Chris Ryan

View Reviews of books by Chris Ryan

Countdown with ...

Chris Ryan

Chris Ryan is a former SAS corporal and the only man to escape death or capture during the Bravo Two Zero operation in the 1991 Gulf War. He turned to writing thrillers to tell the stories the Official Secrets Act stops him putting in his non-fiction. His novels have gone on to inspire the Sky One series Strike Back.

Born near Newcastle in 1961, Chris joined the SAS in 1984. During his ten years there he was involved in overt and covert operations and was also sniper team commander of the anti-terrorist team. During the Gulf War, Chris was the only member of an eight-man unit to escape from Iraq, where three colleagues were killed and four captured. It was the longest escape and evasion in the history of the SAS. For this he was awarded the Military Medal.

He wrote about his experiences in The One That Got Away, which was adapted for screen, and since then has written three other works of non-fiction, over 20 bestselling novels and a series of children’s books. His work in security takes him around the world.

Interviewed 25 November 2017

Ten words to sum up your working life to date ...

Dangerous, privileged, exciting, travelled, devastation, self-belief, thought-provoking, achievement, motivation, determination.

Nine things you can see from where you're sitting ...

Rottweiler, walking boots, ice axe, rucksack, mountains, bottle of red, blue skies, iPod, comfy armchair.

Eight minutes to prepare a meal. What's it going to be ?

Filet steak.

Seven people you'd like to go for a drink with ...

Marco Polo, a well-travelled Viking, DB Cooper, Laurens Jan van der Post, Alexander the Great, Neil Armstrong, my mother.

Six things you can't live without ...

My dog, computer, car, motorbike, personal space, good home cooking.

Five favourite words ...

Just leave it, why not?

Four places you'd run away to ...

French Alps, Northumberland, Australia, any jungle.

Three books you've bought recently ...

DT Davies – All for Freedom.
Five Quarters – Rachel Roddy.
Passchendaele – Nick Lloyd. 

Two things that make you rant ...

Driving, social media.

One thing you'd tell your teenage self ...

Believe in yourself and start saving!