John Nairn writes progression fantasy and military science fiction. His fantasy is set in The Forge, a cluster of worlds run on a divine economy: belief makes gods, every class and blessing is a grant from a god with motives, and every power is paid for. No stat screens, no chosen ones, no fair fights. The Knowledge asks what happens when the price of magic is your own memory — and a printing press puts that bargain in everyone's hands.
His science fiction trades gods for fleets: The Black follows the crews, conscripts and survivors who hold the line when doctrine fails. Across three universes the through-line is the same — power costs, climbs are earned, and the people doing the paying are the ones worth reading about.
He is Australian, and it shows in the prose: dry, understated, and suspicious of speeches. Each universe is self-contained; start with any of them. The newsletter is the best way to hear about new releases.