Dennis McKiernan was born in 1932 in Moberly, Mo., where he grew up. After a tour with the U.S. Air Force, he received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri and an M.S. from Duke University. He began writing novels in 1977 while recuperating from an accident. His novels include "The Iron Tower," a trilogy; "The Silver Call," a duology; "The Eye of the Hunter," and "The Caverns of Socrates." In his spare time, McKiernan enjoys scuba diving and dirt bike riding as well as fantasy-role playing games, at which he is an accomplished gamemaster.