Matthew Reilly
Encyclopedia
Matthew John Reilly is an Australia
n action thriller writer
. His novels are noted for their fast pace, twisting plots and intense action.
's St Aloysius' College in 1992, Reilly studied Law at the University of New South Wales
, where he was also a contributor to the student law society publication "Poetic Justice". Reilly wrote his first book Contest
while just 19 and self-published it in 1996. It was rejected by every major publishing company in Sydney, leading Reilly to self-publish 1,000 copies using money borrowed from his family. Reilly's second book, Ice Station was also written whilst a student at the University of NSW.
Reilly owns several movie prop reproductions including a life-size statue of Han Solo
frozen in carbonite (Star Wars
), a golden idol (Raiders of the Lost Ark
) and a working DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future
). A big fan of hollywood blockbusters, Reilly hopes to direct one of his own books as movies some day.
Matthew Reilly has also written many short novels and screenplays , all of which can be downloaded from his website.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n action thriller writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. His novels are noted for their fast pace, twisting plots and intense action.
Biography
After graduating from SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's St Aloysius' College in 1992, Reilly studied Law at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he was also a contributor to the student law society publication "Poetic Justice". Reilly wrote his first book Contest
Contest (novel)
Contest is the self-published first novel by Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly. In 1996, after being rejected by several Australian publishing houses, Reilly personally paid for 1000 copies of the book to be published privately under the label of 'Karanadon Entertainment', and sold them...
while just 19 and self-published it in 1996. It was rejected by every major publishing company in Sydney, leading Reilly to self-publish 1,000 copies using money borrowed from his family. Reilly's second book, Ice Station was also written whilst a student at the University of NSW.
Reilly owns several movie prop reproductions including a life-size statue of Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
frozen in carbonite (Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
), a golden idol (Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
) and a working DeLorean DMC-12 (Back to the Future
Back to the Future
Back to the Future is a 1985 American science-fiction adventure film. It was directed by Robert Zemeckis, written by Zemeckis and Bob Gale, produced by Steven Spielberg, and starred Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover and Thomas F. Wilson. The film tells the story of...
). A big fan of hollywood blockbusters, Reilly hopes to direct one of his own books as movies some day.
Stand-alone novels
- 1996 ContestContest (novel)Contest is the self-published first novel by Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly. In 1996, after being rejected by several Australian publishing houses, Reilly personally paid for 1000 copies of the book to be published privately under the label of 'Karanadon Entertainment', and sold them...
(Self-published in 1996; published by Pan Macmillan in 2000) - 1999 TempleTemple (novel)Temple is a thriller novel written by Australian author Matthew Reilly and first published in 1999. Like Reilly's other books, Temple's major attractions are the fast pace and the complexity of the action scenes....
(appears to be set in the same universe as the Shane Schofield series, is referred to in passing in Ice StationIce Station (novel)Ice Station is Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly's second novel, released in 1998.- Plot summary :Ice Stations plot follows the events that occur in the wake of the disappearance of a diving team at the remote Wilkes Antarctic research station...
, Area 7Area 7 (novel)Area 7 is a novel written by Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly. It is his fourth book, published in 2001, and is the sequel to Ice Station.-Plot summary:...
and Hell IslandHell Island (novella)Hell Island is a horror/adventure novella written in conjunction with the Australian Books Alive promotion, by thriller writer Matthew Reilly. While it is the fourth book released in the Shane Schofield series, it is stand alone novella in the Shane Schofield universe, supplementing the storylines...
.)
The Shane Schofield series
- See Shane SchofieldShane SchofieldCaptain Shane Michael Schofield, USMC is a fictional character, whose exploits form the basis of a series created by the Australian author, Matthew Reilly. He appears in Ice Station, Area 7, Scarecrow, Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves and the spin off Hell Island...
- 1998 Ice Station
- 2001 Area 7Area 7 (novel)Area 7 is a novel written by Australian thriller writer Matthew Reilly. It is his fourth book, published in 2001, and is the sequel to Ice Station.-Plot summary:...
- 2003 ScarecrowScarecrow (novel)Scarecrow is the fifth Matthew Reilly novel, and the third to feature the main character Captain Shane Schofield, USMC. It was released in 2003.-Plot summary:As well as Schofield, Mother, Gant, and Book II all return from previous Schofield adventures....
- 2005 Hell IslandHell Island (novella)Hell Island is a horror/adventure novella written in conjunction with the Australian Books Alive promotion, by thriller writer Matthew Reilly. While it is the fourth book released in the Shane Schofield series, it is stand alone novella in the Shane Schofield universe, supplementing the storylines...
(Novella which was an Australian "Books Alive" exclusive; reworked version for people with reading difficulties, released for the "Quick Reads" program in UK) - 2011 Scarecrow and the Army of ThievesScarecrow and the Army of ThievesScarecrow and the Army of Thieves is an action/thriller released on 12 October 2011 by Australian author Matthew Reilly. It is the latest installment in the Shane Schofield series and has been described by the author as the fastest and most violent yet....
(Scarecrow Returns US title)
The Jack West Jr series
See Jack West JrJack West Jr
Jonathan "Jack" West Junior is the main character in a book series by Australian author Matthew Reilly. He appears in the books Seven Ancient Wonders, The Six Sacred Stones, and The Five Greatest Warriors.- Biography :...
- 2005 Seven Ancient WondersSeven Ancient WondersSeven Ancient Wonders is a book written by the Australian author Matthew Reilly in 2005. Its sequel, The Six Sacred Stones was released in the fall of 2007...
(Also known as Seven Deadly Wonders in the U.S.) - 2007 The Six Sacred StonesThe Six Sacred StonesThe Six Sacred Stones is a novel by Australian thriller author Matthew Reilly. It is a sequel to Seven Ancient Wonders and The Five Greatest Warriors is its sequel...
- 2009 The Five Greatest WarriorsThe Five Greatest WarriorsThe Five Greatest Warriors is the third thriller novel in the Jack West Jr. series, by the Australian writer Matthew Reilly.The book is the third in an Indiana Jones-style action series. The preceding book was The Six Sacred Stones which ended in a cliffhanger with archaeologist and ex-soldier Jack...
Hover Car Racer
- 2004 Hover Car RacerHover Car RacerHover Car Racer is a popular Sci-fi/Sports/Action story written by Australian author Matthew Reilly, originally released as a free fortnightly online serial, and later published by Pan MacMillan in 2004....
(released online at www.hovercarracer.com; published by Pan Mac same year)Printed version illustrated by Roy Govier - 2005 Crash Course (US release only; 1st third of Hover Car RacerHover Car RacerHover Car Racer is a popular Sci-fi/Sports/Action story written by Australian author Matthew Reilly, originally released as a free fortnightly online serial, and later published by Pan MacMillan in 2004....
novel, illustrated by Pablo Raimondi) - 2006 Full Throttle (US release only; 2nd third of Hover Car RacerHover Car RacerHover Car Racer is a popular Sci-fi/Sports/Action story written by Australian author Matthew Reilly, originally released as a free fortnightly online serial, and later published by Pan MacMillan in 2004....
novel, illustrated by Pablo Raimondi) - 2007 Photo Finish (US release only; final third of Hover Car RacerHover Car RacerHover Car Racer is a popular Sci-fi/Sports/Action story written by Australian author Matthew Reilly, originally released as a free fortnightly online serial, and later published by Pan MacMillan in 2004....
novel, illustrated by Pablo Raimondi)
Matthew Reilly has also written many short novels and screenplays , all of which can be downloaded from his website.