Lois McMaster Bujold Reading Order

12 books (1987–2023)

Lois McMaster Bujold contributed to nine science fiction and fantasy anthologies published between 1987 and 2017, spanning collections ranging from Analog Magazine issues to tribute volumes and themed anthologies focused on space opera, women in science fiction, and interviews. These anthologies are complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Free Lancers. The series includes her work across various editorial collections such as The New Hugo Winners, Women at War, and Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern, as well as original anthology appearances in genre publications.

Start with Free Lancers, the first of 9 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Free Lancers 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Analog Science Fiction and Fact Magazine, February 1988 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Analog Science Fiction and Fact, February 1990 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The New Hugo Winners, Vol. 3 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Women at War 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Space Opera Renaissance 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Federations 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Dragonwriter: A Tribute to Anne McCaffrey and Pern 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Women of Futures Past 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Infinite Stars 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Conversations From the Edge: The Galaxy's Edge Interviews 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Unrivalled 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2011–2011)

3 books (2000–2005)

The Curse of Chalion series consists of three fantasy novels published between 2000 and 2005, now complete. All three books should be read in their publication order: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, and The Hallowed Hunt. While each novel can function as a standalone entry, reading them sequentially provides the fullest experience of this interconnected fantasy world.

Start with The Curse of Chalion and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Curse of Chalion 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Paladin of Souls 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Hallowed Hunt 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

41 books (1985–2025)

The L. Ron Hubbard Presents: Writers of the Future series is a nonfiction anthology collection spanning 41 volumes published from 1985 to 2025. Each installment features short fiction from emerging and award-winning authors in the science fiction and fantasy genres. The series remains ongoing, with new volumes continuing to be released, and should be read in publication order to follow the chronological progression of featured works. Readers interested in discovering contemporary speculative fiction talent will find each volume serves as a standalone collection while contributing to the broader anthology series.

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

2 books (2013–2022)

Lois McMaster Bujold's two-book non-fiction series spans from 2013 to 2022 and should be read in publication order, beginning with Sidelines. The series appears to be complete. These works explore historical subjects related to family and Civil War era America.

Start with Sidelines and read in order.

16 books (2015–2026)

The Penric and Desdemona series comprises 15 books published between 2015 and 2025, with the sequence still ongoing. These interconnected stories should be read in publication order, beginning with Penric's Demon and continuing through The Adventure of the Demonic Ox and beyond. The series follows a cast of characters navigating a richly developed fantasy world across multiple related narratives.

Start with Penric's Demon, the first of 15 books in the Penric and Desdemona series.

#	Title
1	Penric's Demon 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Masquerade in Lodi 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Penric and the Shaman 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Penric's Fox 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Mira's Last Dance 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Penric\'s Mission 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Prisoner of Limnos 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Orphans of Raspay 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Physicians of Vilnoc 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Knot of Shadows 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Assassins of Thasalon 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Demon Daughter 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Penric and the Bandit 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Testimony of Mute Things 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	The Adventure of the Demonic Ox 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Darksight Dare 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2022–2022)

#	Title
1	Penric's Labors 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (1992–1992)

#	Title
1	The Spirit Ring 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2006–2019)

Lois McMaster Bujold's Sharing Knife series consists of five complete novels published between 2006 and 2019, with the final installment arriving over a decade after the previous book. The series should be read in publication order beginning with Beguilement, followed by Legacy, Passage, Horizon, and concluding with Knife Children. Each book builds on the previous installment's events and character development, making sequential reading essential for full enjoyment.

Start with Beguilement, the first of 5 books in the The Sharing Knife series.

#	Title
1	Beguilement 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Legacy 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Passage 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Horizon 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Knife Children 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2008–2008)

#	Title
1	The Vorkosigan Companion(With: John Helfers,Lillian Carl) 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

24 books (1986–2018)

The Vorkosigan Saga is a complete science fiction series spanning 24 books published between 1986 and 2018. While the chronological order of events differs from publication order, new readers should begin with Aftermath and proceed through the publication sequence to fully appreciate character development and plot revelations. The series follows interconnected characters across multiple generations in a richly developed universe, with individual books sometimes focusing on different protagonists and timelines, making publication order essential for optimal understanding of the complex narrative.

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 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Ethan of Athos 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Shards of Honor 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Warrior's Apprentice 1986Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Falling Free 1987Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Borders of Infinity 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Brothers in Arms 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Labyrinth 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Mountains of Mourning 1989Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Vor Game 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Weatherman 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Barrayar 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Mirror Dance 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Cetaganda 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Dreamweaver's Dilemma 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Memory 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Komarr 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	A Civil Campaign 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Diplomatic Immunity 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Winterfair Gifts 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Cryoburn 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Captain Vorpatril's Alliance 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	The Flowers of Vashnoi 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible