Max Brooks Reading Order

6 books (2009–2017)

Max Brooks edited six complete anthology collections published between 2009 and 2017, blending historical fiction, horror, and action genres. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead and concluding with Cinema Purgatorio Vol. 1. These compilations showcase multiple authors' perspectives across varying themes and storytelling styles.

Start with Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Zombies: Encounters with the Hungry Dead 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Living Dead 2 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Zombies: The Recent Dead 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	G.I. Joe: Tales from the Cobra Wars 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Cinema Purgatorio #12 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Cinema Purgatorio Vol. 1 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2014–2015)

Max Brooks' Extinction Parade is a complete two-book series published in 2014 and 2015 that should be read in publication order. Both volumes were released consecutively, making this a concise graphic novel experience that combines horror and action elements characteristic of Brooks' work across multiple genres.

Start with The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Extinction Parade, Volume 1 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Extinction Parade, Volume 2 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2009–2015)

Max Brooks authored four complete graphic novels published between 2009 and 2015, blending historical fiction, horror, and action elements across his works. These books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, followed by G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds, The Harlem Hellfighters, and Shadow Walk (co-written with Mark Waid). The series is finished with no additional installments planned.

Start with The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks, the first of 4 books in the Graphic Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	G.I. Joe: Hearts & Minds 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Harlem Hellfighters 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Shadow Walk(With: Mark Waid) 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

26 books (2017–2026)

The Minecraft series is an ongoing collection of 26 books written by multiple authors and edited by Max Brooks, published between 2017 and 2026. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Island and continuing through diverse narrative styles and storytelling approaches. Each book explores different aspects of the Minecraft world through contributions from various authors including Tracey Baptiste, Catherynne M. Valente, Mur Lafferty, and many others, creating an interconnected universe of adventure and discovery.

Start with The Island, the first of 26 books in the Minecraft series.

#	Title
1	The Island 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Crash(By: Tracey Baptiste) 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The End(By: Catherynne M. Valente) 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Lost Journals(By: Mur Lafferty) 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Rise of the Arch-Illager(By: Matt Forbeck) 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Shipwreck(By: C.B. Lee) 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	The Voyage(By: Jason Fry) 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Mob Squad(By: Delilah S. Dawson) 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Dragon(By: Nicky Drayden) 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Haven Trials(By: Suyi Davies) 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	The Mountain 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Castle Redstone(By: Sarwat Chadda) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Don't Fear the Creeper(By: Delilah S. Dawson) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Never Say Nether(By: Delilah S. Dawson) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Zombies!(By: Nick Eliopulos) 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Minecraft: The Outsider(By: Danica Davidson) 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Return of the Piglins(By: Matt Forbeck) 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	The Village 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Zombies Return!(By: Nick Eliopulos) 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Minecraft: Journey to the Ancient City(By: Danny Lore) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
21	Minecraft: The Tournament(By: DaVaun Sanders) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
22	Minecraft: Zombies Unleashed!(By: Nick Eliopulos) 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
23	Minecraft: House of Horrors(By: Angel Luis Colón) 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
24	Minecraft: One Last Quest(By: Brandon Hoàng) 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
25	Minecraft: Adventure School(By: Monica Sanz) 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
26	Minecraft: Battle of the Block(By: Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow) 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2008–2011)

Max Brooks's two-book non-fiction series spans from 2008 to 2011 and is now complete. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with Zombie Survival Notes Mini Journal followed by The Zombie Survival Guide Journal. This series combines Brooks's signature blend of horror, action, and historical elements through practical survival documentation.

Start with Zombie Survival Notes Mini Journal and read in order.

#	Title
1	Zombie Survival Notes Mini Journal 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Zombie Survival Guide Journal 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2024–2024)

1 book (2011–2011)

#	Title
1	Closure, Limited and Other Zombie Stories 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2003–2020)

Max Brooks's three completed novels span from 2003 to 2020 and should be read in publication order. The Zombie Survival Guide launches the series, followed by World War Z and Devolution, each functioning as a standalone work while reflecting the author's interests in historical fiction, horror, and action-adventure narratives.

Start with The Zombie Survival Guide and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Zombie Survival Guide 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	World War Z 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Devolution 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2003–2003)