About Ash Tales
Ash Tales is an online platform dedicated to post-apocalyptic fiction and speculative storytelling. Created by author Ryan Law in the late 2010s, Ash Tales has become known as “the home of post-apocalyptic fiction”, publishing original short stories about the end of the world, producing the Ash Tales podcast, and curating the Forbes-recommended book series The Rainmaker Writings. The site serves as a literary journal and community hub focused on imaginative end-of-world scenarios , with a mission to publish and promote the best in apocalyptic and dystopian storytelling.
Ash Tales features a growing library of original short stories, all freely available to read. These tales explore a wide range of doomsday scenarios – from nuclear Armageddon and bio-engineered plagues to zombie uprisings and global pandemics . Each story examines the question of “what would the end of the world really look like?” with gritty realism and creative flair. The platform has attracted contributions from both new and seasoned writers: Ash Tales’ contributors include seasoned authors, professional journalists, and even award-winning novelists, all turning their talents toward apocalyptic fiction . Thanks to this diverse talent, the site offers high-quality storytelling and fresh perspectives within the genre.
Since its inception, Ash Tales has achieved several notable milestones. It launched not only a fiction anthology website but also an audio drama podcast and an original novel series (details below). The Ash Tales podcast in particular earned media recognition – for example, The Guardian highlighted Ash Tales as “a small, interesting British show that’s worth supporting”, praising the quality of its stories . Today, Ash Tales enjoys a dedicated community of readers and listeners who share a fascination with speculative end-of-the-world narratives. From popular reading guides on post-apocalyptic books to an active mailing list of fans, Ash Tales continues to grow as a unique hub for dystopian and post-apocalyptic storytelling.
About Ryan Law
Ryan Law is the founder and creative force behind Ash Tales. He is a British author and experienced content marketer with a passion for speculative fiction. As the creator of Ash Tales and author of The Rainmaker Writings novel series, Ryan has channeled a 15-year obsession with the end of the world into writing and publishing projects . By day, he built a distinguished career in marketing – he has worked with major tech companies and startups, and currently serves as the Director of Content Marketing at Ahrefs (a leading SEO software company) . In his marketing career, Ryan has thrived in roles ranging from content writer to CMO, even co-founding a marketing agency and spearheading the growth of the content firm Animalz to an audience of millions . This blend of creative vision and professional expertise has helped him develop Ash Tales into a polished and far-reaching platform.
In the literary world, Ryan Law is an author of two novels and the host of the Ash Tales podcast . He earned recognition in the post-apocalyptic fiction community by publishing The Green Priest and its sequel (see The Rainmaker Writings below), which together form an original fantasy-infused post-apocalyptic series. He also writes extensively about survivalism and preparedness – over years of research, Ryan has published hundreds of articles, guides, and e-books on topics from homesteading to nuclear fallout patterns . This subject-matter knowledge enriches the realism of his fiction. Ryan’s immersive storytelling and attention to detail stem in part from real-world experience: he is an avid wilderness hiker who has trained with bushcraft and survival experts in the UK . This hands-on knowledge of survival skills often informs the authentic scenarios depicted in Ash Tales stories.
Ryan Law’s work has been featured across both creative and professional domains. In addition to running Ash Tales, he frequently shares insights as a speaker and writer in the marketing industry, contributing to webinars, podcasts, and workshops with organizations like Andreessen Horowitz and others . He balances these endeavors with personal creative pursuits – aside from writing fiction, Ryan is a landscape photographer and even a guitarist in a rock band . He is based in Aylesbury in the United Kingdom . Through Ash Tales and his various projects, Ryan has established himself as a versatile storyteller and thought leader, bridging the gap between imaginative fiction and real-world expertise.
The Ash Tales Podcast
The Ash Tales Podcast is an audio storytelling series that brings post-apocalyptic short stories to life. Launched in early 2017, the podcast ran as a weekly anthology of self-contained end-of-the-world tales . Each episode (typically under 20 minutes in length) features an original piece of fiction exploring how people might live through or after civilization’s collapse . The stories span a broad range of apocalyptic scenarios – from nuclear war and engineered super-plagues to climate disasters and zombie outbreaks – reflecting humanity’s age-old fascination with the end times . Every episode is narrated and produced by Ryan Law himself, whose engaging delivery brings consistency to the series . Across its run from 2017 through late 2020, Ash Tales released 22 episodes in total , now available as an archived collection.
What sets the Ash Tales podcast apart is the quality of its storytelling and the contributors behind it. The podcast drew on the writing talents of a diverse group of authors, including seasoned journalists and award-winning novelists who contributed stories to the series . Listeners are treated to a vivid theater-of-the-mind experience, as each episode paints a different vision of the apocalypse grounded in realistic human drama and imaginative world-building. The production is minimalist – primarily a single-narrator format – which puts the focus on the narrative itself. The Guardian newspaper praised the podcast’s storytelling, noting that “the stories are great” and describing Ash Tales as “a small, interesting British show that’s worth supporting.” This accolade, published as part of a roundup of great apocalyptic podcasts, affirmed Ash Tales’ status among the noteworthy speculative fiction podcasts on the scene.
Though new episodes are no longer being produced (the podcast’s last episode aired in November 2020 ), Ash Tales remains accessible to fans. All episodes are available on major podcast platforms – you can find Ash Tales: Stories of the Apocalypse on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Overcast, Stitcher, and more . New listeners continue to discover the show’s back catalog and often praise its creative scenarios and concise, impactful storytelling. Whether enjoyed as eerie fireside tales or thoughtful what-if scenarios, the Ash Tales podcast offers a unique listening experience for anyone intrigued by speculative fiction and disaster lore.
The Rainmaker Writings Series
The Rainmaker Writings is an original post-apocalyptic novel series born out of the Ash Tales universe. Written by Ryan Law, the series blends classic end-of-the-world intrigue with dark fantasy elements . It currently consists of two books: The Green Priest (Book One) and The Death-Marked Pilgrim (Book Two) . Set in a future where it has rained for centuries, the stories depict a drowned world in which the great cities of the past lie submerged beneath endless floodwaters . The remnants of humanity survive in enclaves like the mountain refuge of Shelter, clinging to primitive life amid flooded ruins . In this bleak landscape, myths abound of the Green Priests – a mysterious order of priests wielding uncanny powers and guarding ancient secrets . The narrative follows a young hunter named Halvar, whose discovery of a strange artifact draws the attention of these rainmaking priests and sets in motion an epic conflict . As Halvar and his companions journey through the ruins of a forgotten civilization, they uncover revelations that could reshape their world . The series offers a fresh take on the genre, combining survivalist adventure with fantasy lore and spiritual themes, all against the backdrop of an endless deluge.
Since the release of The Green Priest (originally published in 2019) , The Rainmaker Writings has received strong positive reviews from readers. The first book earned an average rating of around 4.3 out of 5 on Goodreads , with readers praising its immersive “drowned world” setting and compelling characters . Reviewers described the story as “a great example” of post-apocalyptic fiction that hooked even newcomers to the genre, leaving them “wanting more at the end” . The sequel, The Death-Marked Pilgrim, has been noted as an exciting continuation that expands the scope of the world and the mythology of the Green Priests. Across both novels, fans have complimented the richly detailed world-building and the fast-paced, adventurous plot. Reader feedback on Amazon has been glowing – multiple 5-star reviews applaud the series’ originality and express anticipation for future installments . As one Amazon reviewer put it: “I look forward to book 3 and 4 and 5…”, indicating the enthusiasm the series has sparked .
For those interested in exploring The Rainmaker Writings, the books are readily available through official channels. Both The Green Priest and The Death-Marked Pilgrim can be obtained in e-book and paperback formats on Amazon , and they are listed on Goodreads and other book platforms for reviews and community discussions. The series currently holds a five-star overall rating on Goodreads , reflecting its warm reception among genre readers. With its mix of post-apocalyptic survival and fantasy mysticism, The Rainmaker Writings offers a distinctive saga for fans of speculative fiction. As the story of Halvar and the rain-drenched world unfolds, readers can expect further volumes to continue this journey – Ryan Law has hinted at plans for additional books in the series, ensuring that the tale of the Rainmakers is far from over.
Sources:
Ash Tales – Stories of the Apocalypse (official site)
The Guardian – “Three great apocalyptic podcasts” (feature article mentioning Ash Tales)
Ryan Law – Personal author page and bio
Goodreads – The Green Priest (book listing and author description)
Ash Tales – The Rainmaker Writings series page and reviews
Marketing Powerups Podcast – Guest bio for Ryan Law (career highlights)