In 1985, DC decided to combine all the infinite worlds of its multiverse into a single universe.
This Reading Order lays out this combined universe, book by book, guided by the amazing work at The Unauthorized Chronology of the DC Universe. It also includes those books published under the Vertigo banner that nonetheless take place in the DC Universe – such books are marked Vertigo in the Reading Order.
It also, since it didn’t take long for the universe to splinter back into a multiverse again, includes some of those worlds too.
The Main Universe
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- -– Before the Twentieth Century
- -– The Twentieth Century
- -– Year One
- -– Year Two
- -– Year Three
- -– Year Four
- -– Year Five
- -– Year Six
- -– Year Seven
- -– Year Eight
- -– Year Nine
- -– Year Ten
- -– Year Eleven
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Other Universes
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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.
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.
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 complete Aliens Versus Predator franchise Continue reading
The canonical films of the Alien franchise.
2089-93
- Prometheus
- The 2012 film on Blu-ray.
Prometheus is possibly also canonical in the Blade Runner universe.
2100
- Alien: Covenant – Origins
- Tie-in novel by Alan Dean Foster, published in 2017.
Must take place shortly after the merger of Weylend and Yutani in 2099.
2104
- Alien: Covenant
- The 2017 film on Blu-ray.
2122
- Alien
- The 1979 film on Blu-ray.
- Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostromo
- Tie-in comic by Rory Lucey, published in 2018.
Parallels the events of the movie from the point of view of the cat.
2137
- Alien: Isolation
- The 2014 game for Xbox 360. (Also available for PS4, PS3 & Xbox One.)
- Alien: Blackout
- Mobile phone game released in 2019, follows the events of Isolation.
- Aliens: Defiance, vol.1
- Reprints Aliens: Defiance #1-6 (April 2016 – October 2016).
- Aliens: Defiance, vol.2
- Reprints Aliens: Defiance #7-12 (December 2016 – June 2017).
2139
- Alien: Prototype
- Tie-in novel by Tim Waggoner, published in 2019.
2140
- Alien: Resistance
- Reprints Aliens: Resistance #1-4 (January 2019 – April 2019).
2159
- Alien: Out of the Shadows
- Tie-in novel by Tim Lebbon, published in 2014.
2166
- Aliens: Vasquez
- Tie-in novel by V. Castro, published in 2022.
Concludes in this year
2172
- Alien: Echo
- Tie-in young adult novel by Mira Grant, published in 2019.
2178
- Reclamation
- Tie-in short story by Yvonne Navarro, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur before the film Aliens.
- Blowback
- Tie-in short story by Christopher Golden, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur before the film Aliens.
- Broken
- Tie-in short story by Rachel Caine, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur before the film Aliens.
- Exterminators
- Tie-in short story by Matt Forbeck, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur before the film Aliens.
2179
- Alien: River of Pain
- Tie-in novel by Christopher Golden, published in 2014.
Occurs shortly before Aliens.
- No Good Deed
- Tie-in short story by Ray Garton, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Occurs during River of Pain but is best read after.
- Aliens
- The 1986 film on Blu-ray.
- Dark Mother
- Tie-in short story by David Farland, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Occurs during Aliens but is best read after.
- Alien 3
- The 1992 film on Blu-ray.
2180
- Zero to Hero
- Tie-in short story by Weston Ochse, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur after the film Aliens.
- Deep Background
- Tie-in short story by Keith R.A. Candido, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur after the film Aliens.
- Empty Nest
- Tie-in short story by Brian Keene, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur after the film Aliens.
- Darkness Falls
- Tie-in short story by Heather Graham, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story must occur after the film Aliens.
- The Cold Forge
- Tie-in novel by Alex White, published in 2018.
Has a first chapter that takes place in 2179, but the majority of the book takes place the following year.
2181
- Chance Encounter
- Tie-in short story by Paul Kupperberg, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story appears to occur after the other Bug Hunt stories.
- Hugs to Die For
- Tie-in short story by Mike Resnick and Marina J. Lostetter, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story appears to occur after the other Bug Hunt stories.
- Dangerous Prey
- Tie-in short story by Scott Sigler, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date is approximate, but this story appears to occur after the other Bug Hunt stories.
2184
- Into Charybdis
- Tie-in novel by Alex White, published in 2021.
Date specified in story.
2185
- Aliens: Dust to Dust
- Comic by Gabriel Hardman & Rain Beredo, published in 2019.
Date is approximate, but this story appears to occur a few years after Alien 3.
2186
- Colony War
- Tie-in novel by Alex White, published in 2021.
Date specified in story.
2187
- Alien: Inferno’s Fall
- Tie-in novel by Philippa Ballantyne, published in 2022.
Date specified in story.
- Alien: Enemy of my Enemy
- Tie-in novel by Mary Sangiovanni, published in 2023.
Date specified in story.
2189
- Deep Black
- Short story by Jonathan Maberry, published in 2017 in Aliens: Bug Hunt.
Date specified in the story as ten years after Alien 3.
2202
- Aliens: Infiltrator
- Novel by Weston Ochse, published in 2021.
A prequel to Fireteam Elite, date specified in story.
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- Console game released in 2021, date specified in game.
2295
- Aliens: Dead Orbit
- Date given in story.
2379
- Alien: Resurrection
- The 1997 film on Blu-ray.
2496-97
- Alien: Sea of Sorrows
- Tie-in novel by James A. Moore, published in 2014.
date unknown
- Aliens: Phalanx
- Tie-in novel by Scott Sigler, published in 2020.
-
- Note: the Aliens Vs Predator films are not considered canonical in the Aliens universe due to conflicting details between them and Prometheus. A Chronology for the AVP universe can be found here.
The canonical stories of the Predator franchise.
Continue reading
The iconic science fiction film and its assorted sequels.
We can’t have these moments just lost in time, like… tears in rain…
2009
- 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.
2015
- Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus, vol.1
- Reprints Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus #1-4.
2019
- 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).
2021
- 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.
2022
- Blade Runner 2022: Black Out
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
2029
- 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.
2032
- 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.
2035
- 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.
2036
- Blade Runner 2036: Nexus Dawn
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
2039
- 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.
2048
- Blade Runner 2048: Nowhere to Run
- The 2017 short film on YouTube.
2049
- Blade Runner 2049
- The 2017 film on Blu-ray.
2091
- 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.
The Viking Prince
Showcase Presents: Bat Lash, vol.1
