Tag Archives: post apocalyptic fiction

November 3, 2026

Reapers – Out Now!

By Anthony Ryan
Book cover for 'Reapers' by A. J. Ryan, featuring an eye graphic surrounded by red splatter, with the tagline about a neural implant glitch.

UK Cover

Reapers – my latest post-apocalyptic novel – is released today in the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Check out the buy links on the book page.

NB – there seems to be some delay in publishing the audiobook, narrated once again by the inestimable Steven Brand. I don’t yet have a confirmed release date but will post links when it goes live. 

Book cover of 'Reapers' by Anthony Ryan featuring a figure in tactical gear walking with a cat through a devastated cityscape with digital elements.

US Cover

Book description:

“Ryan excels at engendering sympathy for his amoral lead and making this hellish world feel frighteningly real. It’s an impressive feat.” – Publishers Weekly.

Internationally bestselling author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding horror novel set in a world where an implant has caused millions of people to lose their humanity – with terrifying consequences.

Cortexia’s neural implant changed the world. Stress, anxiety, depression – eradicated. Millions of people able to live their best lives.

Then came the Glitch: a digital shockwave that affected every implanted person. Those who didn’t die lost their minds instead. Some became vacant, others violent and deranged. Civilisation collapsed overnight.

For former convict Dalton, this brought opportunity. As a Reaper, he ventures into quarantine zones to scavenge implants from the glitched – whether they’re dead or alive. Every batch he sends to his employer brings him a step closer to freedom.

But when a chance encounter sets in motion a deadly chain of events, Dalton is forced to reconsider everything he knows about the Glitch – and what it really means for humanity’s future.

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

October 14, 2025

The Feeding – Now Available in the UK

By Anthony Ryan
Book cover of 'The Feeding' by A.J. Ryan featuring large, bloody fangs and the title in bold red letters.

I’m happy to report that my post-apocalyptic horror novel The Feeding is now available in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa under my pen-name A.J. Ryan. 

Book Description:

‘[A] pulse-pounding vampire tale . . . Ryan keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of The Last of Us will be enthralled’ Publishers Weekly

‘A frenetically-paced read that will equally excite and terrify you’ FanfiAddict

Layla has spent her entire life in the Redoubt, one of the last bastions of humanity in a ravaged world. She’s never been beyond the Redoubt’s walls; only Crossers, with their special training and survival skills, are permitted to venture into the shadow-haunted wastelands. 

When Layla’s father falls ill, she knows she needs to find a cure. But no such medicine can be found within the Redoubt. Instead, her only chance is to pass a series of gruelling trials to become a Crosser, and then to strike out into the wilderness. 

Where the feeders are.

Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding horror novel where humans are no longer top of the food chain.

Buy the ebook: Amazon.co.uk – Kobo

Buy the paperback: Amazon.co.uk – Blackwells – Hive

4 Comments   |  tags: , , | posted in Writing Stuff

August 12, 2025

The Feeding – Now Available in the USA

By Anthony Ryan
Book cover for 'The Feeding' by Anthony Ryan, featuring a lone figure walking through a desolate, overgrown urban landscape with destroyed buildings and a dramatic red sky.

The Feeding – my latest post-apocalyptic horror novel – is now available in the US and Canada. 

Buy the ebook: Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – Barnes & Noble – Kobo – Apple Books

Buy the paperback: Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – Barnes & Noble – Bookshop.org

Buy the audiobook: Audible.com – Barnes & Noble

Buy the audio CD: Barnes & Noble – Bookshop.org

“Layla is a wonderfully multifaceted heroine… Ryan keeps readers on the edges of their seats. Fans of The Last of Us will be enthralled.” – Publishers Weekly

“A captivating story of survival, pervaded with riveting action made all the more thrilling by the high stakes…” – FanFiAddict

“I Am Legend meets Dying Light 2…What I liked: The author’s ruthlessness – and I shan’t elaborate on that, because of spoilers, but dear lord.” – Happy Goat Horror

With echoes of The Road, The New York Times bestselling author Anthony Ryan’s The Feeding is a brilliant post-apocalyptic novel that finds the sweet spot between commercial, literary, and creepy. Perfect for fans of Justin Cronin, M. R. Carey, and Alexis Henderson.

Fifteen years ago the feeders rose from the shadows to transform the world into a graveyard. The few survivors exist in fortified settlements surrounded by the empty ruins of a destroyed civilization. For years the citizens of New City Redoubt have relied on an elite cadre of Crossers to navigate the feeder infested wasteland between settlements in order to trade for vital supplies. But the Outside is becoming ever more dangerous, and the ranks of the Crossers grow thinner with every crossing.

Layla, only a child when the Feeding destroyed the old world, spends her days scavenging the ruins for valuable scrap and her nights helping her adoptive family eke a living from the Redoubt’s only movie theatre. Now, with her father slowly dying, Layla resolves to join the Crossers to retrieve the medicine that can save him. Smart, ruthless, and fast on her feet, Layla quickly gains the respect of her fellow Crossers. But, in a world lost to the deadliest predators, can even the most cunning prey survive?

The UK edition of The Feeding will be released on October 14th. See the book page for pre-orders.

Book cover of 'The Feeding' by A.J. Ryan featuring a dark background, bold red title, and ominous imagery of teeth and blood.

In further service to the apocalyptic theme, those nice people at the Ginger Nuts of Horror site were kind enough to invite me to write an article on my enduring love for the work of British TV writer Nigel Kneale – a seminal influence on my non-fantasy works. Check it out here: https://gnofhorror.com/a-very-british-terror-the-works-of-nigel-kneale/

Black and white portrait of writer Nigel Kneale with the title 'A Very British Terror - The Works of Nigel Kneale by Anthony Ryan' prominently displayed in orange text, accompanied by a colorful banner featuring a rainbow flag.
Cover of the book 'A Tide of Black Steel' by Anthony Ryan, featuring a dark and dynamic design with an axe and silhouettes of figures against a mountainous background, highlighting a promotional price of $2.99.

In other news, the ebook edition of A Tide of Black Steel – Book One of the Age of Wrath – is on sale at $2.99 in the US throughout August. 

Buy it here:  Amazon.com –  Barnes & Noble –  Kobo –  Google Play

And finally, Orbit US are running a Goodreads giveaway for paperbacks of both A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm. Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/414664-a-tide-of-black-steel

Cover of the book 'Born of an Iron Storm' by Anthony Ryan, featuring a large golden hammer on a rocky shoreline with crashing waves.

Born of an Iron Storm will be released worldwide on August 24th. Check out the book page for pre-orders. 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

October 10, 2023

Red River Seven – Now Available

By Anthony Ryan

It’s publication day for Red River Seven. The book is now available in ebook, paperback and audio in USA and Canada, and ebook in UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The paperback and audio versions will be published in non-US territories on 12th October – however, I’m told some copies are already filtering out to bookshops. 

Buy the ebook:  Amazon.com  –  Amazon.co.uk  – Nook – Google Play – Kobo – Apple Books

Buy the paperback: Amazon.com –  Amazon.co.uk –  Waterstones  – Barnes & Noble  –  
Books A Million  –  Bookshop.org  –  Blackwells  – Orbit UK  –  Orbit US

Buy the audiobook:  Audible.com – Audible.co.uk – Apple Books

About the book:

Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s not alone – there are six others. None of them can remember their names, but all bear the scars of recent surgery.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.

But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form, and the group is plagued by questions. Who is directing them, why have they lost their memories, and what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?

“With thoughtful characterization and an innovative variation on a familiar theme, this impressive horror tale wows.” — Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“With well drawn characters, an engrossing story, and a spectacular finale, this one is a triumph.” — Booklist

“A. J. Ryan’s RED RIVER SEVEN bursts onto the page like a riveting ride into a monstrous heart of darkness, starting out as a locked-room mystery and steadily stomping the gas to become an edge-of-your seat apocalyptic thriller. Gripping, fast-paced, and bloody good fun.” — Craig DiLouie, author of Episode Thirteen

“Parts Josh Malerman’s Bird Box and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, RRS is a frenetically paced, galvanizing read that will equally excite and terrify you. Absolute recommend.” — FanFiAddict

“Bird Box meets World War Z in the genre-bending Red River Seven, a madly entertaining amalgam of locked-room mystery, heart-racing thriller, and terror-inducing horror show that will keep you up late into the night and darken your dreams long after you turn the last page.” – Philip Fracassi, author of Boys in the Valley

“[A] non-stop action ride.” – Grimdark Magazine

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

October 2, 2023

Upcoming Red River Seven Giveaway & Signed Traitor HC Charity Auction

By Anthony Ryan

To celebrate the upcoming release of my post-apocalyptic thriller Red River Seven – October 10th in the US and October 12th in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – I’ll be running a giveaway on my mailing list from October 4th to 9th. Five first place winners will receive a signed paperback of the book and ten second place winners will receive a signed bookplate (vinyl stickers that would also look great on a laptop or journal).

In order to enter you’ll need to join the mailing list before October 4th. Sign up here.

Subscribers will receive an email on the 4th with a link to submit their entry. The giveaway will run until midnight GMT on October 9th. Winners will be chosen at random and notified on October 10th – check your spam folders to make sure you haven’t missed out.

Book description and pre-order details are on the Red River Seven book page.

In other news, I’ve contributed a signed UK edition hardcover of The Traitor – Covenant of Steel Book 3 – to the Children in Read charity auction. Go here to bid (currently priced at £10!):

https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/detail/auction_id/7632?search=Anthony+Ryan#none

All proceeds from the auction will go to the charity Children in Need which contributes to a load of really great causes in the UK. There are a wide range of books available in the auction, including a signed copy of Coraline by Neil Gaiman and my recent fave The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless. Check the full range out here: https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/childreninread2023

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

July 31, 2023

Red River Seven – Goodreads Giveaway

By Anthony Ryan

Attention end-of-the-world fans – my publisher is running an ebook giveaway on Goodreads for my post-apocalyptic thriller Red River Seven. Go here to enter: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/371579-red-river-seven

The giveaway is for 100 copies and is open until August 14th. Sorry to non-Americans, but it’s open to US residents only. 

I’ll be doing my own giveaway for signed copies closer to the release in October. Join the mailing list to make sure you don’t miss out on a chance to enter.

For full details about Red River Seven and pre-oder links – see the book page. 

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

May 4, 2023

Red River Seven – Cover Reveal

By Anthony Ryan

I’m delighted to reveal the cover for RED RIVER SEVEN. Thanks to the designer Ellen Rockell and everyone at Orbit Books for their work on this. 

Here’s the blurb:

Anthony Ryan needs no introduction – the author of the Raven’s Shadow, Raven’s Blade, Draconis Memoria and Covenant of Steel series is one of the biggest names in modern epic fantasy and has sold more than a million books worldwide.

However, Anthony’s storytelling skills extend far beyond the fantasy genre. We’re excited to announce that in October we’ll be publishing RED RIVER SEVEN – an action-packed thriller that combines a gripping mystery with a strong dose of horror. If Jason Bourne meets Annihilation by way of The Last of Us sounds like your sort of thing, then this is a book you won’t want to miss.

Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s not alone – there are six others. None of them can remember their names, but all bear the scars of recent surgery.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.

But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form, and the group is plagued by questions. Who is directing them, why have they lost their memories, and what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?

RED RIVER SEVEN publishes in the US on October 10th and the UK on October 12th.

You can pre-order the paperback here (ebook and audiobook links to come):
Amazon.com  –  Amazon.co.uk  – Waterstones  – Barnes & Noble  –  
Books A Million  –  Bookshop.org  –  Blackwells  – Orbit UK  –  Orbit US

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff

April 3, 2023

‘The Martyr’ Paperback Giveaway and ‘Red River Seven’ Gets a Blurb

By Anthony Ryan

The UK paperback edition of The Martyr – Book Two in the Covenant of Steel trilogy – will be released on April 13th. To celebrate I’m giving away five signed copies to existing mailing list subscribers and anyone who joins the list before midnight GMT on April 12th.

To enter go here to join the mailing list. 

The giveaway is open to all readers worldwide. If you’ve already signed up, you’re automatically entered. 

Winners will be chosen and notified on April 13th. Remember to check your spam folders to make sure you don’t miss out on a prize.

Order The Martyr UK paperback here: Amazon.co.uk – Waterstones – Hive

For other formats visit the book page.

In other news, the blurb for my post-apocalyptic thriller Red River Seven (to be published in October under the pseudonym AJ Ryan) has now gone up on the Amazon US and UK pre-order pages: 

Internationally bestselling fantasy author Anthony Ryan – writing as A. J. Ryan – delivers a nerve-shredding thriller in which seven strangers must undertake a terrifying journey into the unknown.

A man awakes on a boat at sea with no memory of who he is or how he came to be there. He’s not alone – there are six others. None of them can remember their names, but all bear the scars of recent surgery.

When a message appears on the onboard computer – Proceeding to Point A – the group agrees to work together to survive whatever is coming.

But as the boat moves through the mist-shrouded waters, divisions begin to form, and the group is plagued by questions. Who is directing them, why have their memories been wiped, and – most crucially of all – what are the screams they can hear beyond the mist?

Pre-order the paperback here: Amazon.com – Amazon.co.uk – Waterstones

Pre-order links for the ebook and audio editions haven’t appeared yet. I’ll update when they do. Also, watch this space for a cover reveal, hopefully soon. 

For those who can’t get enough of my half-baked opinions, I did a podcast interview recently with fellow fantasist Stephen Aryan which can be viewed here:

Anthony Ryan interviewed by Stephen Aryan.

And finally, I contributed a clip to this ensemble of scribblers offering advice for any aspiring writers out there:

Dear Writer…

Leave a comment   |  tags: , , , , , , , , | posted in Writing Stuff