwest. He is the author of the Gateway to Alissia series (Harper Voyager) and the Build-A-Dragon Sequence (Baen). He is the editor of Putting the Science in Fiction (Writer’s Digest, 2018) and Putting the Fact in Fantasy (Writer’s Digest, 2022), reference books that aim to help writers craft more realistic stories. He is also the creator of The Triangle, a sci-fi adventure serial (Realm).
Dan works at the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he and his colleagues use next-generation DNA sequencing technologies to uncover the genetic basis of pediatric diseases. He has co-authored more than 100 publications in Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other scientific journals.
Dan is also an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Every fall, he disappears into the woods to pursue whitetail deer with bow and arrow. He lives with his wife and three children in Ohio, where the deer take their revenge by eating all of the plants in his backyard.
Contact Information
- E-mail: author (at) dankoboldt [dot] com
- Telephone: Area code three one four, then 467-0454
- Postal Mail: Please contact me.
Author Photos
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Selected Writing Credits
- Numerous short stories in Nature Futures, Galaxy’s Edge magazine, and other publications.
- Eye-based paternity testing and other human genetics myths. Apex Magazine, issue 72.
- 7 things to know about mutations. Fantasy Scroll Magazine, issue 7.
- A whirlwind tour of the human genome. Fantasy Scroll Magazine, issue 8.
- The Next Generation of DNA Sequencing. Clarkesworld Magazine, issue 108.
- Quirks of the Human Genome. Clarkesworld, issue 113.
- We Are All Allies. SFWA blog, March 2016.
- The Near-future of Human Genome Engineering, Baen.com, March 2016.
- See also: Research publications.
Fiction Books
The Rogue Retrieval
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Sleight of hand… in another land.Stage magician Quinn Bradley has one dream: to headline his own show on the Vegas Strip. And with talent scouts in the audience wowed by his latest performance, he knows he’s about to make the big-time. What he doesn’t expect is an offer to go on a quest to a place where magic is all too real.
That’s how he finds himself in Alissia, a world connected to ours by a secret portal owned by a powerful corporation. He’s after an employee who has gone rogue, and that’s the least of his problems. Alissia has true magicians, and the penalty for impersonating one… is death. In a world where even a twelve-year-old could beat Quinn in a swordfight, it’s only a matter of time until the tricks up his sleeves run out.
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The Island Deception
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What happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas. But what happens after you step through a portal to another world, well…For stage magician Quinn Bradley, he thought his time in Alissia was over. He’d done his job for the mysterious company CASE Global Enterprises, and now his name is finally on the marquee of one of the biggest Vegas casinos. And yet, for all the accolades, he definitely feels something is missing. He can create the most amazing illusions on Earth, but he’s also tasted true power. Real magic. He misses it.
Luckily–or not–CASE Global is not done with him, and they want him to go back. The first time, he was tasked with finding a missing researcher. Now, though, he has another task: Help take Richard Holt down. It’s impossible to be in Vegas and not be a gambler. And while Quinn might not like his odds–a wyvern nearly ate him the last time he was in Alissia–if he plays his cards right, he might be able to aid his friends. He also might learn how to use real magic himself.
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The World Awakening
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Quinn Bradley has learned to use the magic of another world. And that world is in danger. Having decided to betray CASE Global, he can finally reveal his origins to the Enclave and warn them about the company’s imminent invasion. Even if it means alienating Jillaine…and allying with someone he’s always considered his adversary.
But war makes for strange bedfellows, and uniting Alissians against such a powerful enemy will require ancient enmities—as well as more recent antagonisms—to be set aside. The future of their pristine world depends on it. As Quinn searches for a way to turn the tide, his former CASE Global squad-mates face difficult decisions of their own. For some, it’s a matter of what they’re willing to do to get home. For others, it’s deciding whether they want to go home at all. Continuing the exciting adventures from The Rogue Retrieval and The Island Deception, The World Awakening is the spellbinding conclusion to the Gateways to Alissia fantasy series from Dan Koboldt.
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Domesticating Dragons
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Build-A-Bear workshop meets Jurassic Park when a newly graduated genetic engineer goes to work for a company that aims to produce custom-made dragons
Noah Parker, a newly minted Ph.D., is thrilled to land a dream job at Reptilian Corp., the hottest tech company in the American Southwest. He’s eager to put his genetic engineering expertise to use designing new lines of Reptilian’s feature product: living, breathing dragons. Although highly specialized dragons have been used for industrial purposes for years, Reptilian is desperate to crack the general retail market. By creating a dragon that can be the perfect family pet, Reptilian hopes to put a dragon into every home. While Noah’s research may help Reptilian create truly domesticated dragons, Noah has a secret goal. With his access to the company’s equipment and resources, Noah plans to slip changes into the dragons’ genetic code, bending the company’s products to another purpose entirely.
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Nonfiction Books
Putting the Science in Fiction
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Science and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres—science fiction, fantasy, thriller, mystery, and more. Unfortunately, many depictions of technical subjects in literature, film and television are pure fiction.
Collecting articles from editor Dan Koboldt’s popular blog series for writers and fans of speculative fiction—plus a foreword by Chuck Wendig (author of Damn Fine Story, Star Wars: Aftermath and more) and a collection of never-before-published articles—Putting the Science in Fiction connects you to experts in a broad range of fields. Scientists, engineers, medical professionals, tech experts and others share their insights in order to debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, offer advice on getting the details right, and help writers create more realistic yet engaging stories to satisfy discerning readers.
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Putting the Fact in Fantasy
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History, languages, and culture have starring roles in a wide range of genres, but they’re often the heart of fantasy stories. Unfortunately, many depictions of fantastical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction. A basic understanding of world history, linguistics, horsemanship, and other topics .
Collecting articles from editor Dan Koboldt’s popular blog series for writers and fans of speculative fiction—plus a foreword by Scott Lynch (author of The Lies of Locke Lamora) and a collection of never-before-published articles-Putting the Fact in Fantasy connects you to experts in a broad range of fields. This book brings together linguists, historians, horse trainers, and other experts to debunk the myths, correct the misconceptions, offer advice on getting the details right, and help writers create more realistic yet engaging stories to satisfy discerning readers.
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Media Coverage
Dan Koboldt has been featured in the Columbus Dispatch, The St. Louis Business Journal, and 97.1 Talk Radio. He has written for numerous online venues including Tor.com, The Mary Sue, Outer Places, Terribleminds (Chuck Wendig), The Qwillery, and SF Signal. See the events page for a comprehensive list.
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