In Death Ground is a 1997 military science fiction novel by American writer David Weber and Steve White.

Following a series of three interstellar wars (ISWs 1–3) with different species (warlike felinoid Orions and their centauroid Gorm associates, birdlike Ophiuchi, the genocidal Rigelians, and the Thebans (explored in a prequel novel Crusade), humanity has experienced a seventy-year "vacation from history", i.e. seven decades of peace.

A survey squadron travels through a previously uncharted warp point and encounters a hive-like species referred to derisively as the 'Bugs' (inspired by the Arachnids in Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers).

All attempts at communication fail, and the Bugs ambush the survey squadron, with a great loss of material and human life.

The universe and novels are based on the Starfire wargame series, which David Weber helped to develop, and which has existed in various editions since 1976.