R. S. Ford

R.S. Ford (also Richard Ford) doesn’t just build fantasy worlds—he engineers them like living, breathing machines powered by grit, ambition, and the grinding gears of empires. Known for the Age of Uprising trilogy, beginning with Engines of Empire, Ford has carved out a space in modern epic fantasy that blends political intrigue, industrial revolution aesthetics, and raw, personal stakes. His worlds don’t shimmer with idealism—they hiss with steam, rumble with rebellion, and test the steel of even the most well-meaning characters.

Before stepping into the grandeur of high fantasy, Ford made his mark with Kultus, a steampunk novel that hinted early on at his taste for grim settings and flawed heroes. That interest expanded through the Steelhaven trilogy and War of the Archons series, where he explored collapsing civilizations, clashing ideologies, and what it means to survive when your gods—or your leaders—fail you.