Steven L. Kent

Steven L. Kent is an American author and journalist who established himself as a prominent voice in video game journalism before transitioning to military science fiction novels. His career spans multiple decades, during which he has contributed to major publications and authored both non-fiction works about gaming history and fictional series. Kent began his career in 1993 as a video game reviewer for the Seattle Times, later expanding his reach to write for prominent gaming publications including Electronic Games and Next Generation. His expertise in gaming journalism led to contributions in mainstream media outlets such as Parade, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, as well as reference works including Encyclopedia Americana. The Ultimate History of Video Games, published in 2001, remains one of Kent's most significant non-fiction works and is considered an authoritative text on gaming history. In 2005, he shifted his focus to fiction writing, launching his military science fiction series with The Clone Republic, which spawned multiple sequels including Rogue Clone and The Clone Alliance. Kent holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Brigham Young University, completing his education in 1990 before embarking on his writing career. His background in academia combined with journalistic experience informed his detailed approach to both gaming history documentation and military science fiction storytelling.

Readers consistently praise Kent's thorough research and attention to detail in "The Ultimate History of Video Games," citing his ability to weave industry anecdotes with technical facts. Many readers on Goodreads note the book's comprehensive coverage of early gaming history through the 1990s. For his Clone series, readers appreciate the fast-paced military action and complex world-building. Several Amazon reviewers highlight the ethical questions raised about cloning and military service. Common criticisms include: - Later Clone books become repetitive with similar plot structures - Technical writing style can feel dry in historical sections - Some readers found the gaming history book lacks depth on more recent developments Ratings across platforms: - Ultimate History of Video Games: 4.2/5 on Goodreads (2,800+ ratings), 4.6/5 on Amazon (320+ ratings) - The Clone Republic: 3.8/5 on Goodreads (2,100+ ratings), 4.2/5 on Amazon (180+ ratings) - Clone series averages 3.9/5 on Goodreads across all books

The Ultimate History of Video Games (2001) A comprehensive examination of the video game industry from its earliest days through the end of the 20th century, covering major companies, technological developments, and industry milestones.

The Clone Republic (2006) A military science fiction novel following Private First Class Wayson Harris, a clone soldier who discovers dark secrets about his origin while serving in the United Authority's Marine Corps.

Rogue Clone (2006) The second installment in the Clone series, continuing Harris's story as he faces challenges to his loyalty and identity while uncovering conspiracy within the military establishment.

The Clone Alliance (2007) The third book in the series, following Harris as he navigates complex political and military alliances in an expanding interstellar conflict.

The Clone Elite (2007) Chronicles Harris's experiences leading an elite unit of clone warriors while dealing with increasing threats to the stability of human-controlled space.

The Clone Betrayal (2009) Explores themes of loyalty and betrayal as Harris confronts new challenges to the clone program and his own existence.

The Clone Empire (2010) Follows Harris's involvement in larger-scale conflicts affecting the entire human empire and the future of clone soldiers.

The Clone Sedition (2012) Details Harris's role in addressing internal conflicts and rebellion within the clone ranks and broader military structure.

Ernest Cline Writes both gaming-focused fiction and non-fiction about video game culture and history. His work blends military themes with gaming culture similar to Kent's style.

John Scalzi Writes military science fiction with focus on cloning and genetic manipulation themes. His work features similar military command structures and futuristic warfare scenarios that Kent explores.

Jack Campbell Creates military science fiction series centered on space fleet operations and military command hierarchies. His Lost Fleet series shares themes with Kent's Clone series regarding military protocol and chain of command.

David Weber Produces detailed military science fiction with emphasis on military tactics and technology. His work demonstrates similar attention to military operational details as found in Kent's novels.

Orson Scott Card Writes science fiction that explores military training and genetic manipulation themes. His work deals with similar concepts of modified humans and military hierarchies that appear in Kent's fiction.