Dan Simmons Reading Order

19 books (1985–2019)

Dan Simmons contributed stories to 17 different anthologies between 1985 and 2018, forming a complete series best read in publication order starting with The Third Omni Book of Science Fiction. These collections span multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, and horror, showcasing Simmons' work across various themed anthologies and best-of compilations. The series concludes in 2018 and should be approached sequentially to follow the chronological publication of his anthology appearances.

Start with The Third Omni Book of Science Fiction, the first of 17 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	The Third Omni Book of Science Fiction 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Orbit Science Fiction Yearbook 1 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Third Annual Collection 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Year's Best Fantasy: Second Annual Collection 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Third Annual Collection 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Omni Best Science Fiction Two 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Still Dead 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Omni Visions Two 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Seventh Annual Collection 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Far Horizons 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 15 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Space Opera Renaissance 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Space Opera 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honour of Jack Vance 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Darkness: Two Decades of Modern Horror 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Freak Show 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Parallàxis: A twist in the mind 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Flight or Fright 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Blood Is Not Enough 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2015–2015)

5 books (1989–1999)

Dan Simmons' Hyperion Cantos spans five complete science fiction novels published between 1989 and 1999, with the series best read in publication order beginning with Hyperion. The sequence continues through The Fall of Hyperion, Endymion, The Rise of Endymion, and concludes with Orphans of the Helix. This epic series weaves together complex narratives across multiple timelines and perspectives, blending science fiction with literary depth and philosophical themes.

Start with Hyperion, the first of 5 books in the Hyperion Cantos series.

#	Title
1	Hyperion 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Fall of Hyperion 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Endymion 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Rise of Endymion 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Orphans of the Helix 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2003–2005)

Dan Simmons' Ilium series is a two-book science fiction epic completed between 2003 and 2005. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Ilium followed by Olympos. This complete series blends the author's characteristic genre-spanning approach, weaving together elements of science fiction and fantasy in an expansive narrative.

Start with Ilium and read in order.

#	Title
1	Ilium 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Olympos 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2001–2003)

Dan Simmons' Joe Kurtz trilogy comprises three completed novels published between 2001 and 2003: Hardcase, Hard Freeze, and Hard as Nails. These books should be read in publication order to follow the story's progression. The series blends elements of crime fiction with speculative elements across its three installments.

Start with Hardcase and read in order.

#	Title
1	Hardcase 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Hard Freeze 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Hard as Nails 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (1991–1991)

7 books (1988–2012)

This complete collection of seven short stories and novellas by Dan Simmons spans from 1988 to 2012 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Metastasis. The series showcases Simmons' range across fantasy, science fiction, and horror, with each entry standing as an individual work rather than a continuing narrative. The seven pieces in sequence are Metastasis, Two Minutes Forty-Five Seconds, Banished Dreams, Entropy's Bed at Midnight, This Year's Class Picture, Death in Bangkok, and The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz.

Start with Metastasis, the first of 7 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#	Title
1	Metastasis 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Two Minutes Forty-Five Seconds 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Banished Dreams 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Entropy's Bed at Midnight 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	This Year's Class Picture 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Death in Bangkok 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoz 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1990–2002)

Dan Simmons compiled four collections of short stories between 1990 and 2002, completing this series with Worlds Enough & Time. These fantasy, science fiction, and horror tales should be read in publication order, beginning with Prayers to Broken Stones, followed by Summer Sketches, Lovedeath, and the final volume. Each collection stands as a distinct work while contributing to the author's broader body of short fiction across multiple genres.

Start with Prayers to Broken Stones, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	Prayers to Broken Stones 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Summer Sketches 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Lovedeath 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Worlds Enough & Time 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

14 books (1985–2020)

Dan Simmons has written fourteen standalone novels spanning multiple genres including fantasy, science fiction, and horror across a 35-year period from 1985 to 2020. These works are complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Song of Kali and concluding with Omega Canyon. Each novel is independent and can be approached individually, though following the chronological publication sequence offers insight into Simmons' evolving craft and thematic concerns.

Start with Song of Kali, the first of 14 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Song of Kali 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Carrion Comfort 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Phases of Gravity 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Hollow Man 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Fires of Eden 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Crook Factory 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Darwin's Blade 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Terror 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Muse of Fire 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Drood 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Black Hills 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Flashback 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Abominable 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Omega Canyon 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1991–2002)

Dan Simmons's three-book horror series spans from 1991 to 2002 and should be read in publication order beginning with Summer of Night, followed by Children of the Night, and concluding with A Winter Haunting. The complete series blends elements of fantasy, science fiction, and horror across its interconnected narratives. Each installment builds on the foundation established by its predecessor, making sequential reading essential for full comprehension of the overarching story.

Start with Summer of Night and read in order.

#	Title
1	Summer of Night 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Children of the Night 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Winter Haunting 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible