The Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
If you are diving into the science fiction of D. Nolan Clark, the best starting point is his signature space opera trilogy, The Silence. Beginning with Forsaken Skies, this series offers a self-contained, action-packed military sci-fi story that is best read in order of publication. Because the trilogy follows a continuous narrative arc, starting anywhere else will spoil major plot points and character developments.
If you prefer claustrophobic, survival-focused cosmic horror rather than epic fleet battles, you should start with his standalone novel The Last Astronaut (published under his real name, David Wellington) or begin the Red Space trilogy with Paradise-1.
The Silence Trilogy (Writing as D. Nolan Clark)
Published between 2016 and 2017, this trilogy is a grand space opera that blends the gritty, tactical realism of The Expanse with the classic 'motley crew' defense dynamic of The Magnificent Seven. The story centers on Commander Aleister Lanoe, a legendary but haunted 300-year-old fighter pilot who is forced out of retirement when Niraya, a peaceful, isolationist planet, is threatened by an incomprehensible, drone-driven alien force.
You must read this series in strict chronological/publication order:
- Forsaken Skies (2016) – Commander Lanoe is chasing a young renegade pilot named Thom through wormholes when they cross paths with orbital traffic controller Tannis Valk at the Hexus hub. Soon, refugees from Niraya arrive seeking protection from a mysterious, deadly armada. Lanoe and a ragtag band of pilots decide to stand and fight against impossible odds.
- Forgotten Worlds (2017) – The conflict escalates as Lanoe leads a mission to find where the alien drones came from. The crew faces corporate conspiracies, mega-conglomerates, and the enigmatic telepaths known as the Choir.
- Forbidden Suns (2017) – The epic conclusion of the war. Lanoe and his surviving allies make a final, desperate push into the heart of the enemy territory to secure humanity's survival.
Expanding into David Wellington's Sci-Fi Horror
D. Nolan Clark is the science fiction pen name of established horror novelist David Wellington. While Wellington used the Clark pseudonym specifically to partition his space operas from his horror library, his sci-fi books published under both names share a similar DNA: high stakes, terrifying alien entities, and highly flawed, resilient protagonists. Once you finish The Silence, you should explore these companion sci-fi series and standalones.
The Red Space Trilogy (Published as David Wellington)
This series represents a shift toward cosmic horror and deep-space survival. It follows Firewatch agent Alexandra Petrova and the crew of the spaceship Artemis as they investigate a silent colony, only to encounter terrifying, ancient entities in the dark of space.
- Paradise-1 (2023) – Petrova is sent to investigate why humanity's first extrasolar colony has gone completely silent. Upon arrival, her crew finds a graveyard and a malevolent force waiting in the dark.
- Revenant-X (2024) – The crew must fight for survival while dealing with the aftermath of their discovery on Paradise-1, chasing answers further into unexplored space.
- Erebus-13 (2026) – The final chapter of the trilogy. The crew faces Erebus, an ancient entity of primordial darkness that threatens to consume the remnants of humanity and Earth itself.
Standalone Science Fiction Novels
- Positive (2015) – Published under David Wellington, this is a post-apocalyptic, near-future dystopian novel following a young survivor in a country ravaged by a zombie-like pandemic, combining sci-fi survival with classic horror.
- The Last Astronaut (2019) – Published under David Wellington and shortlisted for the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award. Set in the near future, it follows Sally Jansen, a retired NASA mission commander, who is recalled to lead a desperate mission to investigate a massive, organic alien object that has entered the solar system and decelerated toward Earth.
The Jim Chapel Techno-Thrillers
If you enjoy near-future military technology, cyberwarfare, and high-stakes intelligence missions, David Wellington's Jim Chapel series is a great transition. It features a wounded special forces veteran operating as a black-ops agent:
- Chimera (2013)
- The Hydra Protocol (2014)
- The Cyclops Initiative (2016)
What to Know Before You Start
The transition between D. Nolan Clark and David Wellington is seamless in terms of quality, but the tone shifts significantly. The Silence trilogy is classic military space opera with dogfights, fleet tactics, and planetary defense. On the other hand, The Last Astronaut and the Red Space trilogy lean heavily into cosmic horror, reminiscent of movies like Alien or Event Horizon. There are no major reading-order disputes for the Silence trilogy, as it was conceived and executed as a single, linear three-part story.