No power in the ‘verse can stop this chronology… Continue reading
No comments
Search
Orders by Genre
Orders by Medium
Meta
Category: Science Fiction
The Dune Reading Order
Frank Herbert’s legendary science fiction epic
- Hunting Harkonnens
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Road to Dune” (2005)
- The Butlerian Jihad
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2002)
- Whipping Mek
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Road to Dune” (2005)
- The Machine Crusade
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2003)
- The Faces of a Martyr
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Road to Dune” (2005)
- The Battle of Corrin
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2004)
- Sisterhood of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2012)
- Mentats of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2014)
- Red Plague
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson on the Tor.com website (2016)
- Navigators of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2017)
- Imperial Court
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Sands of Dune” (2022)
- Edge of a Crysknife
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Sands of Dune” (2022)
- House Atreides
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (1999)
- House Harkonnen
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2000)
- House Corrino
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2001)
- Paul of Dune: Part II, Part IV & Part VI
- sections of novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Paul of Dune” (2005)
- Wedding Silk
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Tales of Dune” (2005)
- Winds of Dune: Part II
- section of novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Winds of Dune” (2009)
- Princess of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2023)
- Dune: The Duke of Caladan
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2020)
- Dune: The Lady of Caladan
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2021)
- Dune: The Heir of Caladan
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2022)
- Dune
- novel by Frank Herbert (1965).
- Edge of a Crysknife
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Sands of Dune” (2022)
- A Whisper of Caladan Seas
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Road to Dune” (2005). Takes place during Dune.
- The Waters of Kanly
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Road to Dune” (2017). Takes place during Dune.
- Paul of Dune: Part I, Part III, Part V & Part VII
- sections of novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Paul of Dune” (2005)
- Winds of Dune: Part IV
- section of novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Winds of Dune” (2009)
- The Road to Dune
- short story by Frank Herbert in “Eye” (1985).
- Dune Messiah
- novel by Frank Herbert (1969).
- Winds of Dune: Part I, Part III & Part V
- sections of novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “The Winds of Dune” (2009)
- Children of Dune
- novel by Frank Herbert (1976).
- God Emperor of Dune
- novel by Frank Herbert (1981).
- Heretics of Dune
- novel by Frank Herbert (1984).
- Chapterhouse: Dune
- novel by Frank Herbert (1985).
- Sea Child
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Tales of Dune” (2005). Takes place during Chapterhouse: Dune.
- Hunters of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2006)
- Treasure in the Sand
- short story by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in “Tales of Dune” (2005)
- Sandworms of Dune
- novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson (2007)
The Vorkosigan Saga Reading Order
One of the all time great science fiction series. .
This reading order lists all the novels and short stories of Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Saga, and every book that any of them has been published in.
It follows the internal chronology rather than the publishing order of the books themselves. The multiple books listed for most entries are listed in order of publication, earliest to latest. In the interests of clarity, novels appear in bold and short stories/novellas in italics.
Footnotes:
- Okay, most people – including Lois McMaster Bujold – do not include this as a part of the Saga, but I do. It features characters who are clearly spiritual, if not literal, ancestors of the Vorkosigan family. Plus, there’s always room for a good Sherlock Holmes story.
- This is the short story (distinguished by the “The”) of that title.
- This is the framing story from the anthology of the same title. It is not reprinted in the more recent omnibus reprints of the saga.
The Dollhouse Chronology
One of Joss Whedon’s more interesting ideas, and frustratingly cut short before it could fulfil its potential.
- Dollhouse: Season One DVD
- Episodes 1 to 12 only.
Dollhouse: Season Two DVD- Episodes 1 to 12 only.
- Dollhouse, vol.1: Epitaphs
- Reprints Dollhouse One-Shot (March 2011) & Dollhouse #1-5 (July 2011 – November 2011).
- Dollhouse: Season One DVD
- Episode 13 only.
- Dollhouse: Season Two DVD
- Episode 13 only.
The Stainless Steel Rat Reading Order
If you have not yet read the adventures of Slippery Jim DiGriz, you’re in for a treat.
If you have, here’s how they all fit together:
- A Stainless Steel Rat Is Born
- Originally published in 1985.
- The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted
- Originally published in 1987.
- The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues>
- Originally published in 1994.
- The Stainless Steel Rat
- Originally published in 1961.
- The Stainless Steel Rat’s Revenge
- Originally published in 1970.
- The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World
- Originally published in 1972.
- The Fourth Law of Robotics
- Originally published in 1989.
This story crosses over with The Asimov Universe Timeline. It is placed here because it clearly takes place much earlier than the main action of the series, making the time travel of the previous story the best fit for it. - The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You!
- Originally published in 1978.
- The Stainless Steel Rat for President
- Originally published in 1982.
- The Stainless Steel Rat Goes to Hell
- Originally published in 1996.
- The Stainless Steel Rat Joins The Circus
- Originally published in 1999.
- You Can Be The Stainless Steel Rat
- Originally published in 1988.
Clearly occurs late in his career, but placed here by fiat. - The Stainless Steel Rat Returns
- Originally published in 2010.
- The Golden Years of the Stainless Steel Rat
- Originally published in 1993.
The Asimov Universe Reading Order
This list includes only the actual books – much of the content is actually short stories (the volumes this is the case for are noted below). If you want a thorough accounting of which stories occur in what order, down to a listing of what years they occur in, I recommend Johnny Pez’s Insanely Complete Fiction List for a more detailed reading order.
The Robots Era:
- I, Robot: To Protect
- Novel set in 2035 featuring Susan Calvin and early robots, written by Mickey Zucker Reichert.
- I Robot: To Obey
- Novel set in 2036 featuring Susan Calvin and early robots, written by Mickey Zucker Reichert.
- I, Robot: To Preserve
- Novel set in 2037 featuring Susan Calvin and early robots, written by Mickey Zucker Reichert.
- The Complete Robot
- Contains all of Asimov’s Robot Stories up to the date of its publication.
- Robot Dreams
- Contains additional Robot short stories by Asimov.
- Robot Visions
- Contains additional Robot short stories by Asimov.
- Gold
- Contains additional Robot short stories by Asimov.
- Predator
- Volume 1 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- Marauder
- Volume 2 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- Warrior
- Volume 3 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- Dictator
- Volume 4 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- Emperor
- Volume 5 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- Invader
- Volume 6 of the Robots in Time series by William F. Wu.
- The Positronic Man
- Novel length expansion of Asimov’s short story The Bicentennial Man, co-written with Robert Silverberg.
- Nemesis
- Novel by Asimov.
- The Caves of Steel
- First novel in the Elijah Baley series.
- The Naked Sun
- Second novel in the Elijah Baley series.
- The Robots of Dawn
- Third novel in the Elijah Baley series.
- Odyssey
- Volume 1 of the Robot City series written by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.
- Suspicion
- Volume 2 of the Robot City series written by Mike McQuay.
- Cyborg
- Volume 3 of the Robot City series written by William F. Wu.
- Prodigy
- Volume 4 of the Robot City series written by Arthur Byron Cover.
- Refuge
- Volume 5 of the Robot City series written by Robert Chilson.
- Perihelion
- Volume 6 of the Robot City series written by William F. Wu.
- Changeling
- Volume 1 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Stephen Leigh.
- Renegade
- Volume 2 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Cordell Scotten.
- Intruder
- Volume 3 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Robert Thurston.
- Alliance
- Volume 4 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Jerry Oltion.
- Maverick
- Volume 5 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Bruce Bethke.
- Humanity
- Volume 6 of the Robot City: Robots and Aliens series written by Jerry Oltion.
- Mirage
- Novel written by Mark W. Tiedemann.
- Chimera
- Novel written by Mark W. Tiedemann.
- Aurora
- Novel written by Mark W. Tiedemann.
- Have Robot, Will Travel
- Novel written by Alexander C. Irvine.
The Empire Era:
- Robots and Empire
- Novel by Asimov.
- Caliban
- Novel written by Roger MacBride Allan.
- Inferno
- Novel written by Roger MacBride Allan.
- Utopia
- Novel written by Roger MacBride Allan.
- The Stars, Like Dust
- Novel by Asimov.
- The Currents of Space
- Novel by Asimov.
- Pebble in the Sky
- Novel by Asimov.
The Foundation Era:
- Prelude to Foundation
- Novel by Asimov.
- Foundation’s Fear
- Written by Gregory Benford. First novel in the Second Foundation trilogy.
- Forward the Foundation
- Novel by Asimov.
- Foundation and Chaos
- Written by Greg Bear. Second novel in the Second Foundation trilogy.
- Foundation’s Triumph
- Written by David Brin. Third novel in the Second Foundation trilogy.
- Foundation
- Novel by Asimov.
- Foundation and Empire
- Novel by Asimov.
- Second Foundation
- Novel by Asimov.
- Foundation’s Edge
- Novel by Asimov.
- Foundation and Earth
- Novel by Asimov.
- Nightfall
- Novel length expansion of the Asimov short story of the same name, co-written with Robert Silverberg. Although originally separate from the rest of the Asimov Universe, it was brought in by Kingsbury’s Psychohistorical Crisis, and placed here as it cannot fit anywhere before the fall of the Empire.
- Foundation’s Friends: Stories in Honor of Isaac Asimov
- Anothology of stories in the Asimov Universe written by other authors. Although the stories take place all across this timeline, they are mostly expansions of Asimov stories rather than integral parts of the series, and can thus best be read here. One story in this volume crosses over with The Stainless Steel Rat Timeline.
- Psychohistorical Crisis
- Novel by Donald Kingsbury. Although not an official sequel, it is clearly derived from the Foundation series. As noted above, it also brings in the story of Nightfall.
- The End of Eternity
- Novel by Asimov.
The Jurassic Park Chronology
Weaving back and forth across novels, comics and movies, the Jurassic Park franchise is not entirely internally consistent, but it is a lot of fun.
I mean, it has dinosaurs. Sometimes even drawn by Walt Simonson.
What more could you possibly want?
- Dragon Teeth
- Novel by Michael Crichton.
Included because its subject matter – paleontologists attempting to use fossils for personal gain – is very much of a piece with the Jurassic Park series. - Jurassic Park: Dead Islands
- Prequel novel by Fabien Delage
- Jurassic Park
- Novel: Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton
- Film: Jurassic Park
- Comic: Classic Jurassic Park, vol.1
- Classic Jurassic Park, vol.2: Raptors Revenge
- Classic Jurassic Park, vol.3: Amazon Adventure
- Classic Jurassic Park, vol.4: Return to Jurassic Park
- Classic Jurassic Park, vol.5: Return to Jurassic Park, Part Two
- The Lost World
- Novel: The Lost World
- Video: The Lost World
- Comic: Classic Jurassic Park, vol.6: The Lost World
- Jurassic Park III
- Survivor: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 1
- Prey: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 2
- Flyers: Jurassic Park Adventures, Book 3
- Jurassic Park: Dangerous Games
- Jurassic Park, vol.1: Redemption
- Jurassic Park: The Devils in the Desert
- Jurassic World: The Evolution of Claire
- Prequel novel by Tess Sharpe
- Jurassic World
- Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous
- Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
- Jurassic World: Dominion
The Blade Runner Chronology
The iconic science fiction film and its assorted sequels.
We can’t have these moments just lost in time, like… tears in rain…
- Blade Runner Origins, vol.1: Products
- Reprints Blade Runner Origins #1-4.
- Blade Runner Origins, vol.2: Scrap
- Reprints Blade Runner Origins #5-8.
- Blade Runner Origins, vol.3: Burning
- Reprints Blade Runner Origins #9-12.
- Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, vol.1
- Reprints Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus #1-4.
- Blade Runner 2019, vol.1: Los Angeles
- Reprints Blade Runner #1-4.
Takes place prior to the film. - Blade Runner 2019, vol.2: Off World
- Reprints Blade Runner #5-8.
Takes place prior to the film. - Blade Runner 2019, vol.3: Home Again, Home Again
- Reprints Blade Runner #9-12.
Takes place prior to the film. - Blade Runner
- The 1982 film on Blu-ray (Final Cut edition).
- The release of Blade Runner 2049 may make these books non-canon.
- Blade Runner 2: The Edge of Human
- Novel by K.W. Jeter, published in 1995.
- Blade Runner 3: Replicant Night
- Novel by K.W. Jeter, published in 1996.
- Blade Runner 4: Eye and Talon
- Novel by K.W. Jeter, published in 2000.
- Blade Runner 2022: Black Out
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
- Blade Runner 2029, vol.1: Reunion
- Reprints Blade Runner 2029 #1-4.
- Blade Runner 2029, vol.2: Echoes
- Reprints Blade Runner 2029 #5-8.
- Blade Runner 2029, vol.3: Redemption
- Reprints Blade Runner 2029 #9-12.
- Blade Runner: Black Lotus
- The 2021 anime series in digital format.
- Blade Runner: Black Lotus – Leaving L.A.
- Reprints Blade Runner: Black Lotus – Leaving L.A. #1-4.
- Soldier
- The 1998 film on Blu-ray.
While not an official part of the Blade Runner franchise, the makers of this film intended it as a ‘sidequel’ set in the same universe. - Blade Runner 2036: Nexus Dawn
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
- Blade Runner 2039, vol.1: Luv
- Reprints Blade Runner 2039 #1-4.
- Blade Runner 2039, vol.2: Upgrade
- Reprints Blade Runner 2039 #5-8.
- Blade Runner 2039, vol.3: Ash
- Reprints Blade Runner 2039 #9-12.
- Blade Runner 2048: Nowhere to Run
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
- Blade Runner 2049
- The 2017 film on Blu-ray.
- Prometheus
- The 2012 film on Blu-ray.
Prometheus may be canonical in the based on references in some on the supplemental in-universe materials on the Blu-ray. It is most definitely canonical in the Alien universe.
2009
2015
2019
2021
2022
2029
2032
2035
2036
2039
2048
2049
2091
The Expanse Reading Order
Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck’s epic space opera series.
Unless otherwise mentioned, all stories are written by Abraham and Franck under their pseudonym James S.A. Corey.
- The Martian
- Novel written by Andy Weir, published 2011.
There is a reference to a ship from Mars named after the main character of this novel, Mark Watney, in Babylon’s Ashes, suggesting that its events may have taken place in this universe. It’s a reasonable fit chronologically and tonally, so why not? - Drive
- Short story published November 27, 2012.
- The Churn
- Short story published April 29, 2014.
- The Butcher of Anderson Station
- Short story published October 17, 2011.
- Leviathan Wakes
- Novel published June 15, 2011.
- The Last Flight of the Cassandra
- Short story published May 14, 2019.
- Caliban’s War
- Novel published June 26, 2012.
- Gods of Risk
- Short story published September 15, 2012.
- Abaddon’s Gate
- Novel published June 4, 2013.
- The Vital Abyss
- Short story published October 15, 2015.
- Cibola Burn
- Novel published June 17, 2014.
- Nemesis Games
- Novel published June 2, 2015.
- Babylon’s Ashes
- Novel published December 6, 2016.
- Strange Dogs
- Short story published July 18, 2017.
- Persepolis Rising
- Novel published December 5, 2017.
- Auberon
- Short story published November 12, 2019.
- Tiamat’s Wrath
- Novel published March 26, 2019.
- Leviathan Falls
- Novel published November 30, 2021.
- The Sins of Our Fathers
- Short story published March 15, 2022.
The Mad Max Chronology
A few years from now…
- The Cars That Ate Paris
- 1974 film on DVD.
Included because some car designs in Fury Road are clearly inspired by the iconic car design in this film – for purposes of this timeline, it’s the same car. - Market Forces
- 2004 novel written by Richard K. Morgan.
Morgan has specifically identified Mad Max as an inspiration for the story, describing it as an unofficial addition to the world of the film – while it has no direct connection, it is set in the same societal decay that opens the first film, albeit in England, rather than Australia. - Mad Max
- 1979 film on Blu-ray.
- Mad Max
- 1990 NES game.
Appears to be set before The Road Warrior, based on the appearance of the V8 Interceptor. - Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
- 1981 film on Blu-ray.
- Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
- 1985 film on Blu-ray.
- Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
- 2024 film on Blu-ray.
- Mad Max: Fury Road
- Reprints Mad Max: Fury Road – Nux and Immortan Joe #1 (July 2015); Mad Max: Fury Road – Furiosa #1 (August 2015); & Mad Max: Fury Road – Mad Max #1-2 (September 2015 – October 2015).
Collection of prequel comics. - Mad Max: Fury Road
- 2015 film on Blu-ray.
- Mad Max
- Game for PS4. Also available for Xbox One and PC.
See you on the road!