Dale Brown

Brown was born in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Western European History, and later received a commission in the United States Air Force in 1978. A navigator-bombardier in the G-model B-52 Stratofortress and the FB-111, he is the recipient of several military decorations and awards, including the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Combat Crew Award, and the Marksmanship ribbon. He rose to the rank of Captain, and has 2,500 hours of flight time in B-52s. He is also a Life Member of the Air Force Association and the U.S. Naval Institute. Brown's first paid writing was a review of Fort Apocalypse for Compute!'s Gazette. Never seeing combat before leaving the Air Force in 1986, he wrote his first book, Flight of the Old Dog. His novels are published in eleven languages and distributed to over seventy countries. He published 11 bestsellers in 11 years.

What genre does Dale Brown write in?

He writes military fiction and techno-thrillers, often aviation-centered novels that focus on high-technology warfare and geopolitical conflicts.

Which recurring characters or series does he have?

His best-known recurring protagonist is Patrick McLanahan, and he also wrote the Dreamland series. Many of his novels are part of long-running military thriller series.

Where should I start if I am new to his work?

For the Patrick McLanahan storyline, start with Flight of the Old Dog, which was his first novel. If you want the separate Dreamland storyline, begin with the novel titled Dreamland.

How realistic are the military and aviation details in his books?

Very realistic. Brown served as a navigator-bombardier in B-52s, logged about 2,500 flight hours, and drew on that experience to give his novels technical and operational authenticity.

Has he received awards or notable recognition for his writing?

He achieved commercial success, publishing 11 bestsellers in 11 years and having novels translated into eleven languages and distributed in over seventy countries. His listed decorations are military awards such as the Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Crew Award, and Marksmanship ribbon.