Gordon Ryan | Philip Chen - Author/Cartoonist

Gordon Ryan (October 5, 1943 – November 14, 2012)

I lost a tremendous friend and mentor on November 14th with the untimely death of Gordon Ryan, an author of exceptionally realistic political thrillers and historical novels. Gordon was more than just a friend, he was my first friend in the burgeoning world of independent publishing using electronic media. His advice, guidance, and prodding were always welcomed as I worked my way through this new landscape.

Gordon was a Recon Marine and served in Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange. After the war, he worked for over twenty-five years as the chief administrator of many municipalities around the United States before retiring to Christchurch, New Zealand with his beloved wife, Colleen. I cannot do justice to his remarkable career as a marine, a city administrator, and author. A devout Mormon, Gordon was eulogized in detail on the blog, Dawning of a Brighter Day, a website that promotes Mormon literature. I encourage you to read his memorial HERE.

Gordon succumbed to Cardiac AL Amyloidosis, which developed as a result of his exposure to Agent Orange. In a very real sense, this Marine died because he fought for our country.

Gordon wasn’t just my friend, he was a friend and mentor to so many of the new voices that have been unlocked through the wonder of electronic media and Kindles. Although he had been a published author for some years, he embraced this new movement and quickly became a leader in its development. He was a teacher to all of us struggling authors.

Gordon, Mike Wallace, and I partnered on a very successful joint venture combining our works into a box set that showed how thrillers can be done in different ways, each with a different voice, but all with the element of thrills that kept you reading to the last page. Gordon’s specialty was very realistic political thrillers that foretold events that could easily be lifted from the pages of today’s newspapers. Rather than highlighting just one book, I recommend that you visit Gordon;s website,

Gordon Ryan was my friend, confidant, mentor, and partner, but I never met him, shook his hand, or heard his voice.

Our friendship solely existed in this electronic world we call the internet and through emails. He was nonetheless one of the best friends that I have ever had.

Philip Chen

successful run during which over 25,000 copies were downloaded, my partners, Gordon Ryan, Michael Wallace and I have decided to shelve our three volume thriller box, A Triple Thriller Threat, for the foreseeable future as we explore other activities.

This set explored the world of thrillers from entirely different, but equally exciting, webs of intrigue, deceit, murder, and mayhem. Michael started off with a thriller set in the arcane world of antiquities and the schemes that brazen collectors wove to possess what was not rightfully theirs. Gordon followed with a modern tale of political intrigue written as if it just might be happening at this very minute. My story brought up the end of the set with a very realistic science fiction thriller that left the reader wondering if the story might actually be true.

In Michael Wallace’s State of Siege, Tess Burgess, an expert in medieval warfare, is building siege engines in France, while running a sting operation against collectors of stolen artifacts. Obsessed with the collapse of civilization, Tess’ ex-fiancée Peter’s latest grandiose scheme is a simulated war, like a giant paintball match for billionaire survivalists, but with crossbows and catapults. He asks Tess if she is good enough to defend an actual castle against medieval siege engines. One of the world’s most notorious artifact collectors will be on hand with his own ideas. With these participants, will the play war turn into the real thing?

Gordon Ryan’s State of Rebellion is a fast-paced political thriller that could have easily been lifted out of today’s news. California is on the brink of secession, and those who oppose this drastic political maneuver are turning up dead. Federal Agent Nicole Bentley is sent to discover what she can about the movement and meets up with Assemblyman and National Guard officer Daniel Rawlings, whose commitment to his country runs deep in his blood. Resisting their mutual attraction, they uncover a plot devised by greedy men bent on taking power at any cost. Nicole and Dan find themselves literally in the crossfire between secessionists and those who want to preserve the union.

In Falling Star, I take you on a journey from the abyss to the beautiful deserts of the American Southwest as his hero Mike Liu attempts to crack the secrets of huge mysterious objects buried deep in the ocean. Unfortunately someone wants him dead and he must fight for his life. On top of all this, Mike learns that a revered friend has died. Will the death of Mike’s friend mean that the secrets of the enigmatic structures will remain forever buried in the silt and muck of the ocean deep?

If you missed the chance to get a copy of A Triple Thriller Threat, never fear as the individual volumes are still available through Amazon: