PHOTO: Ryan Berridge, bestselling author of The Rattler Trilogy, crafts gripping tales of pirates, monsters, and survival.
British Author Combines Ambiguity And Tension With Action-Packed Narratives
Ryan Berridge’s Rattler Trilogy masterfully blends the horrors of the supernatural with gritty maritime adventures, offering a gripping exploration of leadership, moral choices, and the mystery of mythical sea creatures.
Ryan Berridge, a rising star in the world of horror and adventure fiction, has carved out a distinct space in genre literature by blending maritime grit with supernatural terror. Known for the gripping Rattler Trilogy and his debut short story collection Where Were You? Ten Terrifying Tales, the Sheffield, England-based author masterfully combines visceral action, emotional depth, and the thematic tension of moral complexity.
Having grown up far from the ocean, Berridge has a surprising knack for crafting nautical narratives steeped in mystery and survival. His experiences as a father and the pressures of life shaped the raw, unflinching emotion that underpins his Rattler Trilogy, which chronicles the journey of Sam, a young sailor turned pirate captain. The trilogy has drawn comparisons to the work of literary titans like Stephen King, for its intense horror, and Bernard Cornwell, for its historical depth and grit.
Ryan Berridge captivates readers with his unique fusion of bold action, emotional depth, and thrilling supernatural ambiguity in historical settings.
Berridge’s personal struggles during his thirties significantly influenced The Rattler, the first book in the trilogy. He began writing as his wife was pregnant with their first child, who was born prematurely, sparking an emotionally turbulent period. Combined with the challenges of a demanding job and unsupportive work environment, this time in Berridge’s life fueled the anger and intensity that seep into his characters’ survivalist struggles. “A lot of that came out in the first book,” Berridge reflected, noting that the overarching tone of the trilogy was born from this period.
The trilogy’s second installment, Snake Huntress, sees Sam rise to command his own ship, taking readers through a journey of moral ambiguity and leadership dilemmas. “He was thrust into decisions where he had to choose the lesser of two evils,” Berridge explained, emphasizing the messy complexity of Sam’s character arc. Some choices succeed, some fail, but all are intentional.
By the time Sam’s story concludes in The Golden King, Berridge sought to craft a finale that left readers on edge, uncertain about the protagonist’s fate until the final ten pages. “I needed Sam to experience the absolute peak of his abilities and then to see him begin to fall from his perch,” Berridge said, weaving themes of humility and consequence into the thrilling conclusion.
The ambiguous presence of mythical creatures at sea is another layer that sets The Rattler Trilogy apart. While supernatural elements are hinted at, Berridge leaves it to the reader to determine their reality, mirroring the tales seafarers have spun for centuries. “It is up to the reader to decide whether the monsters are real or exaggerated,” he noted.
Before the high adventure of The Rattler, Berridge honed his skills with his debut collection of short stories, Where Were You? Ten Terrifying Tales, a pandemic-themed horror anthology. The stories allowed him to experiment with different narrative voices, perspectives, and styles, which ultimately prepared him for the complex, large-scale storytelling required for a trilogy. “The idea was to find my style,” he admitted, crediting the anthology with teaching him invaluable lessons about structure and character development.
One element of Berridge’s storytelling that readers and critics praise is the intense, choreographed action sequences in The Rattler. To capture the chaos and unpredictability of battle, Berridge avoids over-planned drafts, instead immersing himself in the raw heat of the moment. “I wanted to capture the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the battle,” he explained, emphasizing that he strives to balance vivid detail without resorting to gratuitous violence.
The influences of Stephen King and Bernard Cornwell are clear in his work—the eerie tension of King’s horror combined with the historical authenticity of Cornwell’s adventures. Berridge is quick to dispel common misconceptions about pirates, often romanticized in media, opting instead for a darker exploration. “Pirates were not nice people,” Berridge remarked. His goal was to deliver a story that examined the harsh realities of their lives while introducing readers to the blurred boundaries between humanity and the supernatural.
For aspiring authors looking to meld genres as seamlessly as he has, Berridge offered simple advice: “Write. That’s it. Just keep writing and re-drafting.” He credits consistency with helping him remain connected to his work, writing 1,000 words daily no matter how difficult or nonsensical the process felt at times.
With his relentless commitment to storytelling and a talent for integrating horror and adventure into tales of survival and leadership, Ryan Berridge is an author whose works captivate readers with every twist. His stories challenge us to confront the darkness within ourselves and the unknown lurking beyond the horizon. Fans of gritty narratives, spine-tingling horror, and richly detailed adventure will find themselves enthralled by Berridge’s bold and thrilling approach to fiction.
Source: Reader’s House Magazine
