📖 Overview
Dafydd ab Hugh is an American science fiction and fantasy author best known for writing media tie-in novels set in established franchises including Star Trek and Doom.
During the 1990s, he wrote several Star Trek novels for the Deep Space Nine and Voyager series, including "Fallen Heroes" and "Unity." He co-authored four Doom novels with Brad Linaweaver based on the popular video game series, starting with "Knee Deep in the Dead" in 1995.
Beyond media tie-ins, ab Hugh published original science fiction works like "Arthur War Lord" and its sequels. His short fiction has appeared in various magazines and anthologies including Aboriginal Science Fiction and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
The author's background includes work as a computer programmer and journalist. He adopted the pen name "Dafydd ab Hugh" early in his writing career, though he was born David Friedman.
👀 Reviews
Readers consistently note ab Hugh's skill at translating video game action into readable prose, particularly in the Doom novels. The Star Trek books receive praise for capturing the voices of established characters.
What readers liked:
- Fast-paced plotting in Doom tie-ins
- Accurate portrayal of Star Trek characters
- Clear action sequences
- Humor and witty dialogue
What readers disliked:
- Uneven quality across different books
- Some stilted dialogue
- Character development sacrificed for action
- Deviations from established franchise lore
On Goodreads, the Doom novels average 3.7/5 stars from 500+ ratings. "Knee Deep in the Dead" scores highest at 3.9/5. His Star Trek novels range from 3.3-3.8/5 stars, with "Fallen Heroes" rated most favorably.
One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Ab Hugh nails the Marine attitude and combat scenes perfectly." A critical Goodreads review noted: "The plot moves quickly but characterization suffers."
His original fiction receives fewer reviews but similar ratings, averaging 3.5/5 stars across platforms.
📚 Books by Dafydd Ab Hugh
Fallen Heroes - A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel where the station's crew faces a deadly alien force that can only be stopped through time travel.
Arthur War Lord - An original science fiction novel featuring a modern-day Arthur who awakens in a post-apocalyptic future America.
Unity - A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel exploring political intrigue and conflict in the aftermath of the Dominion War.
Knee Deep in the Dead - The first Doom novel, following space marines battling demons on Mars based on the video game series.
Hell on Earth - The second Doom novel continuing the story of space marines fighting a demon invasion that has spread to Earth.
Infernal Sky - The third Doom novel following the protagonists as they take the fight against the demons into space.
Endgame - The fourth and final Doom novel concluding the space marines' battle against the demon forces.
Balance of Power - A Star Trek novel focused on political and military tensions between major galactic powers.
Arthur War Lord - An original science fiction novel featuring a modern-day Arthur who awakens in a post-apocalyptic future America.
Unity - A Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel exploring political intrigue and conflict in the aftermath of the Dominion War.
Knee Deep in the Dead - The first Doom novel, following space marines battling demons on Mars based on the video game series.
Hell on Earth - The second Doom novel continuing the story of space marines fighting a demon invasion that has spread to Earth.
Infernal Sky - The third Doom novel following the protagonists as they take the fight against the demons into space.
Endgame - The fourth and final Doom novel concluding the space marines' battle against the demon forces.
Balance of Power - A Star Trek novel focused on political and military tensions between major galactic powers.
👥 Similar authors
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Peter David specializes in media tie-in work for Star Trek and other franchises while maintaining a distinct voice and style. He has written over 50 novels in established universes while also creating original series like Knight Life.
Karen Traviss produces military-focused science fiction including tie-in works for Halo and Star Wars. She brings technical knowledge and operational detail to both licensed properties and original works like the Wess'har series.
John Shirley writes both original cyberpunk fiction and media tie-in novels including works based on games like Doom and BioShock. His work combines action sequences with dark themes and technological elements.
Keith R.A. DeCandido focuses on media tie-in fiction across multiple properties including Star Trek, Supernatural, and various gaming universes. He maintains consistency with established worlds while adding character depth through military and political storylines.