William H. Keith, Jr. is a prolific American author, best known for his science fiction, action, and thriller novels. He has written numerous series under various pseudonyms, including William H. Keith, Bill Keith, Keith William Andrews, Keith Douglass, Robert Cain, H. Jay Riker, and Ian Douglas. Keith was born on August 8, 1950, in the western mountains of Pennsylvania, and served in the U.S. Navy as a hospital corpsman during the Vietnam War. His experiences in the Navy greatly influence his military-themed novels.
Keith began his writing career as a freelancer, creating role-playing games. His first novel, "Doctor Who & the Vortex Crystal," was published in 1986. Since then, he has written over 78 novels, 10 non-fiction books, and 20 short stories. His works range from science fiction to military technothrillers to action and adventure. Keith has a particular interest in military science fiction, with a hard-science, realistic edge. In addition to his writing, Keith is also an accomplished illustrator and artist, having won awards for his work.
Aside from his original name, Keith has published under various pseudonyms, including Ian Douglas, Keith Douglass, H. Jay Riker, Bill Keith, Keith William Andrews, and Robert Cain. He has contributed to several series, including Doctor Who, BattleTech, Carrier, Buck Rogers, Seal Team Seven, Star*Drive, and Stephen Coonts' Deep Black. Some of his most popular series include Freedom's Rangers, Cybernarc, Warstrider, SEALs: The Warrior Breed, Galactic Marines, and Star Carrier. Keith is also a Wiccan and a Reiki master, which has influenced his writing and worldview. He continues to write and publish novels, drawing on his diverse experiences and interests to create engaging and thought-provoking stories.