Freelance Traveller

Traveller has taken inspiration from a wide variety of published fiction, and there is no question that fiction published since the release of the game has influenced referees in developing and running their campaigns. This section is for reviews of such fiction, with an emphasis on the reviewer's perception of links between the reviewed fiction and Traveller.

• Space Viking (Shannon Appelcline) A 1960s classic with some clear connections to Traveller (#1 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Dumarest of Terra (Shannon Appelcline) One of the key series in Traveller's genesis (#2 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Retief: Envoy to New Worlds (Shannon Appelcline) Satire and comedy in a space-operatic setting (#3 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Dorsai! (Shannon Appelcline) One of the defining novels of the Military SF genre (#4 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Retief's Peace (Shannon Appelcline) Noted Traveller author William Keith writes in Keith Laumer's "Retief" universe (#5 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Not In Our Stars (Shannon Appelcline) One of the earliest Traveller novels. (#6 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Force of Destiny (Shannon Appelcline) A companion novel to go with the FASA Far Frontiers adventures (#7 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Become the Hunted (Shannon Appelcline) One of the earliest Traveller novels, the second in Swycaffer's Concordiat series. (#8 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• The Death of Wisdom (Shannon Appelcline) Gaming fiction, set in the New Era of the Traveller RPG. (#9 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Universal Prey (Shannon Appelcline) The third of Jefferson Swycaffer's novels set in a Travelleresque universe. (#10 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• To Dream of Chaos (Shannon Appelcline) The second of the Traveller: The New Era novels. (#11 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Praesidium of Archive (Shannon Appelcline) The fourth Swycaffer book set in a Traveller-like universe (#12 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Traveller Chronicle Short Fiction (Shannon Appelcline) An early Traveller fanzine, with early Traveller shorts (#13 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Empire's Legacy (Shannon Appelcline) The fifth of seven Jefferson Swycaffer novels set in a Traveller milieu. (#14 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Gateway to the Stars (Shannon Appelcline) Written to be Traveller, but misses the mark (#15 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The T4 JTAS Short Fiction (Shannon Appelcline) The second print incarnation of JTAS printed fiction, of mixed quality. (#16 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Voyage of the Planetslayer (Shannon Appelcline) The sixth of seven Jefferson Swycaffer novels set in a Traveller milieu. (#17 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Complete Hammer's Slammers, Volume 1 (Shannon Appelcline) Military SF showing mercenaries at war, up close and personal. (#18 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Revolt and Rebirth (Shannon Appelcline) The capstone of Jefferson Swycaffer's Travelleresque universe. (#19 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• A Long Way Home (Shannon Appelcline) A novel of the New Era. (#20 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Diaspora Phoenix (Shannon Appelcline) The New Era, elsewhere (#21 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Backwards Mask (Shannon Appelcline) The final book of GDW's Traveller: The New Era trilogy, as conceived by the original author. (#22 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• The Backwards Mask (Shannon Appelcline) The final book of GDW's Traveller: The New Era trilogy, as commissioned from Matt Carson by Marc Miller. (#23 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• The Cosmic Computer (Shannon Appelcline) An early major influence on the development of Traveller, part of Piper's Terro-Human Future History (#24 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Yesterday's Hero (Shannon Appelcline) A good central character, but the surroundings could have been better (#25 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Slices of Life (Shannon Appelcline) A glimpse of the Imperium of the early 1000s (#26 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Fate of the Kinunir (Shannon Appelcline) We know its fate; here is how it happened (#27 in the author's series of RPG.Net fiction reviews)
• Shadow of the Storm (Shannon Appelcline) Military fiction giving insights into the Solomani Confederation (#28 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Agent of the Imperium (Shannon Appelcline) An excellent introduction to the Official Traveller Universe, and an excellent read as well (#29 in the author's series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• Singers War: Origin (Shannon Appelcline) A look into the deep history of the Official Traveller Universe (#30 in the authors series of RPG.net fiction reviews)
• The Foundation Trilogy (Shannon Appelcline) One of the early space opera series, a strong influence on Traveller (#31 in the author’s series of RPG.net fiction reviews).
• Designers and Dragons ("kafka") A well-written history of the industry.
• Designers and Dragons (Megan Robertson) History of the Industry
• Trading in Danger (Jeff Zeitlin) When a merchant campaign goes wrong...
• The Artemis Files: #1: Elysium (Ravi Shankar) Pulp Space Opera lives on!
• Balance of Trade (Jeff Zeitlin) An introduction to a rich tapestry of a universe that could be home to a Traveller campaign.
• Musica Cthulhiana: "Fragment" ("kafka") Mood music for paranormal horror
• The Artemis Files: #2: Talisman (Ravi Shankar) The second volume of a pulp Space Opera series
• Science Fiction Hobby Games: A First Survey (Jeff Zeitlin) Looking at SF games as SF
• Deathworld 3 (Jeff Zeitlin) Unabashed PCs, on a mission
• Trader Tales From the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper (Kevin Payne) Life aboard a free trader
• Shadow of the Storm (Jeff Zeitlin) The Solomani Navy, not as cardboard cutouts
• Shadow of the Storm (Ewan Quibell) A good story that could have been longer and still better
• The Course of Empire (Jeff Zeitlin) Not Travelleresque, but a good read, with good examples of well-written cultures
• Space Viking (Shelby Michlin) Influential on Traveller, but nevertheless flawed.
• The Mote in God's Eye and The Gripping Hand (Michael Thompson) Alien aliens, archetypal humans
• Agent of the Imperium (Mark Poles) An episodic space opera story by Traveller's creator.
• Misjump (Jeff Zeitlin) Adventure in a post-apocalyptic alternate universe
• A Memory Called Empire (Benedikt Schwarz) A decadent Empire, an outsider Ambassador, political intrigue,... and an excellent read.
• Three Quick Books (Timothy Collinson) variable quality, and perhaps somewhat farther afield than usual to find Traveller
• Legacy of Lehr (Jim Catchpole) Good Traveller-esque SF from an author known for historicals.
• The Number of the Beast (Timothy Collinson) Not one of Heinlein's best, but possibly a source of alternate inspiration
• Hunters of the Sky Cave (David Johnson) An excellent Sir Dominic Flandry tale which might have inspired the Vargr
• Fate of the Kinunir (Ewan Quibell) A back-story for an early adventure, that works... sort of
• The Wagner Incident (Timothy Collinson) Traveller Milfic that doesn't get caught up in itself
• The Wagner Incident (Jo Jaquinta) Well-written and absorbing; definitely worth reading.
• The Dark Wing series (Jeff Zeitlin) War, mysticism, aliens, and main characters who are PCs.
• Federation of the Hub (Jeff Zeitlin) Good stories by an author less known than he should be
• Soldier of the Republic (Timothy Collinson) MilSF, done better than anticipated
• The Boys from the Baltic Star: An 'Actual Play' review (Timothy Collinson) Livestreaming Traveller, when the Referee is a Raconteur.
• Rocheworld (Paul Anuni) Mostly good science wrapped up in a good story
• This is Free Trader Beowulf: a system history of Traveller (Timothy Collinson) Traveller has a history, and it’s well-written.
• Far Trader #1 (Tim Tow) A look at a Traveller graphic novel.
• Second Game (Jeff Zeitlin) Winning, by losing