John Birmingham Reading Order

2 books (2016–2018)

John Birmingham's A Girl in Time series is a complete two-book science fiction sequence comprising A Girl in Time and The Golden Minute, published between 2016 and 2018. The books should be read in publication order to experience the story as intended. This action-driven science fiction series blends literary elements with adventure-focused narrative.

Start with A Girl in Time and read in order.

#	Title
1	A Girl in Time 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Golden Minute 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

8 books (1992–2024)

John Birmingham's Anthologies series comprises eight books of curated short fiction and essays published between 1992 and 2024, with new volumes continuing to be released. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Henfield Prize Stories and progressing through collections focused on pop culture, Australian literature, fantasy, and contemporary essays. These anthologies span science fiction, literary fiction, and action-adventure genres, offering readers a diverse range of short-form content drawn from various authors and time periods.

Start with The Henfield Prize Stories, the first of 8 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	The Henfield Prize Stories 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Adventures in Pop Culture 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Contemporary Australia: Optimism 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Legends of Australian Fantasy 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	10 Short Stories You Must Read in 2011 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Best Australian Essays: A Ten-Year Collection 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Defending Australia 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Time Machine 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2004–2006)

The Axis of Time trilogy by John Birmingham is a complete science fiction series consisting of three books published between 2004 and 2006. The novels should be read in publication order: Weapons of Choice, Designated Targets, and Final Impact. This action-driven series blends speculative fiction with historical elements, following a narrative that unfolds chronologically across its three installments.

Start with Weapons of Choice and read in order.

#	Title
1	Weapons of Choice 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Designated Targets 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Final Impact 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2012–2016)

The Axis of Time: Stalin's Hammer trilogy is a three-book science fiction series by John Birmingham published between 2012 and 2016. The complete series follows a chronological narrative across Rome, Cairo, and Paris and should be read in publication order for the intended experience. This action-oriented alternate history explores the consequences of historical intervention through a military science fiction lens.

Start with Rome and read in order.

#	Title
1	Rome 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Cairo 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Paris 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2023–2026)

The Axis of Time: Reloaded is an ongoing science fiction and action series by John Birmingham consisting of three books published between 2023 and 2026. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with World War 3.1, followed by World War 3.2: The Axis of Time, and concluding with World War 3.3. This sequence allows readers to experience the story's narrative progression as originally intended by the author.

Start with World War 3.1 and read in order.

6 books (2014–2017)

John Birmingham's Dave vs. The Monsters is a six-book science fiction action series that ran from 2014 to 2017 and is now complete. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Emergence and continuing through Ascendance, Resistance, A Protocol for Monsters, Soul Full of Guns, and concluding with The Demons of Butte Crack County. This concluded series combines Birmingham's signature blend of science fiction and adventure storytelling across its full arc.

Start with Emergence, the first of 6 books in the Dave vs. The Monsters series.

#	Title
1	Emergence 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Ascendance 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Resistance 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	A Protocol for Monsters 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Soul Full of Guns 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Demons of Butte Crack County 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2021–2022)

John Birmingham's End of Days trilogy consists of three science fiction thrillers published between 2021 and 2022. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Fail State, followed by Zero Day Code, and concluding with American Kill Switch. Though not officially confirmed as complete, the trilogy appears to be finished with no announced future installments.

Start with Fail State and read in order.

9 books (1994–2019)

John Birmingham's non-fiction series spans nine books published between 1994 and 2019, collecting memoir, cultural commentary, and practical guides across diverse topics. The series begins with He Died with a Felafel in His Hand and concludes with On Father, presenting Birmingham's evolving perspectives on Australian life, masculinity, writing, and personal experiences. These works should be read in publication order to follow the author's development as a writer and thinker. The complete series offers a distinctive blend of autobiography, social observation, and unconventional advice from one of Australia's prominent contemporary voices.

Start with He Died with a Felafel in His Hand, the first of 9 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#	Title
1	He Died with a Felafel in His Hand 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	How to be a Man 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Leviathan: The Unauthorised Biography of Sydney 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Off One's Tits: Ill-Considered Rants And Raves from a Graceless Oaf Named John Birmingham 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Dopeland; Taking The High Road Through Australia's Marijuana Culture 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	How to Be a Writer 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Stranger Thingies: From Felafel to Now 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Seven Stages of Drinking Martinis. 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	On Father 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

100 books (2001–2026)

The Quarterly Essay is an ongoing series of 99 books published from 2001 to 2026, featuring contributions from various authors including John Birmingham, Robert Manne, Don Watson, Guy Rundle, and many others across genres spanning science fiction, literary fiction, non-fiction, and action and adventure. Each essay in the series stands as its own work, though readers should follow publication order to experience the collection as originally released. This curated collection of topical and thought-provoking essays began with Appeasing Jakarta and continues to expand with new installments through 2026.

Start with Appeasing Jakarta, the first of 99 books in the Quarterly Essay series.

5 books (2001–2015)

I cannot provide an accurate description of this series. The listed books appear to be individual works by different authors rather than entries in a unified series by John Birmingham, and the titles and authorship attributions seem inconsistent with a coherent series structure. Please verify the series details and resubmit.

Start with Regions of Thick-Ribbed Ice(By: Helen Garner), the first of 5 books in the Short Blacks series.

#	Title
1	Regions of Thick-Ribbed Ice(By: Helen Garner) 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Cypherpunk Revolutionary: On Julian Assange(By: Robert Manne) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Prosper: A Voyage at Sea(By: Simon Leys) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Brave Ones 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The One Day(By: David Malouf) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2008–2018)

John Birmingham's three-book collection of science fiction and adventure short stories and novellas spans a decade from 2008 to 2018. The complete series comprises Here Be Monsters, A Captain of the Gate, and Fortune and Glory, which should be read in publication order. These standalone entries showcase Birmingham's range across speculative fiction and action-oriented narratives.

Start with Here Be Monsters and read in order.

2 books (2021–2024)

John Birmingham's Sleeper Agent series is an ongoing science fiction saga currently comprising two books published between 2021 and 2024. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Sleeper Agent followed by Vengeance. More installments are planned for this action-driven science fiction adventure.

Start with Sleeper Agent and read in order.

1 book (1996–1996)

#	Title
1	The Tasmanian Babes Fiasco 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2019–2024)

The Cruel Stars is a four-book science fiction series by John Birmingham, with the fourth installment co-written with Jason Lambright. Beginning with The Cruel Stars in 2019 and continuing through The Javan War in 2024, this ongoing series should be read in publication order. The books blend action and adventure elements within a speculative science fiction framework that unfolds across multiple installments.

Start with The Cruel Stars, the first of 4 books in the The Cruel Stars series.

#	Title
1	The Cruel Stars 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Shattered Skies 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Forever Dead 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Javan War(With: Jason Lambright) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2009–2012)

The Disappearance is a complete science fiction series by John Birmingham consisting of three books published between 2009 and 2012. The trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with Without Warning, followed by After America, and concluding with Angels of Vengeance. This action-driven series blends speculative fiction with literary storytelling to explore large-scale consequences and shifting global dynamics.

Start with Without Warning and read in order.

#	Title
1	Without Warning 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	After America 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Angels Of Vengeance 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible