Matthew Reilly (b. 1974) is a successful writer of popular fiction novels, characterised by suspenseful narratives and futuristic scenarios. Inspired by the urgent pacing of graphic novels, action movies and video games, they have been published in more than twenty countries and have found a strong readership amongst young males. As a law student, Reilly wrote and self-published his first novel, Contest, in 1994. Copies placed in a Sydney bookshop quickly sold out and gained the interest of a major publisher. Reilly is a fan of Hollywood action and fantasy cinema, and cites films by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as among his favourites. His collection of movie memorabilia includes replica props from the Raiders of the Lost Ark and Star Wars series; he owns the DeLorean DMC-12 automobile featured in the 1985 Steven Spielberg film Back to the Future. Over the past ten years Reilly has worked as an ambassador for Australian youth issues and supported literacy initiatives.
