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John Sandford

ジョン・サンドフォード

John Sandford

Aliases: John Roswell Camp / John Camp
Pen Names: John Sandford（Pseudonym used for fiction works (notably the "Prey" series). Adopted at the publisher's request.）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1944-02-23 （Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English

Career

Occupations
journalist, novelist, columnist
Active Years
1971-2025
Influenced By
T. H. White

Education

University of Iowa
American history and literature
Degree: Bachelor's
Country: United States
Received a bachelor's degree in American history and literature. Exact graduation year not specified; set to 0.
University of Iowa
Journalism
Degree: Master's
Country: United States
Received a master's degree in journalism. Exact graduation year not specified; set to 0.

Awards

Pulitzer Prize (Feature Writing)
1986
Work: Life on the Land: an American Farm Family (series of feature articles)
Category: Feature Writing
Organization: The Pulitzer Prizes / Pioneer Press Dispatch (publisher of the series)
Result: winner
Pulitzer Prize (finalist/nomination)
1980
Work: Series of articles on Native American culture
Organization: The Pulitzer Prizes / St. Paul Pioneer Press
Result: finalist
Thrillermaster
2019
Organization: International Thriller Writers
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Rules of Prey

1989 Crime fiction / Thriller

The first of the "Prey" novels introducing protagonist Lucas Davenport, a police/crime thriller that established the series' foundation.

crimeinvestigationjustice vs. personal motives

Gathering Prey

2015 Crime fiction / Thriller

A later entry in the Lucas Davenport "Prey" series, featuring politically sensitive cases and work tied to the Minnesota BCA.

corruption of powerinvestigationaction

Mind Prey

1995 Crime fiction / Thriller

A Lucas Davenport novel that was sold for adaptation as an ABC TV movie.

behavioral psychologycrime investigation
Adaptations
  • [TV movie] Mind Prey (TV movie)

Bibliography

  • Rules of Prey (1989)
  • The Fool's Run (1989)
  • Gathering Prey (2015)
  • Mind Prey (1995)
  • Ocean Prey (2021)

Adaptations

  • Mind Prey (TV movie rights sold)
  • Certain Prey (2011, USA Network movie starring Mark Harmon)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
fast-paced narrationrealistic, field-based descriptionsdialogue-driven, dynamic prose
Recurring Motifs
firearms and huntinginside look at law enforcementMidwestern rural communities

Legacy

John Sandford (born John Roswell Camp) is a long-standing New York Times bestselling author who has had significant influence on American crime thrillers. He is noted for his multi-book series, strong characterization, and procedural detail.

Academic Societies

  • International Thriller Writers (associated/recipient)

Archives

  • Library of Congress holdings / authority records

In Popular Culture

  • Adaptations such as the USA Network film of Certain Prey (2011) and TV/movie interest in other novels.

Quotes

  • "An impossible question. If you put a gun to my head... I'd say The Once and Future King." (Answer given in a New York Times interview when asked his favorite book; the guns he mentioned appear frequently in his novels.)
    Source: The New York Times (interview) (2018)

Trivia

  • Birth name is John Roswell Camp.
  • All of his novels have appeared in some form on the New York Times bestseller list.
  • Twenty-eight of his novels reportedly debuted at #1 on the hardcover or combined lists.
  • The use of the pen name John Sandford began when the publisher requested a pseudonym for Rules of Prey.
  • Personal friend and hunting companion of Minnesota author Chuck Logan.