Catherine Asaro Reading Order

14 books (1998–2025)

Catherine Asaro contributed to 13 different anthologies between 1998 and 2017, spanning fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance collections. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with the December 1998 issue of Analog and concluding with Permutations: A Well World Anthology. The series is complete and includes appearances in notable collections such as The Space Opera Renaissance, Nebula Awards Showcase 2007, and Infinite Stars.

Start with Analog, December 1998, the first of 13 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Analog, December 1998 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine, July/August 2000 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Civil War Fantastic 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Charmed Destinies 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Irresistible Forces 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Best New Paranormal Romance 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Space Cadets 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Space Opera Renaissance 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Nebula Awards Showcase 2007 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Mammoth Book of SF Wars 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Nebula Awards 47 (2013) 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Visions of the Future 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Infinite Stars 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Permutations: A Well World Anthology 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2024–2025)

The Dust Knights series by Catherine Asaro consists of two science fiction fantasy novels published in 2024 and 2025, with the series remaining ongoing. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Down Deep followed by Gold Dust. This series blends elements of fantasy and science fiction as Asaro continues to expand her speculative fiction catalog.

Start with The Down Deep and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Down Deep 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Gold Dust 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2023–2023)

Catherine Asaro's Lightning Strike series comprises two fantasy and science fiction novels published in 2023. The duology should be read in publication order, beginning with Earthborn followed by Starborn. The series appears to be complete.

Start with Earthborn and read in order.

6 books (2003–2008)

The Lost Continent is a six-book fantasy series by Catherine Asaro, with the first entry co-written by Mercedes Lackey and Rachel Lee. Published between 2003 and 2008, the series is now complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Charmed Destinies and continuing through The Charmed Sphere, The Misted Cliffs, The Dawn Star, The Fire Opal, and concluding with The Night Bird.

Start with Charmed Destinies(With: Mercedes Lackey,Rachel Lee), the first of 6 books in the Lost Continent series.

#	Title
1	Charmed Destinies(With: Mercedes Lackey,Rachel Lee) 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Charmed Sphere 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Misted Cliffs 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Dawn Star 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Fire Opal 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Night Bird 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2011–2022)

Catherine Asaro's Major Bhaajan series comprises five science fiction fantasy novels published between 2011 and 2022, beginning with The City of Cries and concluding with The Jigsaw Assassin. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order for optimal narrative progression. Readers seeking an extended arc with interconnected storylines will find these novels best experienced sequentially from start to finish.

Start with The City of Cries, the first of 5 books in the Major Bhaajan series.

#	Title
1	The City of Cries 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Undercity 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Bronze Skies 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Vanished Seas 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Jigsaw Assassin 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2000–2008)

Catherine Asaro's three-book collection of short stories and novellas spans from 2000 to 2008 and is now complete. These standalone pieces blend fantasy and science fiction elements across the author's varied catalog. Read in publication order, beginning with A Roll of the Dice, followed by Walk in Silence, and concluding with The Spacetime Pool.

Start with A Roll of the Dice and read in order.

15 books (1995–2011)

The Skolian Empire series spans 15 science fiction novels published between 1995 and 2011, following a complete storyline that should be read in publication order. Beginning with Primary Inversion and concluding with Carnelians, the series weaves together interconnected narratives across a vast galactic civilization. This finished series includes the collaborative novella Sextopia, written with Cecilia Tan, and represents Catherine Asaro's most extensive fictional universe.

Start with Primary Inversion, the first of 15 books in the Skolian Empire series.

#	Title
1	Primary Inversion 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Catch the Lightning 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Last Hawk 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Radiant Seas 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Ascendant Sun 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Quantum Rose 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Sextopia(With: Cecilia Tan) 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Spherical Harmonic 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Skyfall 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Moon's Shadow 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Schism 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Final Key 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Ruby Dice 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Diamond Star 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Carnelians 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2011–2011)

1 book (2014–2014)

2 books (1999–2000)

Catherine Asaro's two standalone science fiction novels were published in 1999 and 2000 and should be read in publication order beginning with The Veiled Web, followed by The Phoenix Code. This complete duology combines the author's signature blend of science fiction and fantasy elements. Each book stands alone but benefits from sequential reading to fully appreciate Asaro's exploration of technology and human connection across both titles.

Start with The Veiled Web and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Veiled Web 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Phoenix Code 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2004–2004)

Catherine Asaro's Sunrise Alley series comprises two science fiction novels published in 2004, following a complete storyline. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Alpha followed by Sunrise Alley, to experience the narrative as intended.

Start with Alpha and read in order.

#	Title
1	Alpha 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Sunrise Alley 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible