
Ian C. Esslemont Reading Order
3 series ยท 13 books ยท Born 1962
Ian C. Esslemont is a Canadian author known for his contributions to epic fantasy, notably through his renowned Novels of the Malazan Empire series. Active from 2004 to 2023, he has published 13 books across three series, including Path to Ascendancy and various anthologies, expanding the rich universe established by his collaborator Steven Erikson. His works are celebrated for their intricate world-building and dynamic storytelling.
Anthologies Series
Complete2 books (2013โ2015)
Start with Writing Fantasy Heroes and read in order.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Writing Fantasy Heroes 2013Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 2 | Imaginarium 3 2015Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
Malazan Empire Series
Likely Complete7 books (2004โ2023)
Start with Night of Knives, the first of 7 books in the Malazan Empire series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Night of Knives 2004Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 2 | Return of the Crimson Guard 2008Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 3 | Stonewielder 2010Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 4 | Blood and Bone 2012Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 5 | Orb Sceptre Throne 2012Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 6 | Assail 2013Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 7 | Forge of the High Mage 2023Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
Path to Ascendancy Series
Likely Complete4 books (2016โ2023)
Start with Dancer's Lament, the first of 4 books in the Path to Ascendancy series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dancer's Lament 2016Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 2 | Deadhouse Landing 2017Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 3 | Kellanved's Reach 2019Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
| 4 | Forge of the High Mage 2023Buy ๐บ๐ธ |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Ian C. Esslemont written?
- Ian C. Esslemont has written 13 books across 3 series. Their published works span from 2004 to 2023.
- What is the first book in each Ian C. Esslemont series?
- Here are the first books in Ian C. Esslemont's series: Anthologies: Writing Fantasy Heroes; Malazan Empire: Night of Knives; Path to Ascendancy: Dancer's Lament.
- What order should I read Ian C. Esslemont's books?
- We recommend reading Ian C. Esslemont's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
- Are Ian C. Esslemont's series complete?
- Ian C. Esslemont has 1 completed series.

