Daniel Abraham (author)

Daniel Abraham
Born	(1969-11-14) November 14, 1969 United States
Occupation(s)	Author, comic book creator, screenwriter, television producer
Years active	1996–present
Known for	The Long Price Quartet, The Dagger and the Coin, The Expanse (as James S. A. Corey)
Notable work	The Expanse series, The Long Price Quartet, Black Sun's Daughter series, Hunter's Run

Daniel James Abraham (born November 14, 1969) is an American author, comic book creator, screenwriter, and television producer who writes under the pseudonyms M. L. N. Hanover and James S. A. Corey. He is notably recognized for his fantasy series The Long Price Quartet and The Dagger and the Coin, as well as for co-authoring the science fiction series The Expanse alongside Ty Franck under the shared pen name James S. A. Corey. This series was adapted into the television show The Expanse (2015–2022), with both Abraham and Franck serving as writers and producers. Additionally, he has contributed to the Wild Cards anthology collection.

Writing as M. L. N. Hanover, Abraham created the urban fantasy Black Sun's Daughter series. Collaborating with Franck under the name James S. A. Corey, he co-wrote the Star Wars novel Honor Among Thieves (2014). Abraham also partnered with George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois on the 2007 science fiction novel Hunter's Run. As a frequent collaborator with Martin, he adapted several of Martin’s works into graphic novels and comics, including A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, and contributed to Martin’s Wild Cards universe.

His short fiction has been published extensively and compiled in the collection Leviathan Wept and Other Stories (2010). The inaugural book of The Expanse, Leviathan Wakes, was shortlisted for both the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Novel and Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. His novelettes "Flat Diane" and "The Cambist and Lord Iron: a Fairytale of Economics" received nominations for prestigious honors including the Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy Awards. Abraham completed his studies at the Clarion West Writers Workshop in 1998.

In 2022, he featured on Storybound, where he read excerpts from his book Age of Ash while reflecting on his early experiences as a writer.

Early work

Abraham’s literary debut came in 1996 with his short story "Mixing Rebecca", published in The Silver Web #13. He continued to produce numerous stories, novelettes, and novellas featured in anthologies and magazines such as Asimov's Science Fiction and Fantasy & Science Fiction. His novelette "Flat Diane" earned the 2005 International Horror Guild Award and was a nominee for the 2006 Nebula Award. Another work, "The Cambist and Lord Iron: a Fairytale of Economics", garnered nominations for both the 2008 Hugo and World Fantasy Awards.

Wild Cards

Abraham entered the shared universe of Wild Cards with his story "Father Henry's Little Miracle" included in Deuces Down (2002). He developed the Johnathan Hive narrative in Inside Straight (2008), published by Tor Books under editor George R. R. Martin’s guidance. He also authored the character Johnathan "Bugsy" Tipton-Clarke’s storyline in Suicide Kings (2009). Furthermore, Abraham scripted the six-issue limited comic series Wild Cards: The Hard Call, initially released by Dabel Brothers Productions in 2008 and finished by Dynamite Entertainment in 2010. In 2013, Tor.com featured his new short story set in the Wild Cards universe titled "When We Were Heroes", edited by Martin.

Hunter's Run

Eos Books published the science fiction novel Hunter's Run in September 2007, a joint effort by Abraham, George R. R. Martin, and Gardner Dozois. The work originated from a 1977 novella by Dozois, which Martin had reviewed; however, progress halted due to Dozois experiencing writer’s block. In 2002, Martin and Dozois brought Abraham on board to revise the manuscript and finish its conclusion. The novella "Shadow Twin" was subsequently released online through Sci Fiction in 2004 and later issued as a chapbook. Following Martin’s recommendation, the expanded novel was renamed Hunter's Run to distinguish it from the original novella. The authors collaborated extensively throughout the revision process, with Dozois ultimately completing the final version of the book.

The Expanse

In 2011, Abraham introduced the science fiction series The Expanse, co-written with Ty Franck under the shared pen name James S. A. Corey. This series is inspired by a role-playing game created by Franck, set within the Solar System. After connecting through this game, Abraham suggested they write a novel set in that universe. Their collaboration involved Franck providing story outlines while Abraham concentrated on crafting prose and narrative structure. Together, they developed the plot and alternated writing chapters and character perspectives, achieving a cohesive joint authorship.

The debut novel, Leviathan Wakes, was released in June 2011 by Orbit Books, which also publishes Abraham’s fantasy series The Dagger and the Coin. It received a Hugo Award nomination in 2012 and garnered significant praise within the science fiction community. A prequel short story titled "The Butcher of Anderson Station" followed in October 2011, expanding the series’ background.

The follow-up novel, Caliban's War (June 2012), introduced additional point-of-view characters to deepen character development and narrative complexity. This installment was complemented by the novella Gods of Risk (September 2012), which runs concurrently with the main storyline. Another prequel short story, "Drive," appeared in the anthology Edge of Infinity (November 2012).

The third book in the series, Abaddon's Gate (June 2013), earned the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. The novella The Churn (April 2014) further explores the backstory of key character Amos Burton.

Cibola Burn (June 2014) was notable as the first hardcover release in the series. It was succeeded by Nemesis Games (June 2015), which critic Andrew Liptak described as "Corey’s Empire Strikes Back". The novella The Vital Abyss followed in October 2015.

Later entries include Babylon's Ashes (December 2016), Persepolis Rising (December 2017), and Tiamat's Wrath (March 2019). The concluding volume, Leviathan Falls, was published in November 2021, bringing closure to the nine-book saga.

A Game of Thrones Graphic Novel Adaptation

Abraham transformed George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones, the inaugural novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, into a comic book saga spanning 24 issues, released by Dynamite Entertainment between September 2011 and July 2014. The artwork was created by Tommy Patterson, with Ivan Nunes providing the color work. These issues were later compiled into four hardcover graphic novels published by Bantam Books, with the initial volume featuring an introduction written by Martin himself. In 2014, Abraham revealed he would not be adapting the subsequent novel, A Clash of Kings.

Honor Among Thieves

During New York Comic Con in 2013, Del Rey Books unveiled a standalone Star Wars novel co-authored by Abraham and Ty Franck under their joint pen name James S. A. Corey. Titled Honor Among Thieves, this work is set chronologically between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back and was published on March 4, 2014, as the second entry in the Empire and Rebellion series. To authentically portray Han Solo’s character, the authors extensively analyzed the films. The novel also included Corey's short story "Silver and Scarlet," which appeared in Star Wars Insider issue #148. After Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the Expanded Universe was rebranded as Star Wars Legends, making Honor Among Thieves the final work released within that continuity.

Adaptation of The Expanse for Television

In September 2013, Alcon Television Group secured television adaptation rights for the Expanse novels. By April 2014, Syfy had commissioned a 10-episode debut season. The series became available on demand starting November 23, 2015, followed by its television premiere on Syfy on December 14, 2015. Developed by Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, who also serve as writers, executive producers, and showrunners alongside Naren Shankar, the production began scripting its second season in May 2015 prior to airing the first season. Syfy officially renewed the show in December 2015 with an expanded order of 13 episodes for season two, which premiered on February 1, 2017. Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (writing together as James S. A. Corey) participate as writers and producers on the series and co-authored episode seven titled "Windmills."

In November 2024, Abraham partnered with Franck, Breck Eisner, and Shankar to establish the production company Expanding Universe. This venture secured a development agreement with Amazon MGM Studios to adapt the The Captive's War trilogy into a television series, with Abraham attached as co-writer and co-executive producer.

Personal Life

Abraham lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his wife Katherine Abraham and their daughter Scarlet.

Published Works

The Long Price Quartet' Series

• A Shadow in Summer (March 7, 2006)
• A Betrayal in Winter (August 21, 2007)
• An Autumn War (July 22, 2008)
• The Price of Spring (July 21, 2009)

Omnibus Editions

• Shadow and Betrayal (compiles first two novels) (January 21, 2010)
• Seasons of War (compiles third and fourth novels; also issued as The Price of War) (January 21, 2010)
• The Long Price Quartet (complete collection) (November 13, 2018)

Black Sun's Daughter series

• Unclean Spirits (published under M. L. N. Hanover) (December 2, 2008)
• Darker Angels (as M. L. N. Hanover) (September 29, 2009)
• Vicious Grace (credited to M. L. N. Hanover) (November 30, 2010)
• Killing Rites (using the name M. L. N. Hanover) (November 29, 2011)
• Graveyard Child (under the pseudonym M. L. N. Hanover) (April 30, 2013)

The Dagger and the Coin series

• The Dragon's Path (April 7, 2011)
• The King's Blood (May 22, 2012)
• The Tyrant's Law (May 14, 2013)
• The Widow's House (August 5, 2014)
• The Spider's War (March 8, 2016)

The Expanse series

(Co-authored with Ty Franck under the joint pen name James S. A. Corey.)

The Kithamar Trilogy

• Age of Ash (February 15, 2022)
• Blade of Dream (July 23, 2023)

Standalone novels

• Hunter's Run (co-written with Gardner Dozois and George R. R. Martin) (2007)
• Inside Straight (collaborative work edited by George R. R. Martin; part of the Wild Cards mosaic novel series) (2008)
• Suicide Kings (another collaborative entry in the Wild Cards mosaic series, edited by George R. R. Martin) (2009)
• "The Incident of the Harrowmoor Dogs" (novella) (2013)

Tie-in fiction

• Star Wars: Honor Among Thieves (co-authored with Ty Franck as James S. A. Corey) (part of the Star Wars: Empire and Rebellion series, book two) (2014)

Graphic fiction

• A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel, issues #1–24 (September 2011 – July 2014)
  • Collected editions compiling issues #1–6, #7–12, #13–18, and #19–24 respectively; published by Bantam/Dynamite Entertainment from 2012 to 2015
• George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call, issues #1–6 (2008–2010; hardcover collection released by Dynamite in 2011)
• George R. R. Martin's Fevre Dream, issues #1–10 (2010; collected hardcover edition by Avatar Press in 2011)
• Skin Trade, issues #1–4 (2013; trade paperback collection by Avatar Press in 2014)

Collections

• Leviathan Wept and Other Stories (May 31, 2010)

Television

Year	Title	Credits		Details
		Writer	Producer
2015–2022	The Expanse	yes	yes	Adapted from his own Expanse novels; served as writer for twelve episodes and as producer.

Selected awards

Year	Award	Category	Work Title	Outcome
2005	International Horror Guild Award	Mid-length Fiction	"Flat Diane"	won
2006	Nebula Award	Best Novelette	"Flat Diane"	nominated
2008	World Fantasy Award	Short Fiction	"The Cambist and Lord Iron: a Fairytale of Economics"	nominated
2008	Hugo Award	Best Novelette	"The Cambist and Lord Iron: a Fairytale of Economics"	nominated
2012	Hugo Award	Best Novel	Leviathan Wakes (with Ty Franck as James S. A. Corey)	nominated
2012	Locus Award	Best Science Fiction Novel	Leviathan Wakes (with Ty Franck as James S. A. Corey)	nominated
2014	Locus Award	Best Science Fiction Novel	Abaddon's Gate (with Ty Franck as James S. A. Corey)	won

External links

• Daniel Abraham profile at Fantasy Literature
• Ty Franck, Corey, and Hanover entries in LC Authorities