Lois McMaster Bujold Reading Order
11 series · 103 books · Born 2 November 1949
Lois McMaster Bujold is a prolific author renowned for her contributions to speculative fiction, with a career spanning from 1985 to 2025. She has penned 103 novels across 11 series, most notably the Vorkosigan Saga, which has captivated readers since its inception. Her works blend rich character development with intricate storytelling, earning her multiple prestigious awards, including Hugo and Nebula honors.
Anthologies Series
Complete9 books (1987–2017)
Start with Free Lancers, the first of 9 books in the Anthologies series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Free Lancers 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine, February 1988 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 | Analog Science Fiction and Fact, February 1990 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 | The New Hugo Winners, Vol. 3 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Women at War 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  The Space Opera Renaissance 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 | Federations 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  Infinite Stars 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
Collections Series
Complete1 book (2011–2011)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Proto Zoa 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
Curse Of Chalion Series
Complete3 books (2000–2005)
Start with The Curse of Chalion and read in order.
L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future Series
Ongoing41 books (1985–2025)
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 🇺🇸 |
| 2 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 2 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 3 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 4 1988Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 5 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 6 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 7 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 8 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future9 1993Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 10 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 11 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 12 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 13 1997Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 14 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 15 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 16 2000Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 17 2001Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 18 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 19 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 20 2004Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 21 2005Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 22 2006Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 23 2007Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 24 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 25 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 25 2009Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 26 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 26 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 27 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 27 2011Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 28 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 28 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 29 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 29 2013Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 30 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 30 2014Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 31 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 31 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 32 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 32 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 33 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 33 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 34 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 34 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 35 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 35 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 36 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 36 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 37 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 37 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 38 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 38 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 39 |  L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 39 2023Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 40 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future 40 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 41 | L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 41 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Non-Fiction Series
Likely Complete2 books (2013–2022)
Start with Sidelines and read in order.
Penric and Desdemona Series
Ongoing15 books (2015–2025)
Start with Penric's Demon, the first of 15 books in the Penric and Desdemona series.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Penric's Demon 2015Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Masquerade in Lodi 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Penric and the Shaman 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  Penric's Fox 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 | Mira's Last Dance 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 |  Penric\'s Mission 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  The Prisoner of Limnos 2017Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 | The Orphans of Raspay 2019Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 | The Physicians of Vilnoc 2020Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | Knot of Shadows 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 |  The Assassins of Thasalon 2021Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 | Demon Daughter 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 | Penric and the Bandit 2024Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 | Testimony of Mute Things 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 | The Adventure of the Demonic Ox 2025Buy 🇺🇸 |
Penric and Desdemona Collections Series
Complete1 book (2022–2022)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Penric's Labors 2022Buy 🇺🇸 |
Standalone Novels Series
Complete1 book (1992–1992)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Spirit Ring 1992Buy 🇺🇸 |
The Sharing Knife Series
Complete5 books (2006–2019)
Start with Beguilement, the first of 5 books in the The Sharing Knife series.
Vorkosigan Collections Series
Complete1 book (2008–2008)
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  The Vorkosigan Companion(With: John Helfers,Lillian Carl) 2008Buy 🇺🇸 |
Vorkosigan Saga Series
CompleteChronological order differs24 books (1986–2018)
Start with Aftermath (In the Cordelia's Honor Collection). Publication and chronological order differ — publication order is recommended for first-time readers.
| # | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 |  Aftermath (In the Cordelia's Honor Collection) 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 2 | Ethan of Athos 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 3 |  Shards of Honor 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 4 |  The Warrior's Apprentice 1986Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 5 |  Falling Free 1987Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 6 | Borders of Infinity 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 7 |  Brothers in Arms 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 8 |  Labyrinth 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 9 |  The Mountains of Mourning 1989Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 10 | The Vor Game 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 11 | Weatherman 1990Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 12 |  Barrayar 1991Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 13 |  Mirror Dance 1994Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 14 |  Cetaganda 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 15 |  Dreamweaver's Dilemma 1995Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 16 | Memory 1996Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 17 |  Komarr 1998Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 18 |  A Civil Campaign 1999Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 19 |  Diplomatic Immunity 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 20 | Winterfair Gifts 2002Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 21 |  Cryoburn 2010Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 22 |  Captain Vorpatril's Alliance 2012Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 23 |  Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen 2016Buy 🇺🇸 |
| 24 | The Flowers of Vashnoi 2018Buy 🇺🇸 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many books has Lois McMaster Bujold written?
- Lois McMaster Bujold has written 103 books across 11 series. Their published works span from 1985 to 2025.
- What is the first book in each Lois McMaster Bujold series?
- Here are the first books in Lois McMaster Bujold's series: Anthologies: Free Lancers; Curse Of Chalion: The Curse of Chalion; L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future: L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future 1; Non-Fiction: Sidelines; Penric and Desdemona: Penric's Demon.
- What order should I read Lois McMaster Bujold's books?
- We recommend reading Lois McMaster Bujold's series in publication order. Note that some series have a different chronological order — see the series details above for guidance. Each series can be read independently.
- Is Lois McMaster Bujold still writing new books?
- Yes, Lois McMaster Bujold has 2 ongoing series: L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future, Penric and Desdemona.
- Should I read Lois McMaster Bujold's books in chronological or publication order?
- For first-time readers, we recommend publication order. Some of Lois McMaster Bujold's series have a different chronological order, but the stories were written to be enjoyed in the order they were published.