Biography
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Born
12 October 1952 (age 71)
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Born In
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Nathan's "golden age of science fiction" was about 1962. That's when he was 10. A precocious reader, he rapidly savaged the sci-fi titles in his school library and casting about for more, discovered a treasure trove right in his own family. An aunt was a voracious reader and once a month or so would bestow a paper grocery bag (remember those?) of "Ace Doubles" for his edification.
Ace Doubles were two books in one. Start on one side, read to the middle. Turn the book over and read the other. For a young reader, these long novellas/short novels were perfect. Not so long as to bog a boy down and long enough to take him into the future.
In the 40 years since, he's been inspired by all the greats – Asimov, Bujold, Cherryh .. through Lackey, Modesitt, Moon … all the way through Weber, Willis, and Zelazny. Off and on during that time, he harbored a desire to write science fiction, to tell the stories of the future. In 2007 he stopped harboring and set sail with his first trilogy set in the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper.
With Quarter Share, Half Share, and Full Share, Double Share, Captain's Share and Owner's Share he tells the story of Ishmael Horatio Wang - orphaned son of a professor of Ancient Literature. He's thrust into the universe and must find a way to make a living, and ultimately live a life in the Deep Dark.
His fourth book, South Coast, is set in the same universe but focuses on the subculture of the South Coast Shaman, telling some of the story of the Family of a character who features in Half Share. A unwritten sequel named Cape Grace has been mentioned to be actual aim of South Coast, telling this Characters back story.
Heavily influenced by his own time aboard ship during the early 70s in the US Coast Guard, and a desire to tell the stories of everyday people, his books are often criticized because "nothing ever happens." There are no ray guns, alien monsters, or heroic savings of the universe. The stories are simple tales of what it must be like for the people who aren't busy saving the universe but are just trying to get ahead in a universe run by corporate interests and the making of profit.
Quarter Share and Half Share have been sent to print.
He has written a Fantasy story called Ravenwood.
Nathan holds a PhD in Educational Technology, and lives his mundane life on the eastern plains of Colorado.
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