Forged in Fire

'Prepare to be riveted by this extraordinary account from one of Australia's elite warriors. His firsthand experiences vividly recounted offer an unparalleled glimpse into the courage, strategy, and sacrifice required to be the best.' - Daniel Keighran VC

Garry made a report on the radio: 'I see around 200 women and children heading north up the valley.' Less than 400 metres below us, a steady stream of women and kids were hurrying away in single file. 'Where are all the men?' I asked Garry. 'Waiting for us,' he responded, with a look of concern I had not seen on his face before. My heart skipped a beat-we were on.

From the age of 12, Scott Ryder knew he wanted to join the army, and he signed up as soon as he could. After serving as a paratrooper and in East Timor with 3 RAR, he wanted more. He trained all summer and took the gruelling selection course for the commandos, earning the prized green beret on his second attempt.

Forged in Fire takes us inside the secretive world of the commandos. Ryder shares battlefield stories from his tours to Afghanistan, where his regiment saw some of the heaviest fighting Australian forces have experienced since the Vietnam War. After being seriously injured in a shocking Black Hawk helicopter crash in Kandahar, he was the only survivor to return to active service.

Frankly written, with self-deprecating humour, Forged in Fire reveals the qualities of strength and mental resilience that characterise special forces operators.

'A visceral and all too vivid account of war's chaos and destruction. You will never want to be in the fire that has so painfully forged Scott Ryder.' - Jack Thompson AM

'Scott is not famous; his chest is not bedecked with the grandest tin and ribbon. His voice is from among us rather than up on high. And his account of the DNA of the commando, the lesser sung super-soldier, is all the better for it.' - Chris Masters

'His professionalism, enthusiasm and devotion to his career certainly shine through in this lively, forthright and engaging account of 21st century army life...[A] fascinating and often moving depiction of the SF at work...' - Sabretache

'A no-ego, honest look into the secret world of special forces soldiers...taking readers to the centre of some of the fiercest battles Australia has experienced' - Navy News


'Ryder's memoir is remarkable for its unreserved account of his service.' - War Memorial Magazine