Stan Nicholls is a British author and journalist best known for his contributions to fantasy and science fiction. His most acclaimed works include the internationally bestselling "Orcs: First Blood" trilogy, comprising "Bodyguard of Lightning," "Legion of Thunder," and "Warriors of the Tempest," which has sold over a million copies worldwide. Nicholls expanded the series with a second trilogy, "Orcs: Bad Blood," and a collection of prequel stories titled "Orcs: Tales of Maras-Dantia." His graphic novel adaptation, "Orcs: Forged For War," earned critical acclaim, including the 2011 Geek Life Award for Best Comic Book of the Year.
Nicholls has authored more than thirty books across multiple genres, including the "Quicksilver" trilogy ("Quicksilver Rising," "Quicksilver Zenith," "Quicksilver Twilight") and the "Nightshade Chronicles" trilogy. He has adapted works by David Gemmell into graphic novels and penned authorized biographies of notable figures such as Gerry Anderson. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies, and his collection "Shake Me To Wake Me" was published in 2013. Nicholls' writing is characterized by its immersive world-building and dynamic storytelling, often exploring themes of conflict and resilience.
Beyond his literary career, Nicholls has held influential roles in the publishing industry, including managing specialty bookstores like Forbidden Planet. He has contributed journalism to major publications such as "The Guardian" and "Time Out", where he reviewed science fiction and fantasy literature. Recognized for his lifetime achievements, Nicholls received the Le'Fantastique Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 and chaired The David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy from 2009 to 2018. His works have been translated into over twenty languages, cementing his reputation as a prominent figure in speculative fiction.
Dreamtime Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Quicksilver Rising / The Covenant Rising
2003
2
Quicksilver Zenith / The Righteous Blade
2004
3
Quicksilver Twilight / The Diamond Isle
2007
Orcs Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Bodyguard of Lightning
1999
2
Legion of Thunder
1999
3
Warriors of the Tempest
1999
4
Weapons of Magical Destruction
2008
5
Army of Shadows
2009
6
Inferno
2011
7
Forged for War
2011
8
Tales of Maras-Dantia
2015
Orcs Books in Chronological Order
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Forged for War
2011
2
Tales of Maras-Dantia
2015
3
Bodyguard of Lightning
1999
4
Legion of Thunder
1999
5
Warriors of the Tempest
1999
6
Weapons of Magical Destruction
2008
7
Army of Shadows
2009
8
Inferno
2011
The Nightshade Chronicles Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Book of Shadows
1995
2
The Shadow of the Sorcerer
1997
3
A Gathering of Shadows
2001
Standalone Novels
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Fade to Black
1997
2
Dark Skies
1997
Short Stories/Novellas
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
The Taking
2000
Short Story Collections
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Shake Me to Wake Me
2013
Non-Fiction Books
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Gladiators Game Book No. 1
1992
2
Wordsmiths of Wonder
1993
3
Tom And Jerry
1993
4
Ken and Me
1993
5
Gerry Anderson (With: Simon Archer)
1996
Stan Nicholls Anthologies
#
Title
Year
Goodreads
Amazon
1
Thirteen More Tales of Horror
1994
2
Thirteen Again
1995
3
The Cat-Dogs
1995
4
Swords Against the Millennium
2000
5
The Mammoth Book of Awesome Comic Fantasy
2001
6
Full Fathom Forty
2011
7
Legends: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell
2013
8
Art of War
2018
9
The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors
2018
10
Stories of Hope and Wonder: In Support of UK's Healthcare Workers