Where to Start with Anselm Audley
For most readers, the absolute best entry point to Anselm Audley’s work is Heresy, the first book of the Aquasilva Trilogy. Published when Audley was just a teenager, this series put him on the map with one of the most creative science-fantasy settings of the early 2000s: a waterworld dominated by a religious dictatorship, traveling via organic submarines, and dealing with the clash of elemental magic.
If you prefer historical mystery over epic world-building, your starting point will look very different. In that case, you should begin with the A Very English Mystery series (sometimes referred to as the Selchester Mysteries), starting with the first novel, A Man of Some Repute. While written primarily by his mother, Elizabeth Edmondson, Audley stepped in to complete the final book, A Matter of Loyalty, after her passing, ensuring a satisfying conclusion to the series.
The Aquasilva Universe: Reading Order
The Aquasilva series is unique for its blend of oceanography, planetary science, and religious conflict. It consists of the core trilogy and a standalone sequel set a century later. We recommend reading them in publication order, which also matches the chronological sequence of the world’s history.
1. The Core Aquasilva Trilogy
- Heresy (2001) – Cathan Tauro discovers a secret iron-smelting operation in his father’s territory, drawing the hostile attention of the Domain, the ruling religious fanatical order. This book introduces the rain-drenched world of Aquasilva, its unique manta-like organic submarines, and the magic of fire.
- Inquisition (2002) – The conflict escalates as Cathan travels to the grand city of Osea, the heart of the Domain's power, navigating political intrigues, heresy trials, and a looming global crusade.
- Crusade (2003) – The final chapter of the core conflict, where the factions of Aquasilva engage in a full-scale war that decides the spiritual and political future of the planet.
2. The Standalone Sequel
- Vespera (2007) – Set roughly one hundred years after the events of Crusade. The story shift focus to Rafael Quiridion, a sharp-witted investigator and spy looking into the murder of the emperor. While it is set in the same water-locked world, it features a new cast of characters, higher technology elements, and stands perfectly well on its own. However, reading the original trilogy first provides essential historical and geological context.
The Selchester Mysteries: A Very English Mystery
In 2017, Audley undertook a deeply personal project. His mother, the acclaimed historical novelist Elizabeth Edmondson, passed away in 2016 before completing the final volume of her post-WWII mystery series. Using her extensive outlines and notes, Audley completed the manuscript to finish her legacy.
To experience the full arc, follow the publication order:
- A Man of Some Repute (2015) – Written by Elizabeth Edmondson. Introduces Hugo Hawksworth, a wounded intelligence officer stationed in the quiet, snowbound town of Selchester, who uncovers a web of local secrets and a long-unsolved disappearance.
- A Youthful Indiscretion (2015) – A companion novella written by Elizabeth Edmondson, detailing an earlier mystery set during a Selchester Christmas.
- A Question of Inheritance (2015) – Written by Elizabeth Edmondson. Hugo investigates another suspicious death amidst the grand estates of Selchester during the coronation year of 1953.
- A Matter of Loyalty (2017) – Co-authored by Elizabeth Edmondson and completed by Anselm Audley. Set in 1954, Hugo Hawksworth must track down a missing nuclear scientist suspected of spying for the Soviets, navigating a complex web of Cold War espionage.
Short Stories and Novellas
Audley has also contributed to collaborative alternate-history projects. His notable standalone entry is:
- Envoy (2013) – A novella set in the shared universe of The Foreworld Saga (initially launched by Neal Stephenson and others). While the main saga deals with medieval shield-maiden conflicts and Mongol invasions, Envoy takes readers back to the Roman Empire during the threat of Attila the Hun, showcasing Audley's background in Ancient History.
Non-Fiction and Historical Essays
Reflecting his academic training in Ancient and Modern History at Oxford, Audley published a series of narrative historical essays through Amazon Kindle Singles. These can be read in any order, depending on which historical era interests you most:
- The Day Democracy Died (2014) – An examination of the trial of Socrates and the collapse of Athenian democratic norms under the weight of populist hysteria.
- Death Keeps His Court: The Rule of Richard II (2015) – A narrative detailing the tragic, turbulent reign of Richard II, the civil conflicts with his barons, and his eventual deposition.
- Plato and the Tyrant (2015) – The historical account of Plato's failed attempts to educate the young tyrant Dionysius II of Syracuse and turn him into a philosopher-king.