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| My current career is writing, and scientific, technical, and historical consulting for writers. I have written and published a number of nonfiction pieces, ranging from highly technical and peer reviewed scientific papers, to less rigorous but still erudite hobby and self help works. A sampling of some of my essays is also available under the "Works" menu at the left. I currently have four novel length fiction works underway. One is historical, the life of Gaius Cassius Chaerea, the man who assassinated the Roman Emperor Caligula. Another is an alternate history series in which the Roman Empire survives and extends its domains to the stars. Individual stories are set in several time periods, from the early Principate to the far future. The third work, The Littlest Einherjar, I will not describe beyond the fact that it was inspired by the adventures of one of our cats and a poem called "The Rainbow Bridge." The fourth, with a working title Roundeye, is a cultural conflict adventure based on Norse and Asian inspirations. I have a few others, and there are always a few shorter pieces in the works, but these are the ones demanding most of my time. For most of my life, starting in first grade, I have been a student of history, particularly military history; military aviation; and especially ancient military history, weapons and their use. In school, I found my history classes dissatisfying, but was fascinated by the concept of time and history—what had the world and life been like for those who had lived before me? I began to read voraciously on every subject that interested me, a habit I continue to this day. It has made me a bit of an encyclopedicist, and one of the last generalists in an age of overdone specialization. My interest in the military began within days of my birth. I think I must have impressed on the constant sound of military aircraft overhead. My interest has hardly waned since. War is hell to experience, but interesting to study. We are a violent species, but our response to extreme violence is fascinating. For over a quarter of a century, I was a material scientist working as a consultant to the construction industry. I was trained as a geologist and a geochemist, and I have a wide background in the natural sciences. I remain a Licensed Professional Geologist in Illinois. Consulting services for writers, artists, and game designers: Consulting is available for geology (one of my pet peeves are worlds, or portions of worlds, that are geologically unrealistic to impossible), natural sciences, nonferrous materials, history, ancient and some modern to future military technology, strategy, and tactics. Specifics are listed under the menu item "Services for Writers, Artists, and Game Designers." |
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 What the heck is a Triarius?The Latin means, "man of the third rank" literally, tri–third + arius–line. But the term is heavy with connotation. In the legions of Republican Rome—those that won her empire—these were the men of the last rank when the legion formed for battle, behind the princepii of the second rank, and the hastatii of the first rank. They were the oldest, best armed, most experienced, and least likely to panic in the face of disaster. There is a Latin proverb, Inde rem ad triarios redisse–from here matters are given over to the triarii. It means that things have come to the last resort. It was from these men that most centurions were chosen. These are the men who stand in the face of disaster. To strive, to do, and not to yield. |
