Jim C. Hines Reading Order

23 books (2001–2026)

Jim C. Hines edited twenty anthology collections spanning 2001 to 2026, showcasing diverse voices across fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, and adventure genres. These collections should be read in publication order, beginning with The Book of All Flesh and continuing through the series as it remains ongoing. Each anthology features a mix of original and previously published speculative fiction stories curated by Hines, making them accessible entry points for discovering new authors and perspectives within the genre.

Start with The Book of All Flesh, the first of 20 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	The Book of All Flesh 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Book of More Flesh 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Modern Magic 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Prime Codex 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Magic in the Mirrorstone 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Misspelled 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Time in a Bottle, Volume 1 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Happily Ever After 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	When the Hero Comes Home 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Modern Fae's Guide to Surviving Humanity 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	When the Villain Comes Home 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Clarkesworld: Year Three 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Unidentified Funny Objects 2 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Speculative Fiction 2013 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Unidentified Funny Objects 3 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	The Death of All Things 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Unidentified Funny Objects 6 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Robots vs. Fairies 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Where the Veil Is Thin 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Familiars 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Never Too Old to Save the World 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Uncanny Magazine Issue 69: March/April 2026 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2015–2015)

#	Title
1	Fable 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2017–2022)

Jim C. Hines' Janitors of the Post-Apocalypse trilogy spans from 2017 to 2022 and should be read in publication order beginning with Terminal Alliance. The series appears to be complete with three books total. These science fiction action novels blend Hines' characteristic storytelling across fantasy and literary fiction elements.

Start with Terminal Alliance and read in order.

#	Title
1	Terminal Alliance 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Terminal Uprising 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Terminal Peace 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2004–2011)

The Jig the Goblin series is a complete fantasy series consisting of four books published between 2004 and 2011. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Goblin Quest and continuing through Goblin Hero, Goblin War, and Goblin Tales. This action-driven fantasy saga follows its protagonist through an adventure-filled narrative arc across the span of seven years.

Start with Goblin Quest, the first of 4 books in the Jig the Goblin series.

#	Title
1	Goblin Quest 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Goblin Hero 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Goblin War 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Goblin Tales 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

41 books (1985–2025)

The L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future series is an ongoing anthology collection spanning 41 volumes from 1985 to 2025, featuring fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction works across multiple genres. Each volume compiles award-winning and selected short stories and novellas, with contributions from both established and emerging authors. Readers should start with volume 1 and progress through in publication order to experience the series chronologically. The collection remains active with new volumes continuing to be released.

Start with L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1, the first of 41 books in the L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future series.

#	Title
1	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1 1985Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 2 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 3 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 4 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 5 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 6 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 7 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 8 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future9 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 10 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 11 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 12 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 13 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 14 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 15 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 16 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 17 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 18 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 19 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 20 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 21 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 22 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 23 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 24 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 25 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 26 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
27	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 27 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
28	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 28 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
29	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 29 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
30	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 30 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
31	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 31 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
32	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 32 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
33	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 33 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
34	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 34 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
35	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 35 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
36	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 36 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
37	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 37 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
38	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 38 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
39	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 39 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
40	L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future 40 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
41	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 41 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

6 books (2012–2018)

The Magic Ex Libris series consists of six complete novels published between 2012 and 2018, blending fantasy and action-adventure elements. All books should be read in publication order, beginning with Libriomancer and continuing through Codex Born, Chupacabra's Song, Unbound, Revisionary, and concluding with Imprinted. This finished series from Jim C. Hines offers a self-contained story arc across its full span.

Start with Libriomancer, the first of 6 books in the Magic Ex Libris series.

#	Title
1	Libriomancer 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Codex Born 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Chupacabra's Song 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Unbound 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Revisionary 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Imprinted 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2014–2017)

Jim C. Hines's Invisible series consists of three essay collections published between 2014 and 2017, examining representation and diversity in science fiction and fantasy. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Invisible: Personal Essays on Representation in SF/F, followed by Invisible 2 and Invisible 3. These volumes compile personal and critical perspectives on how marginalized communities are portrayed within the SF/F genres.

Start with Invisible: Personal Essays on Representation in SF/F and read in order.

4 books (2008–2011)

Jim C. Hines's Princess series consists of four complete fantasy novels published between 2008 and 2011. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Stepsister Scheme, followed by The Mermaid's Madness, Red Hood's Revenge, and concluding with The Snow Queen's Shadow. This action-adventure fantasy series features reimagined fairy tale characters in a connected narrative arc.

Start with The Stepsister Scheme, the first of 4 books in the Princess series.

#	Title
1	The Stepsister Scheme 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Mermaid's Madness 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Red Hood's Revenge 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Snow Queen's Shadow 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2003–2013)

Jim C. Hines' Short Story Collections series comprises four volumes of fantasy and science fiction short stories published between 2003 and 2013. The series is now complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Goldfish Dreams and continuing through Kitemaster and Other Stories, Sister of the Hedge & Other Stories, and concluding with The Goblin Master's Grimoire. These collections showcase Hines' versatility across multiple genres including fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction.

Start with Goldfish Dreams, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	Goldfish Dreams 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Kitemaster and Other Stories 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Sister of the Hedge & Other Stories 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Goblin Master's Grimoire 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2014–2025)

Jim C. Hines has published five standalone novels between 2014 and 2025, with the series remaining ongoing. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with Rise of the Spider Goddess, followed by Tamora Carter: Goblin Queen, Amelia Sand and the Silver Queens, Kitemaster, and Slayers of Old. While each novel stands independently, reading them in sequence provides the intended experience across Hines' varied explorations of fantasy, science fiction, and literary fiction.

Start with Rise of the Spider Goddess, the first of 5 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	Rise of the Spider Goddess 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Tamora Carter: Goblin Queen 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Amelia Sand and the Silver Queens 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Kitemaster 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Slayers of Old 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2008–2008)

#	Title
1	Red's Tale / Lobo's Tale 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

13 books (2012–2026)

The Unidentified Funny Objects Annual Anthology is an ongoing series of humorous science fiction and fantasy collections edited by Jim C. Hines, spanning 13 books published from 2012 through 2026. Each volume features standalone stories that blend comedy with various speculative fiction genres, including dedicated volumes focused on science fiction, fantasy, and horror. These anthologies should be read in publication order, beginning with the first Unidentified Funny Objects and continuing through subsequent numbered entries and genre-specific installments.

Start with Unidentified Funny Objects, the first of 13 books in the Unidentified Funny Objects Annual Anthology series.

#	Title
1	Unidentified Funny Objects 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Unidentified Funny Objects 2 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Unidentified Funny Objects 3 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Funny Science Fiction 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Unidentified Funny Objects 4 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Funny Fantasy 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Unidentified Funny Objects 5 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Funny Horror 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Unidentified Funny Objects 6 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Unidentified Funny Objects 7 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Unidentified Funny Objects 8 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Unidentified Funny Objects 9 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Unidentified Funny Objects 10 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible