Stephen Aryan is the author of the Age of Darkness (Battlemage, Bloodmage, Chaosmage) and Age of Dread (Mageborn, Magefall, Magebane) trilogies from Orbit books. His first novel, Battlemage, was a finalist for the David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best debut fantasy novel. Battlemage won the inaugural Hellfest Inferno Award in France after a public vote.