Novels, Fantasy Series, Short Stories, Graphic Novels and Romanian Editions
๐ Stan Nicholls Complete Bibliography
Stan Nicholls is a British fantasy and science fiction author whose career encompasses much more than the Orcs novels for which he is best known. His published work includes epic fantasy trilogies, science fiction, young adult fiction, short stories, television and film adaptations, graphic novels, biographies and interviews with fellow writers.
His bibliography is particularly interesting because of its variety. Long before the success of Orcs, Nicholls was working across different forms of storytelling, from original fiction to adaptations of established fictional worlds. His experience with comics, film and television also helps explain the breadth of his writing career.
For fantasy readers, the Orcs books remain an excellent starting point. By placing characters traditionally portrayed as monsters at the centre of their own adventures, Nicholls created a series that challenges familiar fantasy conventions.
This bibliography follows the original publication chronology and then presents each series in recommended reading order. Collections, graphic adaptations and omnibus editions are identified separately to avoid confusing new works with republications.
๐ Stan Nicholls Books in Publication Order
1990โ1995: Adaptations, Interviews and Early Fiction
| Year | Title | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Gladiators Game Book No. 1 | Television tie-in |
| 1993 | Tom & Jerry: The Movie | Film novelisation |
| 1993 | Wordsmiths of Wonder: Fifty Interviews with Writers of the Fantastic | Nonfiction |
| 1993 | Ken and Me | Autobiography, with William Roache |
| 1993 | Legend | Graphic adaptation of David Gemmell’s novel |
| 1994 | Cool Zool | Video game tie-in |
| 1994 | Wolf in Shadow | Graphic adaptation of David Gemmell’s novel |
| 1995 | Strange Invaders | Young adult science fiction |
1996โ2000: The Nightshade Trilogy and the Birth of Orcs
| Year | Title | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Book of Shadows | Nightshade #1 |
| 1996 | Spider-Man: The Hobgoblin | Superhero tie-in |
| 1996 | Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Biography | Nonfiction, with Simon Archer |
| 1997 | The Shadow of a Sorcerer | Nightshade #2 |
| 1997 | Dark Skies: The Awakening | Television novelisation |
| 1997 | Fade to Black | Young adult crime fiction |
| 1998 | A Gathering of Shadows | Nightshade #3 |
| 1999 | Bodyguard of Lightning | Orcs: First Blood #1 |
| 1999 | Legion of Thunder | Orcs: First Blood #2 |
| 2000 | Warriors of the Tempest | Orcs: First Blood #3 |
| 2000 | The Taking | Orcs prequel short story |
2001โ2011: Quicksilver and the Return of the Orcs
| Year | Title | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Quicksilver Rising | Quicksilver #1 |
| 2004 | Quicksilver Zenith | Quicksilver #2 |
| 2006 | Quicksilver Twilight | Quicksilver #3 |
| 2008 | Weapons of Magical Destruction | Orcs: Bad Blood #1 |
| 2009 | Army of Shadows | Orcs: Bad Blood #2 |
| 2011 | Inferno | Orcs: Bad Blood #3 |
| 2011 | Orcs: Forged for War | Original graphic novel |
2012โ2026: Collections and Additional Short Fiction
| Year | Title | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Shake Me to Wake Me: The Best of Stan Nicholls | Short-story collection |
| 2015 | Orcs: Tales of Maras-Dantia | Orcs prequel fiction and supplementary material |
| 2021 | Anchor Point | Short fiction |
Nicholls has also contributed fiction to numerous anthologies throughout his career. These appearances are listed separately below, since an anthology’s publication should not be confused with the first publication of an individual story.
โ๏ธ Stan Nicholls Series in Recommended Reading Order
1. Nightshade Trilogy
The Nightshade trilogy predates the author’s best-known fantasy series and offers another entry into his imaginative worlds.
- The Book of Shadows (1996)
- The Shadow of a Sorcerer (1997)
- A Gathering of Shadows (1998)
Recommended reading order: Publication order.
2. Orcs: First Blood Trilogy
The original Orcs trilogy follows Stryke and his warband, the Wolverines, placing orcs at the centre of an epic fantasy adventure.
Rather than presenting them merely as enemies for conventional heroes to defeat, Nicholls explores their loyalties, conflicts, relationships and capacity for both compassion and cruelty.
- Bodyguard of Lightning (1999)
- Legion of Thunder (1999)
- Warriors of the Tempest (2000)
Recommended reading order: Read the three novels consecutively.
The short story The Taking (2000) is set before the trilogy but is best approached after becoming familiar with its world.
3. Quicksilver Trilogy
The Quicksilver trilogy is another major fantasy sequence by Nicholls.
| Reading order | Original UK title | US title | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quicksilver Rising | The Covenant Rising | 2003 |
| 2 | Quicksilver Zenith | The Righteous Blade | 2004 |
| 3 | Quicksilver Twilight | The Diamond Isle | 2006 |
The American titles are alternative titles for the same novels, not additional instalments.
4. Orcs: Bad Blood Trilogy
The second Orcs trilogy continues the adventures of Stryke and the Wolverines.
- Weapons of Magical Destruction (2008) โ also published as Bad Blood in the United States
- Army of Shadows (2009)
- Inferno (2011)
Recommended reading order: Read Orcs: First Blood before beginning Orcs: Bad Blood.
5. Orcs Companion Fiction
The following works expand the world of Maras-Dantia:
- The Taking (2000) โ prequel short story.
- Orcs: Forged for War (2011) โ original graphic novel, illustrated by Joe Flood.
- Orcs: Tales of Maras-Dantia (2015) โ collection of prequel stories and supplementary material.
Forged for War draws on the prose story Fit for Purpose, but the two should not be treated as identical publications.
For a first encounter with the series, I recommend beginning with Bodyguard of Lightning rather than reading every prequel chronologically.
๐ Standalone Novels and Licensed Fiction
Strange Invaders (1995)
A young adult science fiction novel published by Scholastic’s Point SF imprint. It is independent of Nicholls’s principal fantasy trilogies.
Spider-Man: The Hobgoblin (1996)
A licensed superhero novel associated with Marvel’s Spider-Man universe.
Dark Skies: The Awakening (1997)
A novelisation based on the opening episodes of the science fiction television series Dark Skies.
Fade to Black (1997)
A young adult crime novel published through Scholastic’s Point Crime imprint.
Other Adaptations and Tie-ins
- Gladiators Game Book No. 1 (1992)
- Tom & Jerry: The Movie (1993)
- Cool Zool (1994)
These publications form part of Nicholls’s bibliography, although they are distinct from his original fantasy and science fiction novels.
๐ Short Stories and Collections
Shake Me to Wake Me: The Best of Stan Nicholls (2013)
Published by NewCon Press, this collection brings together short fiction from different stages of Nicholls’s career.
Its contents include:
- Softies
- Picking Up the Tab
- SPOIL
- Throwing a Wobbly
- We Are for the Dark
- Falling in Love
- If You Can’t Do It with the Lights On You Shouldn’t Be Doing It at All
- Good Brown, Charlie Grief
- Polly Put the Mockers On
- Juice
- The Gripes of Wrath
The collection also includes introductory and biographical material. The three shorter pieces Falling in Love, If You Can’t Do It with the Lights On You Shouldn’t Be Doing It at All and Good Brown, Charlie Grief are grouped under Three Whimsies.
Orcs: Tales of Maras-Dantia (2015)
This collection, also published by NewCon Press, expands the Orcs universe with stories and additional material.
Its contents include:
- The Taking
- Fit for Purpose
- Paid in Blood
- A Night on the Tiles
Additional material includes an alternative opening to Weapons of Magical Destruction and an interview with David Gemmell conducted by Nicholls.
Other Short Fiction
Anchor Point (2021) is another separately catalogued work of short fiction.
Anthology Appearances
Nicholls’s fiction has appeared in collections and anthologies including:
| Year | Anthology | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Touch Wood | Edited by Peter Crowther |
| 1994 | Thirteen More Tales of Horror | Horror anthology |
| 2000 | Swords Against the Millennium | Includes The Taking |
| 2011 | Full Fathom Forty | Multi-author anthology |
| 2013 | Legends | Tribute anthology honouring David Gemmell |
| 2015 | Story Behind the Book, Volume 5 | Multi-author publication |
| 2018 | The Alchemy Press Book of Horrors | Horror anthology |
| 2020 | Stories of Hope and Wonder | Multi-author anthology |
| 2026 | The Iron Code: Stories in Honour of David Gemmell | Tribute anthology |
This is a list of identified anthology appearances, not a claim that every magazine story and contribution has been recovered. For older short fiction in particular, complete first-publication information is not always available.
๐จ Graphic Novels and Comic Adaptations
Stan Nicholls has also worked in comics and graphic storytelling, including adaptations of David Gemmell’s fiction.
Legend (1993)
A graphic adaptation of David Gemmell’s fantasy novel, with artwork by Chris Baker.
Wolf in Shadow (1994)
Another David Gemmell adaptation, also illustrated by Chris Baker.
Orcs: Forged for War (2011)
An original graphic novel set in the Orcs universe, illustrated by Joe Flood.
Unlike the earlier adaptations, Forged for War belongs to Nicholls’s own fictional world.
๐ Nonfiction and Biographical Works
Nicholls’s nonfiction publications reflect his longstanding involvement in speculative fiction, entertainment journalism and popular culture.
Wordsmiths of Wonder: Fifty Interviews with Writers of the Fantastic (1993)
A collection of interviews with fantasy and science fiction writers, published by Orbit.
Ken and Me (1993)
An autobiographical work written with actor William Roache.
Gerry Anderson: The Authorised Biography (1996)
A biography co-written with Simon Archer, exploring the career of the television producer associated with numerous science fiction productions.
Journalism and Editorial Work
Before and alongside his book publications, Nicholls contributed to the world of speculative fiction through journalism and fan publications.
His early activities included involvement with Gothique (1965โ1985) and Stardock (1968โ1970).
These publications are relevant to his career but should not be counted as individual authored books.
๐ฆ Omnibus Editions and Collected Works
Several Orcs novels have been republished in collected editions. These are useful for readers building a library, but they do not represent additional novels.
| Omnibus | Contents |
|---|---|
| Orcs | Bodyguard of Lightning, Legion of Thunder, Warriors of the Tempest |
| Orcs: Bad Blood | Weapons of Magical Destruction, Army of Shadows, Inferno |
| The Complete Orcs | All six novels from the two principal Orcs trilogies |
Different editions may contain supplementary short fiction. Readers should check the contents of a particular printing before purchasing individual stories separately.
๐ท๐ด Stan Nicholls Books Published in Romanian
Romanian readers received the complete original Orcs: First Blood trilogy through Nemira.
ROMANIAN EDITIONS โ NEMIRA
1. Paznicul fulgerului (2009)
Original: Bodyguard of Lightning (1999)
Translator: Antuza Genescu
Publisher: Nemira
ISBN: 9789731433196
Out of print
2. Legiunea tunetului (2010)
Original: Legion of Thunder (1999)
Translator: Antuza Genescu
Publisher: Nemira
ISBN: 9786068134659
Out of print
3. Rฤzboinicii furtunii (2011)
Original: Warriors of the Tempest (2000)
Translator: Antuza Genescu
Publisher: Nemira
ISBN: 9786065791541
Includes the prequel story The Taking.
Out of print
All three Romanian editions are currently listed as out of print by Nemira. Readers wishing to collect the trilogy may need to look for second-hand copies.
Romanian publication note: The second Orcs trilogy and the Quicksilver trilogy should not be presented as having Romanian editions without verified publication records.
๐ Stan Nicholls on BookFairy
โ๏ธ Bodyguard of Lightning (1999)
Romanian edition: Paznicul fulgerului โ Nemira, 2009.
I read this novel in Romanian in 2016 and particularly enjoyed the way Nicholls transformed the traditional image of orcs. His characters have individual personalities, friendships, loyalties and flaws. They are neither automatically evil nor uniformly good.
Combined with the action and the adventures of Stryke’s warband, that approach made the novel a memorable fantasy experience.
๐ Read My Bodyguard of Lightning Review
๐ Where to Start Reading Stan Nicholls
For readers discovering Nicholls for the first time, I recommend Bodyguard of Lightning. It introduces the Wolverines and demonstrates what makes his treatment of orcs so entertaining.
Readers who enjoy the original trilogy can continue with Orcs: Bad Blood, while those interested in a different fantasy setting can explore Nightshade or Quicksilver.
The short-story collections are particularly worthwhile for anyone curious about the breadth of his writing beyond epic fantasy.
๐ Bibliographic Sources
The principal references for this bibliography are:
- Stan Nicholls โ Official Website
- Stan Nicholls โ Orcs Publications
- Stan Nicholls โ Other Books and Publications
- Stan Nicholls โ Quicksilver
- Nemira โ Stan Nicholls
Publication years refer to original editions unless otherwise stated. Alternative titles, translations and omnibus editions are distinguished from original works to prevent duplication.
