Chris Ryan

Author

Chris Ryan is a British author and former Special Air Service (SAS) soldier whose military thrillers draw on his extraordinary real-life experience as one of the most famous soldiers in modern British military history. His books have sold millions of copies and established a genre of authentic, action-packed military fiction. Born Colin... Armstrong in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1961, Ryan joined the SAS and served in numerous covert operations around the world. He became a household name following the First Gulf War in 1991, when he was part of the Bravo Two Zero patrol — an eight-man SAS team deployed behind Iraqi lines. When the mission went catastrophically wrong, Ryan became the only member of the patrol to escape to safety, walking over 300 kilometres through the Iraqi desert to the Syrian border in one of the most remarkable feats of endurance in military history. He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions. His first book, The One That Got Away (1995), was his account of the Bravo Two Zero mission and became a bestseller. He has since written dozens of novels — both adult and young adult — drawing on his military expertise to create authentic, high-octane thrillers featuring special forces operations, counter-terrorism, and covert warfare. His adult thrillers include Stand By, Stand By, Zero Option, The Kremlin Device, Tenth Man Down, and the Strike Back series. His Alpha Force and Code Red young adult series introduced military adventure to younger readers. Ryan's books are distinguished by their technical authenticity, their understanding of military tactics and psychology, and their relentless pace. The audiobook editions of Ryan's thrillers are gripping, with narrators delivering the tension and action that define his storytelling. His books and audiobooks are essential for fans of military fiction and action thrillers — written by someone who has genuinely lived the life he writes about. Read more Show less