Dave Duncan Reading Order

4 books (1992–1994)

Dave Duncan's A Handful of Men is a complete fantasy series spanning four novels published between 1992 and 1994. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Cutting Edge and continuing through The Stricken Field, Upland Outlaws, and concluding with The Living God.

Start with The Cutting Edge, the first of 4 books in the A Handful of Men series.

#	Title
1	The Cutting Edge 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Stricken Field 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Upland Outlaws 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Living God 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1990–1992)

Dave Duncan's A Man of His Word is a four-book fantasy series published between 1990 and 1992. The complete sequence should be read in publication order: Magic Casement, Faery Lands Forlorn, Perilous Seas, and Emperor and Clown. This standalone series concluded with its final installment in 1992.

Start with Magic Casement, the first of 4 books in the A Man of His Word series.

#	Title
1	Magic Casement 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Faery Lands Forlorn 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Perilous Seas 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Emperor and Clown 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1994–2013)

Dave Duncan edited three fantasy and science fiction anthologies between 1994 and 2013, completing with Imaginarium 2013. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with Northern Stars, followed by Arrowdreams: An Anthology of Alternate Canadas, and concluding with Imaginarium 2013. The series is now complete.

Start with Northern Stars and read in order.

#	Title
1	Northern Stars 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Arrowdreams: An Anthology of Alternate Canadas 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Imaginarium 2013 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2006–2007)

Dave Duncan's Dodec series comprises two fantasy novels published between 2006 and 2007. The complete duology should be read in publication order, beginning with Children of Chaos followed by Mother of Lies. This standalone pair offers a self-contained story within Duncan's broader fantasy and science fiction catalog.

Start with Children of Chaos and read in order.

#	Title
1	Children of Chaos 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Mother of Lies 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2013–2015)

Dave Duncan's Ivor of Glenbroch series comprises four complete fantasy novels published between 2013 and 2015. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Runner and the Wizard and concluding with The Adventures of Ivor. This finished series offers a self-contained arc across its four installments.

Start with The Runner and the Wizard, the first of 4 books in the Ivor of Glenbroch series.

#	Title
1	The Runner and the Wizard 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Runner and the Kelpie 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Runner and the Saint 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Adventures of Ivor 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (1992–1995)

Dave Duncan's Omar series consists of two fantasy adventure novels published between 1992 and 1995. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Reaver Road and continuing with The Hunters' Haunt. Both books were released during the height of Duncan's fantasy output and conclude a self-contained narrative arc.

Start with The Reaver Road and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Reaver Road 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Hunters' Haunt 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

18 books (1987–2024)

Dave Duncan's Standalone Novels series comprises 18 independent fantasy and science fiction works published between 1987 and 2024, with the series still ongoing. Each novel stands alone with its own characters and world, so readers can begin with any title, though publication order starting with A Rose-Red City provides a chronological perspective on the author's evolving storytelling. The collection spans diverse settings and genres, from historical fantasy to hard science fiction, offering entry points for varied reader preferences. With recent additions through 2024, the series remains an expanding collection of Duncan's imaginative standalone narratives.

Start with A Rose-Red City, the first of 18 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	A Rose-Red City 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Shadow 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	West of January 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Strings 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Hero! 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Cursed 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Daughter of Troy 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Ill Met in the Arena 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Pock's World 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Against the Light 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Wildcatter 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Irona 700 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	The Eye of Strife 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Eocene Station 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Portal of a Thousand Worlds 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Pillar of Darkness 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Corridor to Nightmare 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	The Traitor's Son 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2010–2013)

The Brothers Magnus is a three-book fantasy series by Dave Duncan, beginning with Speak to the Devil in 2010 and concluding with The Speaker and the Saints in 2013. The complete series should be read in publication order to experience the story as intended. Between the first and final installments, the middle book When the Saints was published in 2012, connecting the narrative threads across all three volumes.

Start with Speak to the Devil and read in order.

#	Title
1	Speak to the Devil 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	When the Saints 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Speaker and the Saints 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2017–2019)

Dave Duncan's complete Enchanter General trilogy spans from 2017 to 2019 and should be read in publication order beginning with Ironfoot. The series consists of three books: Ironfoot, Trial by Treason, and Merlin Redux. This fantasy trilogy offers a self-contained story arc across its three installments.

Start with Ironfoot and read in order.

#	Title
1	Ironfoot 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Trial by Treason 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Merlin Redux 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1995–1997)

Dave Duncan's The Great Game trilogy spans three volumes released between 1995 and 1997, following a completed narrative arc that should be read in publication order beginning with Past Imperative, followed by Present Tense, and concluding with Future Indefinite. This fantasy and science fiction series combines Duncan's characteristic blend of imaginative worldbuilding across its full three-book sequence.

Start with Past Imperative and read in order.

#	Title
1	Past Imperative 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Present Tense 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Future Indefinite 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

8 books (1998–2019)

Dave Duncan's The King's Blades is a complete fantasy series comprising eight books published between 1998 and 2019. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Gilded Chain and concluding with The Ethical Swordsman. This self-contained series can be enjoyed as a unified narrative arc across its full run.

Start with The Gilded Chain, the first of 8 books in the The King's Blades series.

#	Title
1	The Gilded Chain 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Lord of the Fire Lands 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Sky of Swords 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Paragon Lost 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Impossible Odds 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Jaguar Knights 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	One Velvet Glove 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Ethical Swordsman 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1999–2006)

Dave Duncan's The King's Daggers is a four-book fantasy series published between 1999 and 2006. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with Sir Stalwart and continuing through The Crooked House, Silvercloak, and The Monster War. This finished series offers a self-contained story arc across its four installments.

Start with Sir Stalwart, the first of 4 books in the The King's Daggers series.

#	Title
1	Sir Stalwart 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Crooked House 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Silvercloak 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Monster War 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1988–2012)

Dave Duncan's Seventh Sword series comprises four fantasy novels published between 1988 and 2012. The complete series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Coming of Wisdom and continuing through The Destiny of the Sword, The Reluctant Swordsman, and concluding with The Death of Nnanji. This standalone series offers a self-contained fantasy narrative across its four installments.

Start with The Coming of Wisdom, the first of 4 books in the The Seventh Sword series.

#	Title
1	The Coming of Wisdom 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Destiny of the Sword 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Reluctant Swordsman 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Death of Nnanji 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2013–2014)

Dave Duncan's Starfolk duology consists of two fantasy and science fiction novels published between 2013 and 2014. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with King of Swords followed by Queen of Stars.

Start with King of Swords and read in order.

#	Title
1	King of Swords 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Queen of Stars 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2007–2009)

Dave Duncan's Venice Trilogy is a complete fantasy series consisting of three books published between 2007 and 2009. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Alchemist's Apprentice, followed by The Alchemist's Code, and concluding with The Alchemist's Pursuit. This interconnected series unfolds across Renaissance Venice with continuing storylines that develop throughout the three volumes.

Start with The Alchemist's Apprentice and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Alchemist's Apprentice 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Alchemist's Code 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Alchemist's Pursuit 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1995–1998)

The Years of Longdirk is a complete fantasy trilogy by Dave Duncan, consisting of Demon Sword, Demon Rider, and Demon Knight, published between 1995 and 1998. The books should be read in publication order to follow the narrative properly. This three-book series offers a self-contained story arc within Duncan's broader fantasy and science fiction catalog.

Start with Demon Sword and read in order.

#	Title
1	Demon Sword 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Demon Rider 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Demon Knight 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible