Kenneth Tam
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Tam is a Canadian
science-fiction author. His best-known works include The Equations Novels and the Defense Command series. He is the son of fellow Canadian author Jacqui Tam. He is a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University
, in Waterloo
, Ontario
.
Kenneth has been an author guest at the Polaris Science Fiction Convention for six consecutive years, and a guest at the Sci-Fi on the Rock
convention for its first three years.
for exceptional achievement in high school. In 2006 Kenneth was awarded a Balsillie Fellowship at the Centre for International Governance Innovation
and worked for former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations
, Paul Heinbecker
.
, fantasy fiction, and horror fiction
elements. They describe the life and career of a Commodore Ken Barron in Defense Command during the Martian Wards spanning the years 2231-2235, as told from the perspective Admiral the Lord Ken Barron 2251. Tam has described the series as his magnum opus
, being based on the first stories he ever wrote.
The series was chiefly inspired by science-fiction media such as The Avengers
and Stargate SG-1
, and has drawn comparisons to those works by readers. Tam's style of equipment names in the series, such as Gander or Sackville, and his development the worlds and locations, are influenced by his Canadian nationality as well as his Newfoundland
heritage.
It has been announced that the Defense Command series will continue after the completion of The Martian War for at least a further four books taking place in the year 2240 and telling a sequence of events referred to only as Operation Epsilon.
The character of Wes Pellew has been reported to be based on Iceberg author and artist of the Defense Command series Wesley Prewer.
Events in the series are portrayed as the first 'real' account of The Martian War, following many motion pictures and novels based on the time period that have not met the praise of the titular character. Tam often references the 'historically inaccurate' nature of the films when describing the events taking place in the narrative, notably in The Hawke Mission and The Independent Squadron
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
science-fiction author. His best-known works include The Equations Novels and the Defense Command series. He is the son of fellow Canadian author Jacqui Tam. He is a graduate student at Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
, in Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Kenneth has been an author guest at the Polaris Science Fiction Convention for six consecutive years, and a guest at the Sci-Fi on the Rock
Sci-Fi on the Rock
Sci-Fi on the Rock is an annual science fiction, fantasy and horror convention held in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. It was founded by Darren Hann and Melanie Collins in mid-to-late 2006, and held its first convention in 2007.- History :...
convention for its first three years.
Awards
In 2002, Kenneth won the Governor General's Academic MedalGovernor General's Academic Medal
The Governor General's Academic Medal is awarded to the student graduating with the highest grade point average from a Canadian high school, college or university program...
for exceptional achievement in high school. In 2006 Kenneth was awarded a Balsillie Fellowship at the Centre for International Governance Innovation
Centre for International Governance Innovation
The Centre for International Governance Innovation is an independent, non-partisan think tank on global governance. Led by experienced practitioners and academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements...
and worked for former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker
Paul Heinbecker is a retired Canadian career diplomat and a former Canadian ambassador to Germany and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations in New York....
.
Fiction
- The Human Equation (2005) (ISBN 0-9731362-4-3)
- The Alien Equation (2005) (ISBN 0-9731362-5-1)
- The Renegade Equation (2005) (ISBN 0-9731362-6-X)
- The Earther Equation (2005) (ISBN 0-9731362-7-8)
- The Genesis Equation (2006) (ISBN 0-9731362-9-4)
- The Vengeance Equation (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9780916-8-2)
- The Nemesis Equation (2008) (ISBN) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-4-9)
- The Destiny Equation (2009) (ISBN) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-8-7)
- The Rogue Commodore (2006) (ISBN 0-9780916-0-4)
- The Almost Coup (2006) (ISBN 0-9780916-1-2)
- The Hawke Mission (2006) (ISBN 0-9780916-3-9)
- The Independent Squadron (2006) (ISBN 0-9780916-4-7)
- The Gallant Few (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9780916-6-8)
- The Jupiter Patrol (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9780916-7-5)
- The Sinope Affair (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9780916-9-9)
- The Dark Cruise (2007) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-0-1)
- The Canary Wars (2008)
- The Forge Fires (2008)
- The Mercury Assault (2009) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-5-6)
- The Fleet Clash (2009) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-6-3)
- The Grasslands (2008) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-1-8)
- The Frontier (2009) (ISBN 978-0-9784902-7-0)
Defense Command
Defense Command is a series of novels written by Canadian author Kenneth Tam, starting in 2006. The series incorporates themes from multiple genres, including science fictionScience 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...
, fantasy fiction, and horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
elements. They describe the life and career of a Commodore Ken Barron in Defense Command during the Martian Wards spanning the years 2231-2235, as told from the perspective Admiral the Lord Ken Barron 2251. Tam has described the series as his magnum opus
Masterpiece
Masterpiece in modern usage refers to a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or to a work of outstanding creativity, skill or workmanship....
, being based on the first stories he ever wrote.
The series was chiefly inspired by science-fiction media such as The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
and Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1
Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
, and has drawn comparisons to those works by readers. Tam's style of equipment names in the series, such as Gander or Sackville, and his development the worlds and locations, are influenced by his Canadian nationality as well as his Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
heritage.
Plot summary
The story is told from the unique perspective of Admiral the Lord Ken Barron in the year 2251, looking back on his years just after promotion to Commodore in the year 2231. The series is a fictional historical memorial of the events leading up to and including The Martian War, taking place between the years 2231-2235 and encompasing the first twenty books of the series.It has been announced that the Defense Command series will continue after the completion of The Martian War for at least a further four books taking place in the year 2240 and telling a sequence of events referred to only as Operation Epsilon.
Characters in the series
As with all of Tam's novels, inspiration for characters comes from many sources including real-life political figures, fellow Iceberg employees, fellow Canadian authors and fictional characters from his favorite works of fiction.The character of Wes Pellew has been reported to be based on Iceberg author and artist of the Defense Command series Wesley Prewer.
Places
A native Newfoundlander, Tam includes many references to the island in the majority of his works. The most notable example of this in the Defense Command series is in the second novel The Almost Coup, when lead character Ken Barron describes the location of the island headquarters of Denfese Command and inadvertently describes the exact location of the island province of Newfoundland.Story within a Story
By maintaining the events of the narrative as actual events even within Iceberg press release form and author interviews, Tam has endeavored to create a level of 'suspended disbelief' in the events surrounding The Martian War.Events in the series are portrayed as the first 'real' account of The Martian War, following many motion pictures and novels based on the time period that have not met the praise of the titular character. Tam often references the 'historically inaccurate' nature of the films when describing the events taking place in the narrative, notably in The Hawke Mission and The Independent Squadron
Series
- The Martian War: The Rogue Commodore (2006)
- The Martian War II: The Almost Coup (2006)
- The Martian War III: The Hawke Mission (2006)
- The Martian War IV: The Independent Squadron (2006)
- The Martian War V: The Gallant Few (2007)
- The Martian War VI: The Jupiter Patrol (2007)
- The Martian War VII: The Sinope Affair (2007)
- The Martian War VIII: The Dark Cruise (2007)
- The Martian War IX: The Canary Wars (2008)
- The Martian War X: The Forge Fires (2008)
- The Martian War XI: The Mercury Assault (2009)
- The Martian War XII: The Fleet Clash (2009)