Neal Asher Reading Order

5 books (2001–2008)

The Agent Cormac series is a five-book science fiction sequence set in Neal Asher's Polity universe, following the exploits of an artificial intelligence agent navigating a complex far-future setting. Published between 2001 and 2008, the complete series consists of Gridlinked, The Line Of Polity, Brass Man, Polity Agent, and Line War, which should be read in publication order. The novels feature action-driven storytelling within a sprawling space opera framework populated by advanced technology, AI entities, and military intrigue.

Start with Gridlinked, the first of 5 books in the Agent Cormac series.

#	Title
1	Gridlinked 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Line Of Polity 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Brass Man 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Polity Agent 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Line War 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

20 books (2003–2025)

Neal Asher's Anthologies series comprises 19 books of science fiction stories published between 2003 and 2022, likely now complete. These anthologies span various themed collections including Year's Best SF volumes, The Mammoth Book series entries, and specialized compilations focused on topics like space pirates, warfare, and conflict. Reading them in publication order provides a comprehensive view of Asher's work across different science fiction subgenres and his contributions to wider anthology projects throughout this two-decade span.

Start with Year's Best SF 8, the first of 19 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Year's Best SF 8 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Third Annual Collection 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Year's Best SF 11 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Asimov's Science Fiction, June 2007 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Solaris Book of New Science Fiction 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Space Pirates 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Subterfuge 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 21 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Conflicts 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Mammoth Book of SF Wars 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	In Space No One Can Hear You Scream 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Sixth Science Fiction Megapack 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Story Behind the Book 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-First Annual Collection 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Total Conflict 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Galactic Empires 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Infinite Stars 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	London Centric 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
19	Love, Death + Robots: The Official Anthology: Volumes 2 & 3 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
20	Permutations: A Well World Anthology 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

7 books (1998–2023)

Neal Asher's Collections series comprises seven books of science fiction and action-adventure stories published between 1998 and 2023, appearing to be complete. These works should be read in publication order, beginning with The Engineer and progressing through Mason's Rats, Conflicts (a collaboration with Eric Brown and Keith Brooke), Owning the Future, Lockdown Tales, Fantastical, and Lockdown Tales 2. The series showcases Asher's range across speculative fiction and adventure narratives collected over more than two decades.

Start with The Engineer, the first of 7 books in the Collections series.

#	Title
1	The Engineer 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Mason's Rats 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Conflicts(With: Eric Brown,Keith Brooke) 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Owning the Future 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Lockdown Tales 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Fantastical 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Lockdown Tales 2 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2025–2025)

1 book (2020–2020)

2 books (2021–2022)

Neal Asher's Jack Four series is a science fiction action adventure comprising two books published between 2021 and 2022. The series appears to be complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Jack Four followed by Weaponized. Both entries are essential to experiencing the full narrative arc of this two-book sequence.

Start with Jack Four and read in order.

#	Title
1	Jack Four 2021Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Weaponized 2022Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2014–2014)

3 books (2011–2013)

Neal Asher's Owner Trilogy is a complete science fiction series comprising three books published between 2011 and 2013. The trilogy should be read in publication order, beginning with The Departure, followed by Zero Point, and concluding with Jupiter War. This action-driven series showcases Asher's signature hard science fiction style and expansive world-building.

Start with The Departure and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Departure 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Zero Point 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Jupiter War 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1998–2008)

The Polity Collections is a complete trilogy of science fiction short story collections by Neal Asher, published between 1998 and 2008. These three volumes—The Engineer Reconditioned, Runcible Tales, and The Gabble And Other Stories—should be read in publication order to experience the full scope of stories set within the author's Polity universe. The collections feature action-driven tales that expand the world and lore of Asher's larger science fiction setting.

Start with The Engineer Reconditioned and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Engineer Reconditioned 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Runcible Tales 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Gabble And Other Stories 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (2006–2023)

Neal Asher's Polity Universe consists of five science fiction novels published between 2006 and 2023, presenting a largely complete series best read in publication order. Beginning with Prador Moon and concluding with War Bodies, these action-packed books explore humanity's complex relationship with artificial intelligence and alien civilizations across a vast galactic setting. The series appears to have reached its conclusion, making it ideal for readers seeking a contained yet expansive hard science fiction experience.

Start with Prador Moon, the first of 5 books in the Polity Universe series.

#	Title
1	Prador Moon 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Hilldiggers 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Shadow of the Scorpion 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Technician 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	War Bodies 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2018–2020)

Neal Asher's Rise of the Jain trilogy is a complete science fiction series consisting of three books published between 2018 and 2020. The series should be read in publication order, beginning with The Soldier, followed by The Warship, and concluding with The Human. This action-driven science fiction saga explores humanity's encounter with an ancient alien intelligence in a far-future universe.

Start with The Soldier and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Soldier 2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Warship 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Human 2020Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

5 books (1994–2026)

Neal Asher's Short Stories/Novellas series comprises four science fiction works published between 1994 and 2013. The complete collection should be read in publication order, beginning with Africa Zero and continuing through Snow in the Desert, The Parasite, and concluding with Mindgames: Fool's Mate. These action-oriented science fiction stories showcase Asher's range across shorter narrative forms.

Start with Africa Zero, the first of 4 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#	Title
1	Africa Zero 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Snow in the Desert 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Parasite 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Mindgames: Fool's Mate 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Fetch 2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2002–2009)

The Spatterjay trilogy is a complete science fiction series by Neal Asher comprising three books published between 2002 and 2009. The novels should be read in publication order, beginning with The Skinner, followed by The Voyage of the Sable Keech, and concluding with Orbus. This action-driven series explores distant worlds and advanced technology within Asher's broader science fiction universe.

Start with The Skinner and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Skinner 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Voyage of the Sable Keech 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Orbus 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (2004–2024)

Neal Asher's trio of standalone science fiction novels spans two decades, beginning with Cowl in 2004 and concluding with World Walkers in 2024, with Jenny Trapdoor arriving in between. Though marked as ongoing, these three books should be read in publication order to best appreciate Asher's exploration of complex narratives within his action-driven science fiction universe. Each novel stands independently while contributing to the author's broader examination of time, technology, and adventure across his works.

Start with Cowl and read in order.

#	Title
1	Cowl 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Jenny Trapdoor 2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	World Walkers 2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2026–2026)

3 books (2015–2017)

Neal Asher's Transformation trilogy consists of three science fiction novels published between 2015 and 2017. The series is complete and should be read in publication order, beginning with Dark Intelligence, followed by War Factory, and concluding with Infinity Engine. This action-packed hard science fiction saga explores themes of artificial intelligence, post-human existence, and cosmic-scale conflict within Asher's broader Polity universe.

Start with Dark Intelligence and read in order.

#	Title
1	Dark Intelligence 2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	War Factory 2016Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Infinity Engine 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

18 books (1996–2013)

The Year's Best SF Anthology series consists of 18 volumes published between 1996 and 2013, presenting curated collections of science fiction short stories from each year. This complete anthology series should be read in publication order, beginning with the first volume and continuing through all subsequent installments to experience the evolution of the genre across nearly two decades. Each book showcases the most acclaimed science fiction stories of its respective year, making the series valuable for readers seeking to explore diverse voices and innovative ideas in short fiction form.

Start with Year's Best SF, the first of 18 books in the Year's Best SF Anthology series.

#	Title
1	Year's Best SF 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Year's Best SF 2 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Year's Best SF 3 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Year's Best SF 4 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Year's Best SF 5 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Year's Best SF 6 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Year's Best SF 7 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	Year's Best SF 8 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	Year's Best SF 9 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Year's Best SF 10 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Year's Best SF 11 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	Year's Best SF 12 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
13	Year's Best SF 13 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
14	Year's Best SF 14 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
15	Year's Best SF 15 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
16	Year's Best SF 16 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
17	Year's Best SF 17 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
18	Year's Best SF 18 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible