Rick Partlow is one of the most prolific voices in military science fiction today. With over sixty novels across multiple series, he’s known for weaving authentic military detail with the sense of wonder that first drew him to the genre. A U.S. Army veteran and lifelong sci-fi fan, Rick brings both experience and imagination to every story he writes.
In this interview, he shares his thoughts on writing, worldbuilding, and the Archangel series, exploring what it means to create heroes who are as flawed and human as they are formidable.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast in the leading roles?
For Archangel, maybe Richard Madden as Brent Parthet. Glen Powell as Castiel. John Boyega as Raphael. And Sophie Cookson as Riva.
Which character from your books would you most like to spend a day with, and why?
Andy Clanton from Earth at War because he’s a guy who likes the outdoors and has a snarky sense of humor.
If you could live in one of the worlds you’ve created, which would it be and why?
Probably the Earth at War universe because by the end of the series, things have worked out pretty well for us humans.
Do you have a favorite villain from your books, and what makes them stand out to you?
Aaron Starkad from Wholesale Slaughter. He was an antagonist for most of the books but never really a villain in that he was doing what was right for his people, which happened to often be different than what was good for the protagonist’s people.
What’s the most surprising thing readers don’t know about your books?
That the Drop Trooper universe actually originated in a book I began plotting as a teenager in 1984.
Do you include Easter eggs in your books for fans to discover?
Yes a lot. For instance, Jay and Silent Bob are aliens in the last few books of Drop Trooper.
What’s your go-to snack or drink while writing?
Diet Coke and lots of it.
How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book?
A shot of tequila.
Which of your books or characters would you recommend as a starting point for new readers?
Have any real-life locations inspired the settings in your books?
All the time. I get a lot of inspiration from Wyoming and Montana.
Are there any elements in your books drawn from personal experiences?
A lot of the wildlife encounters are drawn from personal experience.
Is there a particular scene in one of your books that was especially fun (or hard) to write?
There’s a certain character death at the end of the first Earth at War book that was very difficult. I did NOT want to kill off that character.
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice about writing, what would it be?
Not to stop doing it for ten years after being rejected by trad publishers.
What’s your proudest moment as an author?
Being a Dragon Award finalist.
What’s one thing readers always get wrong about your books?
They seem to assume I edit them myself rather than having a crew of editors who work for my publisher.
What’s a lesser-known book or author you recommend to your readers?
Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith
What’s one genre you’d love to try writing in, but haven’t yet?
Epic fantasy.
If your main character could rewrite their story, what would they change?
They’d probably cut out all the suffering and loss they had to go through before they achieved their destiny.
Which character in your books do you think readers are most likely to relate to?
Andy Clanton from Earth at War.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters you’ve created?
Yes, definitely. There’s a little bit of me in all my POV characters.
Brent Parthet is a decorated supercommando, a man who’s been shaped by war and shattered by what came after. From Fallen to Avenging and now into Ascending, how has writing Brent’s evolution challenged or surprised you?
It was challenging showing his character deal with the death of his family and still be able to move on and continue to live and have a purpose.
Brent’s not a shiny, invincible protagonist. He’s broken, angry, and often unsure. Why was it important for you to build a hero this human?
I feel like it can be inspirational to the audience to have a hero who has to deal with doubt, grief and anger and still be able to battle through it.
One of the most brutal blows Brent suffers is the erasure of his very sense of self. What role does reclaiming identity play in the Archangel narrative, and what does it mean to you?
The world is constantly trying to pigeonhole us into easily-identifiable boxes and it’s often an effort to maintain a sense of who we are in the face of that.
In Fallen, the enemy isn’t who we expect. The Southwind start as genetically-engineered enemies, but we quickly learn the lines of good and evil are much blurrier. What drew you to explore this kind of moral gray area through a soldier’s perspective?
I was inspired by the slave rebellion in Haiti, a complex situation with atrocities on both sides and the involvement of multiple governments.
Your worldbuilding features shadowy intelligence agencies and corporate overreach. How much of this was inspired by real-world military-industrial dynamics, and how much came from pure sci-fi invention?
There’s definitely an echo of the modern world in the idea of unelected people buried deep in the bureaucracy and corporate entities with tendrils in every aspect of our lives maintaining more control than the politicians we voted for.
Without giving too much away, can you share how the scope of Ascending raises the stakes—not just for Brent, but for the larger questions the series is asking?
The series is about a budding revolution but like the revolt in Haiti that inspired the series, there are many sides and some of them haven’t yet manifested themselves. A straightforward fight against a corrupt government isn’t nearly as complicated as a fight against the government AND a more radical, violent revolutionary group.
This isn’t your first warzone. You’ve written dozens of books across multiple series, many with military sci-fi themes. What makes Archangel stand out for you? Is there something about this one that hits closer to home?
It’s always the characters, but the thing that stands out for me is the idea of a character questioning his very memories and not knowing if his life has been manufactured.
You’ve spoken about being shaped by classic sci-fi. Are there specific books or authors that influenced the tone or themes of Archangel?
Walter Jon Williams’ Voice of the Whirlwind.
Favorite battle scene you’ve ever written—Archangel or otherwise?
The final battle in Duty Honor Planet 2: Honor Bound.
If Brent had a motto, what would it be?
Mottos are for losers.
What’s your go-to hiking or camping destination when you need a break from writing?
Yellowstone.
Get Partlow’s amazing series, Archangel, available on Amazon
They pissed off the wrong soldier…
Brent Parthet just wanted to be left alone. A deadly supercommando in the Southwind War, Brent had retired a hero to a wildlife preserve as far from civilization as possible to enjoy the simple life with his wife and young son.
But when one of the Southwind, the massive, genetically-engineered slaves who’d rebelled against their human masters, shows up at Brent’s door, asking for help from an old enemy, Brent will find out that the war isn’t really over. And he may have been fighting for the wrong side.
Don’t miss the start of a new military science fiction series by Rick Partlow, bestselling author of Drop Trooper and Taken to the Stars. Filled with explosive and realistic military action as well as heroes you can’t help but root for, this is military Sci-Fi the way it’s meant to be!
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