Ryan Duval

As a young boy growing up in a small town in Maine, Ryan felt compelled to travel to the farthest corners of the world and witness the incredible, beautiful, devastating, and bizarre first hand. He saw two avenues to make this possible – write science fiction to go everywhere and beyond or study architecture to physically build it.

He chos

He chose to pursue architecture, graduating in 2008 during the economic recession. With no opportunity in sight, Ryan left the United States for a new, promising life in Beijing. And it was during these six years, particularly during a short, heartbreaking stint in East Turkestan, that he was inspired to write science fiction. After returning to the United States, Ryan worked as a Senior Architectural Designer at Bjarke Ingels Group in NYC for ten years, designing several prominent projects (“The Spiral” Skyscraper – NYC; Google Headquarters – Mountain View, CA; Hyperloop One Station Concepts – UAE; among several others). Sadly, after a whirlwind sixteen year career in architecture, Ryan found himself yearning for more. In 2024, he left the architecture profession and moved to Ithaca, NY, to pursue his love of writing science fiction.

Growing up in a small town in Maine and having lived in major cities worldwide, Ryan brings a unique perspective to his writing, focusing on how agriculture, architecture, and settlement can shape and be shaped by the future. His debut novel, Galaxy’s Best Chef (2023), and its sequel, Ghosts of Zion (2025), were received with critical acclaim. He is currently writing book three, Division of Sabel (winter-2027), to finish the first trilogy within the Galaxy’s Best Chef Saga.

Ryan lives with his wife and two children, who inspire him daily, if not hourly.

Show Less