Leo Frankowski
Encyclopedia
Leo Frankowski was an American
writer of science fiction
novels. He lived in Russia
for four years with his now ex-wife and adopted teenage daughter, but
at the time of his death, he had moved back to the United States.
Frankowski was born in Detroit, Michigan
to parents of Polish descent. He died in Lake Elsinore, California
.
Prior to his writing career, Leo was a successful engineer. He owned and operated Sterling Manufacturing and Design, located in Utica, Michigan, which (among other things) designed pneumatic and hydraulic systems for Chrysler
. Leo held multiple patents, including his most popular item, Formital, a stamped aluminum product for use as a base for plastic auto body filler. Formital was carried exclusively for many years by the Pep Boys
chain of auto parts stores.
and future published author Ann Tonsor Zeddies. Members read manuscripts aloud, which were then critiqued; from the beginning, Leo's stories related to time travel were well-received by the membership. Most of these meetings were audio-taped, and those tapes were retained by Snyder.
Encouraged by the positive responses, Leo quickly wrote his first novel, initially titled The Polish Engineer. The book landed at Del Rey Books
, and the publisher offered him a multi-book contract.
Conrad Stargard
The Conrad Stargard
series, in which a twentieth-century engineer travels back in time to thirteenth-century Poland. It consists of the following books:
The Cross Time Engineer: Twentieth-century Polish engineer Conrad Schwartz is accidentally and mysteriously dumped in thirteenth-century Poland. He becomes friendly with the saintly Father Ignacy, who convinces him he is indeed in an earlier era. He meets a number of minor characters who figure in later books, such as the boatman Tadaos, and winds up working for Count Lambert, a relative of the Duke who rules over much of Poland. Algis Budrys
reviewed the novel favorably, calling it "a good job" despite the absence of "fundamental innovation."
The High-Tech Knight: Conrad, now using the name Stargard because his correct name sounds too German, works to bring Poland into some advanced technology in order to meet the imminent threat of the 1241 Mongol invasion.
The Radiant Warrior: Training creates an army of 150,000 trained soldiers. Twentieth Century techniques disturb Thirteenth Century society.
The Flying Warlord: Count Lambert forces Conrad to divert his efforts into creating an air force. The Mongols invade, with tens of thousands dead on all sides.
Lord Conrad's Lady: Lady Francine, a French woman known as one of the two most beautiful women in Poland (the other lives with Conrad, but as an heretical Muslim
can't or won't marry him) maneuvers Conrad into marrying her.
Conrad's Quest for Rubber: Conrad sends an expedition to South America, with disastrous effects due to unique diseases.
Conrad's Time Machine: Conrad does not appear in this. This book explains the invention of the time machine and the people who control its use, incidentally providing explanations for their occasional interference in Conrad's behalf.
Lord Conrad's Crusade: Conrad goes on vacation and ends up seeing the slave trade from the wrong side of the bars. Of course he escapes—only to end up an unwilling crusader!
Rubber and Time Machine feature the same setting and some of the same characters, but are not 'main sequence' books.
Two omnibus editions of this series have been published by Baen Books
:
Baen rejected Lord Conrad's Crusade for "bad writing" (an explanation Frankowski doubted) and terminated its contracts for other upcoming titles. Frankowski published the novel himself.
includes the books:
Again in collaboration with Dave Grossman
he has started a third series:
Other, stand-alone books written by Frankowski include:
Frankowski's most recent work has again featured Conrad Stargard. He wrote Lord Conrad's Crusade in collaboration with Rodger Olsen, and promised another Stargard book which would conclude the series. Unfortunately, he will not complete it. On 25 December 2008, Leo died..
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of 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...
novels. He lived in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for four years with his now ex-wife and adopted teenage daughter, but
at the time of his death, he had moved back to the United States.
Frankowski was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to parents of Polish descent. He died in Lake Elsinore, California
Lake Elsinore, California
For the lake see Lake Elsinore.Lake Elsinore or LE is a city in western Riverside County, California. The population was 51,821 at the 2010 census...
.
Prior to his writing career, Leo was a successful engineer. He owned and operated Sterling Manufacturing and Design, located in Utica, Michigan, which (among other things) designed pneumatic and hydraulic systems for Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
. Leo held multiple patents, including his most popular item, Formital, a stamped aluminum product for use as a base for plastic auto body filler. Formital was carried exclusively for many years by the Pep Boys
Pep Boys
The Pep Boys — Manny, Moe & Jack , branded as Pep Boys Auto and commonly abbreviated as Pep Boys, is a full-service and tire automotive aftermarket chain....
chain of auto parts stores.
Political views
According to the author, most of his fans consist of "males with military and technical backgrounds," while he likewise claimed his detractors consist of "feminists, liberals, and homosexuals." Frankowski admits that anyone who self-identifies with the latter categories would be unlikely to enjoy his fiction.Writings
Though he had tinkered with short science fiction for several years, Leo's writing career began in earnest in the early 1980s when he was invited to join what became the National Science Fiction Writer's Exchange, a now-defunct Detroit-area group founded by Guy Snyder, and whose membership included Lloyd Biggle, Ted ReynoldsTed Reynolds
Theodore Andrus Reynolds is an American science fiction writer.He has been nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story and Hugo Award for Best Novella...
and future published author Ann Tonsor Zeddies. Members read manuscripts aloud, which were then critiqued; from the beginning, Leo's stories related to time travel were well-received by the membership. Most of these meetings were audio-taped, and those tapes were retained by Snyder.
Encouraged by the positive responses, Leo quickly wrote his first novel, initially titled The Polish Engineer. The book landed at Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books
Del Rey Books is a branch of Ballantine Books, which is owned by Random House and, in turn since 1998, by Bertelsmann AG. It is a separate imprint established in 1977 under the editorship of author Lester del Rey and his wife Judy-Lynn del Rey. It specializes in science fiction and fantasy...
, and the publisher offered him a multi-book contract.
Conrad StargardConrad StargardConrad Stargard is the protagonist and title character in a series of time travel novels written by Leo Frankowski. In them, a Polish engineer named Conrad Schwartz is sent back in time to the 13th century where he has to establish himself and cope with various crises including the eventual...
series
The Conrad StargardConrad Stargard
Conrad Stargard is the protagonist and title character in a series of time travel novels written by Leo Frankowski. In them, a Polish engineer named Conrad Schwartz is sent back in time to the 13th century where he has to establish himself and cope with various crises including the eventual...
series, in which a twentieth-century engineer travels back in time to thirteenth-century Poland. It consists of the following books:
The Cross Time Engineer: Twentieth-century Polish engineer Conrad Schwartz is accidentally and mysteriously dumped in thirteenth-century Poland. He becomes friendly with the saintly Father Ignacy, who convinces him he is indeed in an earlier era. He meets a number of minor characters who figure in later books, such as the boatman Tadaos, and winds up working for Count Lambert, a relative of the Duke who rules over much of Poland. Algis Budrys
Algis Budrys
Algis Budrys was a Lithuanian-American science fiction author, editor, and critic. He was also known under the pen names "Frank Mason", "Alger Rome", "John A. Sentry", "William Scarff", and "Paul Janvier."-Biography:...
reviewed the novel favorably, calling it "a good job" despite the absence of "fundamental innovation."
The High-Tech Knight: Conrad, now using the name Stargard because his correct name sounds too German, works to bring Poland into some advanced technology in order to meet the imminent threat of the 1241 Mongol invasion.
The Radiant Warrior: Training creates an army of 150,000 trained soldiers. Twentieth Century techniques disturb Thirteenth Century society.
The Flying Warlord: Count Lambert forces Conrad to divert his efforts into creating an air force. The Mongols invade, with tens of thousands dead on all sides.
Lord Conrad's Lady: Lady Francine, a French woman known as one of the two most beautiful women in Poland (the other lives with Conrad, but as an heretical Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
can't or won't marry him) maneuvers Conrad into marrying her.
Conrad's Quest for Rubber: Conrad sends an expedition to South America, with disastrous effects due to unique diseases.
Conrad's Time Machine: Conrad does not appear in this. This book explains the invention of the time machine and the people who control its use, incidentally providing explanations for their occasional interference in Conrad's behalf.
Lord Conrad's Crusade: Conrad goes on vacation and ends up seeing the slave trade from the wrong side of the bars. Of course he escapes—only to end up an unwilling crusader!
Rubber and Time Machine feature the same setting and some of the same characters, but are not 'main sequence' books.
Two omnibus editions of this series have been published by Baen Books
Baen Books
Baen Books is an American publishing company established in 1983 by long time science fiction publisher and editor Jim Baen. It is a science fiction and fantasy publishing house that emphasizes space opera, hard science fiction, military science fiction, and fantasy...
:
- Conrad Stargard: Radiant Warrior, containing The Cross-time Engineer, The High Tech Knight and The Radiant Warrior.
- Conrad's Lady, containing The Flying Warlord, Lord Conrad's Lady and Conrad's Quest for Rubber.
Baen rejected Lord Conrad's Crusade for "bad writing" (an explanation Frankowski doubted) and terminated its contracts for other upcoming titles. Frankowski published the novel himself.
Other books
A second series, partially in collaboration with Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
includes the books:
- A Boy and his Tank
- The War With Earth (with Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
) - Kren of the Mitchegai (with Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
)
Again in collaboration with Dave Grossman
Dave Grossman (author)
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
he has started a third series:
- The Two Space War (with Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
) - The Guns of Two Space (Forthcoming) (with Dave GrossmanDave Grossman (author)Lieutenant Colonel Dave Grossman is an author who has specialized in the study of the psychology of killing, which has been termed 'killology'.In February 1998 Grossman retired from the military as Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University...
)
Other, stand-alone books written by Frankowski include:
- Fata Morgana (1999) (ISBN 0-671-57876-6)
- Copernick's Rebellion
Frankowski's most recent work has again featured Conrad Stargard. He wrote Lord Conrad's Crusade in collaboration with Rodger Olsen, and promised another Stargard book which would conclude the series. Unfortunately, he will not complete it. On 25 December 2008, Leo died..