Janet Morris
Encyclopedia
Janet Ellen Morris is an American author
of fiction and nonfiction, best known for her fantasy and science fiction and her authorship of a nonlethal weapons concept for the U.S. military.
or others. Her first novel, written as Janet E. Morris, was High Couch of Silistra
, the first in a quartet of novels with a very strong female protagonist.
She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe
fantasy
series Thieves World
, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons
, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes
.
She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy
series Heroes in Hell
, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris.
Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy
and science fiction
genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Her 1983 book "I, the Sun", a detailed biographical novel about the Hittite
King Suppiluliuma I
was praised for its historical accuracy; O.M. Gurney, Hittite scholar and author of "The Hittites," commented that "the author is familiar with every aspect of Hittite culture."
Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.
in 1980. Morris served as Research Director and Senior Fellow (1989–1994) at the United States Global Strategy Council, as well as Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
(1993–1995). Morris partnered with John B. Alexander
and co-authored The Warriors Edge, which explores embracing unconventional psychological combat techniques, in 1990. Janet Morris and the USGSC's campaign for the creation of a non-lethality panel resulted in the assembly of the Non-lethality Policy Review Group, led by Major General Chris S. Adams, USAF (retd.) in 1991. The group earned the political backing of Sam Nunn
, chair of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
. Janet Morris published numerous white papers in 1991, detailing the USGSC’s non-lethal war doctrine proposals. The papers promoted diversifying and expanding non-lethal weapon capability for use in increased American intervention in global conflicts. The papers urged additional development of anti-personnel incapacitants as well as vehicular area denial devices.
Morris visited Moscow
in 1991 to the Moscow Institute of Psycho-correlations and observed the demonstration of the transmission of subliminal commands via infrasound
.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris
founded M2 Technologies. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the increasing success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on nonlethal weapon systems, novel technology applications, and software.
In 2003-4 she served on the Council on Foreign Relations
Independent Task Force on Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities and contributed to the Task Force report, Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities (2004).
s and also maintains a World-Champion producing Morgan Horse
breeding program. Her foundation mare, UVM Christine (pictured above) won Morgan Grand National Champion Four-Year-Old Mare, World Champion Senior Mare, and Reserve World Champion Mare in 1998.
Other Grand National and Reserve Grand National and World Champions followed, including Reserve World Champion and Reserve Grand National Champion Park Horse, Pastorale in 2001 and 2002; Grand National Champion Morgan Snaffle-bit Reining Horse, Spring Diva, in 2003; and Grand National Champion Pleasure Driving Horse Burkland Rafinesque in 2008. The Morrises' Morgan breeding program was featured on the cover and in a profile article in Equine International in 2009.
Kerrion Empire
Threshold (with Chris Morris)
ARC Riders (with David Drake
):
Novels:
Series contributed to:
The Sacred Band of Stepsons
saga:
Heroes in Hell
:
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of fiction and nonfiction, best known for her fantasy and science fiction and her authorship of a nonlethal weapons concept for the U.S. military.
Writing
Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 20 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris MorrisChris Morris (author)
Christopher Crosby Morris is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc...
or others. Her first novel, written as Janet E. Morris, was High Couch of Silistra
High Couch of Silistra
Returning Creation is the first of the High Couch of Silistra series, by Janet Morris. Published in 1977, it was the first title of her writing career. It was one of the first science fiction/fantasy books to include bi-sexual/pan-sexual characters and erotic themes...
, the first in a quartet of novels with a very strong female protagonist.
She has contributed short fiction to the shared universe
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
series Thieves World
Thieves World
Thieves' World is a shared world fantasy series created by Robert Lynn Asprin in 1978. The original series comprised twelve anthologies, including stories by such science fiction authors as Poul Anderson, John Brunner, Andrew J. Offutt, C. J. Cherryh, Janet Morris, Chris Morris...
, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons
The Sacred Band of Stepsons
The Sacred Band of Stepsons is a fictional ancient cavalry unit created by Janet Morris and based on the historical Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite strike force of paired lovers and friends that flourished during the fourth century BCE in ancient Greece, where sexuality was a behavior, not an...
, a mythical unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes
Sacred Band of Thebes
The Sacred Band of Thebes was a troop of picked soldiers, consisting of 150 male couples which formed the elite force of the Theban army in the 4th century BC. It was organised by the Theban commander Gorgidas in 378 BC and played a crucial role in the Battle of Leuctra...
.
She created, orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy
Bangsian fantasy
Bangsian fantasy is a fantasy genre which concerns the use of famous literary or historical individuals and their interactions in the afterlife. It is named for John Kendrick Bangs who often wrote it.-Definition:According to E. F...
series Heroes in Hell
Heroes in Hell
Heroes in Hell is a series of shared world fantasy books, within the genre Bangsian fantasy, created and edited by Janet Morris and written by her, Chris Morris, C. J. Cherryh and others...
, writing stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little Helliad, with Chris Morris.
Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
and science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Her 1983 book "I, the Sun", a detailed biographical novel about the Hittite
Hittites
The Hittites were a Bronze Age people of Anatolia.They established a kingdom centered at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia c. the 18th century BC. The Hittite empire reached its height c...
King Suppiluliuma I
Suppiluliuma I
Suppiluliuma I was king of the Hittites . He achieved fame as a great warrior and statesman, successfully challenging the then-dominant Egyptian empire for control of the lands between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates....
was praised for its historical accuracy; O.M. Gurney, Hittite scholar and author of "The Hittites," commented that "the author is familiar with every aspect of Hittite culture."
Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.
Academic, strategic and business activity
Morris was elected to the New York Academy of SciencesNew York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
in 1980. Morris served as Research Director and Senior Fellow (1989–1994) at the United States Global Strategy Council, as well as Adjunct Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
(1993–1995). Morris partnered with John B. Alexander
John B. Alexander
John Alexander is a retired US Army Colonel and a leading advocate for the development of non-lethal weapons. He was born in New York in 1937, and obtained a PhD from Walden University in 1980. Col...
and co-authored The Warriors Edge, which explores embracing unconventional psychological combat techniques, in 1990. Janet Morris and the USGSC's campaign for the creation of a non-lethality panel resulted in the assembly of the Non-lethality Policy Review Group, led by Major General Chris S. Adams, USAF (retd.) in 1991. The group earned the political backing of Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
, chair of the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate Committee on Armed Services
The Committee on Armed Services is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of the nation's military, including the Department of Defense, military research and development, nuclear energy , benefits for members of the military, the Selective Service System and...
. Janet Morris published numerous white papers in 1991, detailing the USGSC’s non-lethal war doctrine proposals. The papers promoted diversifying and expanding non-lethal weapon capability for use in increased American intervention in global conflicts. The papers urged additional development of anti-personnel incapacitants as well as vehicular area denial devices.
Morris visited Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1991 to the Moscow Institute of Psycho-correlations and observed the demonstration of the transmission of subliminal commands via infrasound
Infrasound
Infrasound is sound that is lower in frequency than 20 Hz or cycles per second, the "normal" limit of human hearing. Hearing becomes gradually less sensitive as frequency decreases, so for humans to perceive infrasound, the sound pressure must be sufficiently high...
.
In 1995, Morris and her husband and frequent co-writer Christopher Morris
Chris Morris (author)
Christopher Crosby Morris is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc...
founded M2 Technologies. Since that time, their writing output has decreased in proportion to the increasing success of the company, which works with U.S. federal and military agencies on nonlethal weapon systems, novel technology applications, and software.
In 2003-4 she served on the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
Independent Task Force on Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities and contributed to the Task Force report, Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities (2004).
Horsewoman
A lifelong horsewoman, Morris and her husband breed ThoroughbredThoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s and also maintains a World-Champion producing Morgan Horse
Morgan horse
The Morgan is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Tracing back to the stallion Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, the breed excels in many disciplines, and is known for its versatility....
breeding program. Her foundation mare, UVM Christine (pictured above) won Morgan Grand National Champion Four-Year-Old Mare, World Champion Senior Mare, and Reserve World Champion Mare in 1998.
Other Grand National and Reserve Grand National and World Champions followed, including Reserve World Champion and Reserve Grand National Champion Park Horse, Pastorale in 2001 and 2002; Grand National Champion Morgan Snaffle-bit Reining Horse, Spring Diva, in 2003; and Grand National Champion Pleasure Driving Horse Burkland Rafinesque in 2008. The Morrises' Morgan breeding program was featured on the cover and in a profile article in Equine International in 2009.
Select fiction bibliography
Silistra:- High Couch of SilistraHigh Couch of SilistraReturning Creation is the first of the High Couch of Silistra series, by Janet Morris. Published in 1977, it was the first title of her writing career. It was one of the first science fiction/fantasy books to include bi-sexual/pan-sexual characters and erotic themes...
(1977) aka Returning Creation - The Golden SwordThe Golden SwordThe Golden Sword, published in 1977, is the second title of the High Couch of Silistra series by Janet Morris.-Synopsis:Estri, the Well-Keepress of Astria and High Couch of Silistra, the highest office in the land, has continued her quest to locate her god-like "Shaper" father to his home planet,...
(1977) - Wind from the AbyssWind from the AbyssWind from The Abyss, by Janet Morris, was published in 1978 and is the third book of her Silistra series.-Synopsis:Wind From the Abyss picks up approximately two years after the battle for Well Astria during which two Bipedal Federation ships and crew were destroyed accidentally...
(1978) - The Carnelian ThroneThe Carnelian ThroneThe Carnelian Throne, published in 1979, is the fourth and final title of the Silistra series by Janet Morris.-References:* http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/m/janet-morris/carnelian-throne.htm...
(1979)
Kerrion Empire
- Dream DancerDream DancerDream Dancer is a 1980 novel by Janet Morris, the first in her Kerrion Space trilogy.- Plot outline :Chaeron, renegade second son of the most powerful family in space, the Kerrions, both a corporation and a political entity, finds 16-year old Shebat on a primitive Earth. He persuades her to...
(1980) - Cruiser DreamsCruiser DreamsCruiser Dreams is a 1980 novel by Janet Morris, the second in her Kerrion Space trilogy.- Plot outline :The Kerrions, rulers of the most far-reaching empire in the known universe, attempt to reclaim control of their empire while their renegade second son, Chaeron, retrieves Shebat, his wife, from...
(1981) - Earth DreamsEarth DreamsEarth Dreams is a 1982 novel by Janet Morris, the third in her Kerrion Space trilogy.- Plot outline :Shebat, a dream dancer, cruiser pilot and wife of the renegade second son of the Kerrion family merchant dynasty, must challenge the greatest empire in the universe to protect and save the...
(1982)
Threshold (with Chris Morris)
- ThresholdThreshold (1990 novel)Threshold is a 1990 novel by Chris Morris and Janet Morris. It's the first book of its namesake trilogy.In a futuristic world, Earth is now a preserve. A captain is transported 500 years into the future and onto Threshold, which is a space habitat. Here he meets with the daughter of a Muslim...
(1990) - Trust TerritoryTrust Territory (novel)Trust Territory is a 1992 novel by Chris Morris and Janet Morris. It's the second book of the Threshold trilogy....
(1992) - The StalkThe StalkThe Stalk is a 1994 science fiction novel by Chris Morris and Janet Morris. It is the third book of their Threshold trilogy....
(1994)
ARC Riders (with David Drake
David Drake
David Drake is an American author of science fiction and fantasy literature. A Vietnam War veteran who has worked as a lawyer, he is now one of the premier authors of the military science fiction subgenre.-Biography:...
):
- ARC Riders (1995)
- The Fourth Rome (1996)
Novels:
- I, the Sun (1983)
- The 40-Minute War (1984) (with Chris Morris)
- Active Measures (1985) (with David Drake)
- Afterwar (1985)
- Medusa (1986) (with Chris Morris)
- Warlord! (1987)
- Kill Ratio (1987) (with David Drake)
- Outpassage (1988) (with Chris Morris)
- Target (1989) (with David Drake)
Series contributed to:
- Merovingen NightsMerovingen NightsMerovingen Nights is a series of shared world science fiction books set in writer C. J. Cherryh's Alliance-Union universe. There are eight books in the series, a novel by Cherryh, Angel With the Sword, and seven short fiction anthologies which Cherryh edited...
- The Fleet
- War WorldWar WorldWar World is a series of collaborative science fiction books set in the CoDominium universe of Jerry Pournelle, some novels being co-authored by Larry Niven and S. M. Stirling, as well as John F. Carr and Don Hawthorne. It consists of five short story collections by various authors and two novels...
- Thieves' World
The Sacred Band of Stepsons
The Sacred Band of Stepsons
The Sacred Band of Stepsons is a fictional ancient cavalry unit created by Janet Morris and based on the historical Sacred Band of Thebes, an elite strike force of paired lovers and friends that flourished during the fourth century BCE in ancient Greece, where sexuality was a behavior, not an...
saga:
- Beyond Sanctuary (1985)
- Beyond the Veil (1985)
- Beyond Wizardwall (1986)
- TempusTempus (novel)Tempus With His Right Side Companion Niko is a novelized collection of fourteen previously-published short stories in the Sacred Band series by Janet Morris. Originally published in 1987 by Baen, it was reissued in 2011 by Paradise Publishing....
(1987) - City at the Edge of Time (1988) (with Chris Morris)
- Tempus Unbound (1989) (with Chris Morris)
- Storm Seed (1990) (with Chris Morris)
- The Sacred Band (2010) (with Chris Morris)
Heroes in Hell
Heroes in Hell
Heroes in Hell is a series of shared world fantasy books, within the genre Bangsian fantasy, created and edited by Janet Morris and written by her, Chris Morris, C. J. Cherryh and others...
:
- Heroes in HellHeroes in Hell (book)The anthology Heroes in Hell is the first volume of its namesake series, created by Janet Morris. The book placed eighth in the annual Locus Poll for Best Anthology in 1987...
(1986) - The Gates of Hell (1986) (with C J Cherryh)
- Rebels in Hell (1986) (with C J Cherryh)
- Crusaders in Hell (1987)
- Angels in Hell (1987)
- Masters in Hell (1987)
- The Little Helliad (1988) (with Chris Morris)
- War in Hell (1988)
- Prophets in Hell (1989)
- Kings in Hell (1987) (with C J Cherryh)
- Explorers in Hell (1989) (with David Drake)
- Lawyers in Hell (2011) (edited with Chris Morris)
Select short story bibliography
- "Raising the Green Lion" (1980)
- "Vashanka's Minion" (1980)
- "A Man and His God" (1981)
- "An End to Dreaming" (1982)
- "Wizard Weather" (1982)
- "High Moon" (1983)
- "Basileus" (1984)
- "Hero's Welcome" (1985)
- "Graveyard Shift" (1986)
- "To Reign in Hell" (1986)
- "Power Play" (1984)
- "Pillar of Fire" (1984)
- "Gilgamesh Redux" (1987)
- "Sea of Stiffs" (1987)
- "The Nature of Hell" (1987)
- "The Best of the Achaeans" (1988)
- "The Collaborator" (1988)
- "[...] Is Hell" (1988)
- "Moving Day" (1989)
- "Sea Change" (1989)
Select non-fiction bibliography
- "Nonlethality: A Global Strategy" (1990, 2010) (with Chris Morris)
- "Weapons of Mass Protection" (1995) (with Morris and Baines)
- The American Warrior (1992) (Morris and Morris, ed.)
External links
- Janet Morris fiction bibliography
- M2 Technologies information on Janet Morris
- Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force Report on Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities
- Nonlethality: A Global Strategy
- Weapons of Mass Protection
- Psychic Warfare and Non-Lethal Weapons
- List of quotes from Janet Morris' fiction