Rob Hobart is a lifelong fan of science-fiction, fantasy, role-playing games, Japanese pop culture, and military history. He is the author of the ongoing Empire of the Sun and Moon epic fantasy series. Before writing novels, he worked for eight years in the role-playing game industry, serving as Line Editor, co-designer/co-writer, and eventually Lead Design for the Legend of the Five Rings RPG (3rd and 4th Edition), as well as running the L5R Living Rokugan/Heroes of Rokugan organized-play campaign from 2000 to 2010.
Rob may... or may not... be the immortal 4th Earl of Buckinghamshire. He lives in rural Missouri with his wife and daughter.
Welcome!
Welcome to my website! This will primarily be a place for people to learn more about my novels and other writing, as well as to get updates on the status of upcoming projects. I am also using this site to host older completed projects, including the Heroes of Rokugan campaign and my RPG design work. Look around and see what you can find!
Website Update09/13/2024
The L5R Page has been updated! Rob's unofficial 5th Edition of the L5R RPG has been uploaded under the 'Homebrew' section.
Website Update02/21/2023
The L5R Page has been updated! The Author Notes of HoR 2 have been added to the module pages.
Website Update02/18/2022
The War of Heaven and Earth, the final book in the Empire of the Sun and Moon series is now available! Find out more about it here. Additionally, the L5R Page has been updated! The Author Notes of HoR 1 have been added to the remaining modules.
Website Update06/02/2021
Throne of the Emperor, the fourth book in the Empire of the Sun and Moon series is now available! Find out more about it here.
Writing Update04/07/2021
So, as of today, Book 4 of Empire of the Sun & Moon is at 252,000 words, which is larger than any of the previous books (City of Spirits was previously the longest at 238,000).
And... still not done. In fact, there are probably at least 30,000, and quite possibly as many as 50,000, words still to go.
The slowness has been partly due to the events of the last year -- I am unfortunately not someone who writes well when stressed by outside events. for which I can only apologize.
But also, of course, there is the problem that this is the ending of the story, with an immense number of plot and character threads to pull together and tie up, and doing so is more challenging and takes more word-count than I had estimated.
So... what to do?
Well, I am going to pull a Jim Butcher. 🙂
My cover artist has agreed to step up and create one more cover on a short deadline, so this monstrosity is getting split into two reasonably-sized books. The first of these, THE THRONE OF THE EMPEROR, will begin editing immediately with the intention of releasing in May. The second, THE WAR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, will follow within a few months, possibly as early as mid-summer if I can keep up my current productivity.
Website Updates10/04/2020
The L5R Page has been updated! You can now download all of the HoR2 Modules!
Website Updates03/24/2020
City of Spirits, the third book in the Empire of the Sun and Moon series is now available! Find out more about it here.
The L5R Page has been updated! You can now download all of the HoR1 Modules, and the first several essays on those modules are available. The remaining HoR1 essays, HoR2 modules and essays will be available shortly. Also, the L5R Homebrews and discussions are now available to be read.
Writing Update03/22/2019
Writing is underway on Book 3 of the Empire of the Sun and Moon series!
Masks of Dakkurru02/18/2019
The Masks of Dakkuru, the second book in the Empire of the Sun and Moon series is now available! Find out more about it here.