Michael J. Sullivan (born September 17, 1961) is an American writer of epic fantasy and science fiction, best known for his debut series The Riyria Revelations, which has been translated into fourteen languages. In 2012 io9 named him one of the "Most Successful Self-Published Sci-Fi and Fantasy Authors". His books have been translated into French, German, Spanish, Czech, Dutch, Polish, Hungarian, Japanese, Georgian, Bulgarian, Russian, Portuguese, Italian and Turkish.

Career

Sullivan started writing books at a young age in order to entertain himself. He started The Riyria Revelations to teach his daughter, who suffered from dyslexia, how to read. Sullivan has written four series. The Riyria Revelations and The Riyria Chronicles were published by Orbit Books (fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group) and The Legends of the First Empire released by Del Rey Books (owned by Random House). The Riyria Revelations is a six-book epic fantasy series while the Riyria Chronicles is an ongoing series that centers on the early adventures of the two main protagonists of the former series. The Legends of the First Empire is a six-book epic fantasy series set in the same world as the Riyria books, but in the distant past, making it a standalone series. His first science fiction novel, Hollow World, was released by Tachyon Publications in April 2014. His most recent project, The Rise and Fall, is a trilogy set in the world of Elan and falls chronologically between Legends of the First Empire and the Riyria Chronicles.

Reception

Sullivan has two New York Times bestsellers (Age of War and Age of Legend), and three books on the USA Today bestseller list (Age of Swords, Age of War, Age of Legend). He has had seven works selected for the Goodreads Choice Award, six for Best Fantasy: The Emerald Storm in 2010, Percepliquis in 2012, and The Crown Tower in 2013, Age of Myth in 2016, Age of Swords in 2017, Age of War in 2018 and one for Best Science Fiction: Hollow World in 2014. Theft of Swords was selected as one of Barnes & Noble's 2011 Best Fantasy Books, shortlisted for the 2013 Audie Award for Fantasy, and also one of Library Journal's 2011 Best SF/Fantasy Books. Age of Myth was a 2016 Amazon's Best Books of the Year selection in the Science Fiction and Fantasy category.

The Riyria Revelations

Royce Melborn, a skilled thief, and his mercenary partner, Hadrian Blackwater, are enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they're framed for the death of the king and get embroiled in larger political machinations.

The Riyria Chronicles

A prequel series that explores the beginnings of Royce and Hadrian's partnership and first escapades.

The Legends of the First Empire

Taking place in the same world as the Riyria Revelations/Chronicles, this is a prequel series that takes place thousands of years before those series and reveals the truths about the First Empire that were hinted at in the Riyria novels. There are also two short stories, related to the series:

The Rise and Fall

This series will bridge the gap between The Legends of the First Empire and Riyria Chronicles.

World of Elan chronological order

The Legends of the First Empire

The Rise and Fall

The Riyria Chronicles

The Riyria Revelations

Stand-alone novels

Short stories

Released individually

Released in Anthologies

Critical studies and reviews of Sullivan's work