Glen Cook Reading Order

6 books (1980–2024)

Glen Cook's anthology series spans from 1980 to 2024 across six published volumes that blend fantasy, science fiction, and action-adventure elements. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Berkley Showcase: Vol. 2 and continuing through Songs of the Dying Earth, Writing Fantasy Heroes, Operation Arcana, Bonds of Valor, and Paladins of Valor. This ongoing collection showcases diverse stories and perspectives within the genres Cook is known for exploring.

Start with The Berkley Showcase: Vol. 2, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	The Berkley Showcase: Vol. 2 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Songs of the Dying Earth: Stories in Honour of Jack Vance 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Writing Fantasy Heroes 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Operation Arcana 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Bonds of Valor 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Paladins of Valor 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1985–1986)

Glen Cook's Darkwar trilogy spans three books published between 1985 and 1986, following publication order for the complete series. The three installments—Doomstalker, Warlock, and Ceremony—should be read sequentially to experience the full narrative arc of this fantasy and science fiction adventure series.

Start with Doomstalker and read in order.

#	Title
1	Doomstalker 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Warlock 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Ceremony 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

9 books (1979–2018)

The Dread Empire is a nine-book fantasy series by Glen Cook, following publication order from the first installment through Wrath of Kings, which concluded the saga in 2018. Beginning with A Shadow of All Night Falling in 1979, the series spans nearly four decades of storytelling across a completed narrative arc. Readers should begin with the first book and proceed through the series in publication order to experience the full scope of Cook's epic fantasy world. The complete series comprises A Shadow of All Night Falling, All Darkness Met, October's Baby, The Fire in His Hands, With Mercy Toward None, Reap the East Wind, An Ill Fate Marshalling, A Path to Coldness of Heart, and Wrath of Kings.

Start with A Shadow of All Night Falling, the first of 9 books in the Dread Empire series.

#	Title
1	A Shadow of All Night Falling 1979Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	All Darkness Met 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	October's Baby 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Fire in His Hands 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	With Mercy Toward None 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Reap the East Wind 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	An Ill Fate Marshalling 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	A Path to Coldness of Heart 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Wrath of Kings 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

16 books (1980–2027)

Glen Cook's Garrett P.I. series spans 15 complete fantasy novels published between 1980 and 2013, following a hardboiled detective navigating a magical urban world. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Introducing Garrett, P.I. and concluding with Wicked Bronze Ambition. Each entry builds on character development and ongoing storylines, making sequential reading essential to fully appreciate the narrative arc.

Start with Introducing Garrett, P.I., the first of 15 books in the Garrett P.I. series.

#	Title
1	Introducing Garrett, P.I. 1980Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Sweet Silver Blues 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Bitter Gold Hearts 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Cold Copper Tears 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Old Tin Sorrows 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Dread Brass Shadows 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Red Iron Nights 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Deadly Quicksilver Lies 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Petty Pewter Gods 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Faded Steel Heat 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Angry Lead Skies 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Whispering Nickel Idols 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Cruel Zinc Melodies 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Gilded Latten Bones 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Wicked Bronze Ambition 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Last Metal Romance 2027Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2005–2014)

Glen Cook's Instrumentalities of the Night is a complete four-book fantasy series spanning from 2005 to 2014. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Tyranny of the Night, followed by Lord of the Silent Kingdom, Surrender to the Will of the Night, and concluding with Working God's Mischief. This epic sequence blends fantasy and science fiction elements characteristic of Cook's work, delivering complex worldbuilding and intricate storytelling across its full arc.

Start with The Tyranny of the Night, the first of 4 books in the Instrumentalities of the Night series.

#	Title
1	The Tyranny of the Night 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Lord of the Silent Kingdom 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Surrender to the Will of the Night 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Working God's Mischief 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (2020–2024)

The Libri Valoris series is an ongoing fantasy and science fiction collection that began in 2020 and continues through 2024. Currently comprising five books, the series should be read in publication order starting with When Valor Must Hold. Each entry features contributions from Glen Cook alongside various collaborating authors, creating an anthology-style series that blends action and adventure across multiple narratives.

Start with When Valor Must Hold(By: Quincy J. Allen,Jon R. Osborne), the first of 5 books in the Libri Valoris series.

2 books (2025–2027)

2 books (2012–2019)

Glen Cook's short story collection series contains two volumes released between 2012 and 2019, presenting a complete selection of his work across fantasy, science fiction, and adventure genres. Begin with Winter's Dreams followed by The Best of Glen Cook, reading them in publication order to experience the full scope of Cook's short fiction writing.

Start with Winter's Dreams and read in order.

#	Title
1	Winter's Dreams 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Best of Glen Cook 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (1972–1992)

Glen Cook's Standalone Novels series consists of six complete, unrelated fantasy and science fiction works published between 1972 and 1992. Each book stands alone with its own characters and world, though they share the author's distinctive voice across genres ranging from epic fantasy to speculative fiction. Read in publication order starting with The Heirs of Babylon, followed by The Swordbearer, A Matter of Time, The Dragon Never Sleeps, The Tower of Fear, and Sung In Blood. This collection showcases Cook's range as a storyteller across nearly two decades of his career.

Start with The Heirs of Babylon, the first of 6 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Heirs of Babylon 1972Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Swordbearer 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	A Matter of Time 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Dragon Never Sleeps 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Tower of Fear 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Sung In Blood 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1982–1985)

Glen Cook's Starfishers is a four-book science fiction series published between 1982 and 1985, now complete. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with Shadowline and continuing through Starfishers, Stars' End, and Passage at Arms. This series combines action-driven storytelling with Cook's characteristic blend of science fiction worldbuilding across its carefully plotted narrative arc.

Start with Shadowline, the first of 4 books in the Starfishers series.

#	Title
1	Shadowline 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Starfishers 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Stars' End 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Passage at Arms 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

11 books (1984–2027)

The Black Company is a complete fantasy series of ten books published between 1984 and 2000, written by Glen Cook. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Shadows Linger and concluding with Soldiers Live. This action-driven fantasy saga follows a legendary mercenary company through a world of dark magic, political intrigue, and endless warfare across multiple campaigns and centuries.

Start with Shadows Linger, the first of 10 books in the The Black Company series.

#	Title
1	Shadows Linger 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Black Company 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The White Rose 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Shadow Games 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Silver Spike 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Dreams of Steel 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Bleak Seasons 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	She is the Darkness 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Water Sleeps 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Soldiers Live 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Long Run 2027Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (1986–2018)

Glen Cook's Chronicles of the Black Company is a complete five-book fantasy series that should be read in publication order, beginning with Chronicles of the Black Company in 1986 and concluding with Port of Shadows in 2018. The series follows a legendary mercenary company through their exploits across a dark and complex world, blending military fantasy with intricate storytelling. Each installment builds upon the previous one, making sequential reading essential to fully appreciate the narrative arc and character development across the entire saga.

Start with Chronicles of the Black Company, the first of 5 books in the The Chronicles of the Black Company series.

#	Title
1	Chronicles of the Black Company 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Return of the Black Company 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Black Company Goes South 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Many Deaths of the Black Company 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Port of Shadows 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible