Orson Scott Card Reading Order

45 books (1979–2026)

Start with Chrysalis 4, the first of 45 books in the Anthologies series.

#	Title
1	Chrysalis 4 1979Buy 🇺🇸
2	Chrysalis 5 1979Buy 🇺🇸
3	Destinies: The Paperback Magazine of Science Fiction and Speculative Fact 1979Buy 🇺🇸
4	Other Worlds Volume 1 1979Buy 🇺🇸
5	Chrysalis 7 1980Buy 🇺🇸
6	Chrysalis 8 1980Buy 🇺🇸
7	Dragons of Light 1980Buy 🇺🇸
8	Dragons of Darkness 1981Buy 🇺🇸
9	The First Omni Book of Science Fiction 1983Buy 🇺🇸
10	Free Lancers 1987Buy 🇺🇸
11	The Fifth Omni Book of Science Fiction 1987Buy 🇺🇸
12	Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, November 1989 1989Buy 🇺🇸
13	The Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year, 1989 1989Buy 🇺🇸
14	The Best Fantasy Stories of the Year, 1989 1990Buy 🇺🇸
15	The Best Mystery Stories of the Year Mystery 1989, Audio Cassettes 1990Buy 🇺🇸
16	Third Annual Best Horror Stories of the Year 1993Buy 🇺🇸
17	Third Annual Best Science Fiction Stories of the Year 1993Buy 🇺🇸
18	Best Horror Value Collection 1997Buy 🇺🇸
19	Future on Ice 1998Buy 🇺🇸
20	Legends 1 1998Buy 🇺🇸
21	Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King 1998Buy 🇺🇸
22	Far Horizons 1999Buy 🇺🇸
23	Best Science Fiction Value Collection II 2001Buy 🇺🇸
24	Meditations on Middle-Earth 2001Buy 🇺🇸
25	New Skies: An Anthology of Today's Science Fiction 2003Buy 🇺🇸
26	Stars: Original Stories Based on the Songs of Janis Ian 2003Buy 🇺🇸
27	New Magics 2004Buy 🇺🇸
28	Posing as People 2005Buy 🇺🇸
29	Tar Heel Dead 2005Buy 🇺🇸
30	Escape from Earth 2006Buy 🇺🇸
31	Masterpieces 2008Buy 🇺🇸
32	Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show 2008Buy 🇺🇸
33	The Ghost Quartet 2008Buy 🇺🇸
34	The Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy 2008Buy 🇺🇸
35	Alien Contact 2011Buy 🇺🇸
36	InterGalactic Medicine Show Issue 21 2011Buy 🇺🇸
37	Lightspeed: Year One 2011Buy 🇺🇸
38	Season of Wonder 2012Buy 🇺🇸
39	Future Games 2013Buy 🇺🇸
40	Oz Reimagined 2013Buy 🇺🇸
41	Writing Fantasy Heroes 2013Buy 🇺🇸
42	Dead Man's Hand 2014Buy 🇺🇸
43	Infinite Stars 2017Buy 🇺🇸
44	Infinite Stars 2019Buy 🇺🇸
45	L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 42 2026Buy 🇺🇸

7 books (1988–1995)

Start with Characters & Viewpoint, the first of 7 books in the Elements of Fiction Writing series.

#	Title
1	Characters & Viewpoint 1988Buy 🇺🇸
2	Plot(By: Ansen Dibell) 1988Buy 🇺🇸
3	Dialogue(By: Lewis Turco) 1989Buy 🇺🇸
4	Beginnings, Middles & Ends(By: Nancy Kress) 1992Buy 🇺🇸
5	Conflict, Action and Suspense(By: William Noble) 1994Buy 🇺🇸
6	Setting(By: Jack M. Bickham) 1994Buy 🇺🇸
7	Description(By: Monica Wood) 1995Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2006–2009)

Start with Empire and read in order.

#	Title
1	Empire 2006Buy 🇺🇸
2	Hidden Empire 2009Buy 🇺🇸

18 books (1985–2021)

Start with Ender's Game, the first of 18 books in the Ender Saga series.

#	Title
1	Ender's Game 1985Buy 🇺🇸
2	Speaker for the Dead 1986Buy 🇺🇸
3	Xenocide 1991Buy 🇺🇸
4	Children of the Mind 1996Buy 🇺🇸
5	Ender's Shadow 1998Buy 🇺🇸
6	Shadow of the Hegemon 2000Buy 🇺🇸
7	First Meetings in Ender's Universe 2002Buy 🇺🇸
8	Shadow Puppets 2002Buy 🇺🇸
9	Shadow of the Giant 2005Buy 🇺🇸
10	A War of Gifts 2007Buy 🇺🇸
11	Ender in Exile 2008Buy 🇺🇸
12	Shadows in Flight 2011Buy 🇺🇸
13	Earth Unaware(With: Aaron Johnston) 2012Buy 🇺🇸
14	Earth Afire(With: Aaron Johnston) 2013Buy 🇺🇸
15	Earth Awakens(With: Aaron Johnston) 2014Buy 🇺🇸
16	The Swarm(With: Aaron Johnston) 2016Buy 🇺🇸
17	The Hive(With: Aaron Johnston) 2019Buy 🇺🇸
18	The Last Shadow 2021Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2002–2013)

Start with First Meetings and read in order.

#	Title
1	First Meetings 2002Buy 🇺🇸
2	Ender's Game Alive: The Full Cast Audioplay 2013Buy 🇺🇸

5 books (2009–2011)

Start with Battle School(With: Christopher Yost), the first of 5 books in the Ender Saga Graphic Novels series.

#	Title
1	Battle School(With: Christopher Yost) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
2	Ender's Game(With: Aaron Johnston) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
3	Ender's Shadow(With: Mike Carey) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
4	Command School(With: Christopher Yost) 2010Buy 🇺🇸
5	Burning Earth(With: Aaron Johnston) 2011Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2009–2013)

Start with The Authorized Ender Companion(With: Jake Black) and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Authorized Ender Companion(With: Jake Black) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
2	Ender's World 2013Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (2005–2007)

Start with Mazer In Prison and read in order.

6 books (1998–2021)

Start with Ender's Shadow, the first of 6 books in the Ender's Shadow series.

#	Title
1	Ender's Shadow 1998Buy 🇺🇸
2	Shadow of the Hegemon 2000Buy 🇺🇸
3	Shadow Puppets 2002Buy 🇺🇸
4	Shadow of the Giant 2005Buy 🇺🇸
5	Shadows in Flight 2011Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Last Shadow 2021Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2019–2019)

#	Title
1	Extinct 2019Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2017–2017)

#	Title
1	Children of the Fleet 2017Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (2012–2012)

5 books (1992–1995)

Start with The Memory of Earth, the first of 5 books in the Homecoming Saga series.

#	Title
1	The Memory of Earth 1992Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Call of Earth 1993Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Ships of Earth 1994Buy 🇺🇸
4	Earthborn 1995Buy 🇺🇸
5	Earthfall 1995Buy 🇺🇸

41 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 🇺🇸

2 books (2011–2013)

Start with Laddertop, Volume 1 and read in order.

#	Title
1	Laddertop, Volume 1 2011Buy 🇺🇸
2	Laddertop, Volume 2 2013Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (1998–1999)

Start with Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King(With: Diana Gabaldon,George R.R. Martin,Terry Brooks,Robert Silverberg,Neil Gaiman,Elizabeth Haydon) and read in order.

#	Title
1	Legends II: Dragon, Sword, and King(With: Diana Gabaldon,George R.R. Martin,Terry Brooks,Robert Silverberg,Neil Gaiman,Elizabeth Haydon) 1998Buy 🇺🇸
2	Legends(By: Stephen King,Anne McCaffrey,Robert Silverberg) 1998Buy 🇺🇸
3	Legends 3(By: Terry Pratchett,Tad Williams,Robert Jordan,Robert Silverberg,Ursula K. Le Guin) 1999Buy 🇺🇸

5 books (1990–1993)

Start with The Changed Man, the first of 5 books in the Maps in a Mirror series.

#	Title
1	The Changed Man 1990Buy 🇺🇸
2	Cruel Miracles 1992Buy 🇺🇸
3	Flux 1992Buy 🇺🇸
4	Maps In A Mirror 1992Buy 🇺🇸
5	Monkey Sonatas 1993Buy 🇺🇸

1 book (1994–1994)

2 books (2019–2021)

Start with Lost and Found and read in order.

#	Title
1	Lost and Found 2019Buy 🇺🇸
2	Duplex 2021Buy 🇺🇸

4 books (2008–2015)

Start with Stonefather, the first of 4 books in the Mither Mages series.

#	Title
1	Stonefather 2008Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Lost Gate 2011Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Gate Thief 2013Buy 🇺🇸
4	Gatefather 2015Buy 🇺🇸

5 books (1990–2010)

Start with How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy, the first of 5 books in the Non-Fiction series.

#	Title
1	How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy 1990Buy 🇺🇸
2	A Storyteller in Zion 1993Buy 🇺🇸
3	An Open Book 2004Buy 🇺🇸
4	The Writer's Digest Guide to Science Fiction & Fantasy 2010Buy 🇺🇸
5	Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction(With: Philip Athans,Jay Lake) 2010Buy 🇺🇸

15 books (2013–2013)

Start with A Meeting in Oz(By: Jeffrey Ford), the first of 15 books in the Oz Reimagined series.

1 book (1996–1996)

#	Title
1	Pastwatch 1996Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (2010–2014)

Start with Pathfinder and read in order.

#	Title
1	Pathfinder 2010Buy 🇺🇸
2	Ruins 2012Buy 🇺🇸
3	Visitors 2014Buy 🇺🇸

8 books (1985–2011)

Start with The Fringe (in The Folk of the Fringe), the first of 8 books in the Short Stories/Novellas series.

#	Title
1	The Fringe (in The Folk of the Fringe) 1985Buy 🇺🇸
2	Hatrack River 1986Buy 🇺🇸
3	Salvage 1986Buy 🇺🇸
4	Eye for Eye 1987Buy 🇺🇸
5	Computer Friendly 1989Buy 🇺🇸
6	Dogwalker 1989Buy 🇺🇸
7	Lost Boys 1989Buy 🇺🇸
8	Hamlet's Father 2011Buy 🇺🇸

4 books (1981–2008)

Start with Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories, the first of 4 books in the Short Story Collections series.

#	Title
1	Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories 1981Buy 🇺🇸
2	The Folk of the Fringe 1989Buy 🇺🇸
3	Future on Fire 1991Buy 🇺🇸
4	Keeper of Dreams 2008Buy 🇺🇸

38 books (2003–2015)

Start with Seven Seasons of Buffy(By: Scott Westerfeld,Charlaine Harris,Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,Kevin Andrew Murphy,Christie Golden,Sherrilyn Kenyon,Nancy Holder,Lawrence Watt-Evans,David Brin,Jacqueline Lichtenberg,Jean Lorrah,Laura Resnick,Sarah Zettel,Nancy Kilpatrick,Michelle West,Glenn Yeffeth,Margaret L. Carter,Peg Aloi,Marguerite Krause,Jennifer Crusie,Carla Montgomery), the first of 38 books in the Smart Pop series.

#	Title
1	Seven Seasons of Buffy(By: Scott Westerfeld,Charlaine Harris,Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,Kevin Andrew Murphy,Christie Golden,Sherrilyn Kenyon,Nancy Holder,Lawrence Watt-Evans,David Brin,Jacqueline Lichtenberg,Jean Lorrah,Laura Resnick,Sarah Zettel,Nancy Kilpatrick,Michelle West,Glenn Yeffeth,Margaret L. Carter,Peg Aloi,Marguerite Krause,Jennifer Crusie,Carla Montgomery) 2003Buy 🇺🇸
2	Taking the Red Pill(By: Glenn Yeffeth) 2003Buy 🇺🇸
3	Five Seasons of Angel(By: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,Peter S. Beagle,Laura Anne Gilman,Sherrilyn Kenyon,Nancy Holder,Jacqueline Lichtenberg,Jean Lorrah,Josepha Sherman,Laura Resnick,Candace Havens,Glenn Yeffeth,Michelle Sagara,Steven Harper,Amy Berner,Marguerite Krause,Abbie Bernstein,Jennifer Crusie,Don DeBrandt,K. Stoddard Hayes,Joy Davidson,Don Kerns) 2004Buy 🇺🇸
4	Stepping through the Stargate(By: P.N. Elrod,Roxanne Conrad) 2004Buy 🇺🇸
5	Alias Assumed(By: Tracy S. Morris) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
6	Farscape Forever! Sex, Drugs and Killer Muppets(By: Glenn Yeffeth) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
7	Finding Serenity(By: Robert Brian Taylor) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
8	Flirting With Pride And Prejudice(By: Glenn Yeffeth,Jennifer Crusie) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
9	King Kong Is Back! An Unauthorized Look at One Humongous Ape!(By: David Brin) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
10	Navigating the Golden Compass(By: Glenn Yeffeth) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
11	Revisiting Narnia(By: Shanna Caughey) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
12	The Anthology at the End of the Universe(By: Stephen Baxter,John Shirley,Adam-Troy Castro,Lawrence Watt-Evans,Adam Roberts,Susan Sizemore,Mark W. Tiedemann,Jacqueline Carey,Vox Day,Cory Doctorow,A.M. Dellamonica,Glenn Yeffeth,Selina Rosen,Amy Berner,Maria Alexander,Marguerite Krause,Bruce Bethke,Don DeBrandt,Marie-Catherine Caillava,Mike Byrne) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
13	The War of the Worlds(By: Connie Willis,Mercedes Lackey,H.G. Wells,Mike Resnick,Stephen Baxter,Lawrence Watt-Evans) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
14	Totally Charmed(By: Maggie Shayne,Rebecca York,Jody Lynn Nye,Evelyn Vaughn,Tanya Huff,Vera Nazarian,Jennifer Crusie) 2005Buy 🇺🇸
15	Boarding the Enterprise(By: Robert J. Sawyer,David Gerrold) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
16	Getting Lost 2006Buy 🇺🇸
17	Investigating CSI(By: Leah Wilson,Donn Cortez) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
18	So Say We All(By: Peter B. Lloyd,Richard Hatch) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
19	The Battle for Azeroth(By: Jody Lynn Nye,Justina Robson,Doranna Durgin,Bill Fawcett,Mel White,James John Bell,James M. Ward,Scott Cuthbertson,Nancy Berman,Jerry Jackson,Chris McCubbin,Maressa Hecht Orzack,Nancy Durgin) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
20	The Man from Krypton(By: Glenn Yeffeth) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
21	The Unauthorized X-Men(By: Leah Wilson,Len Wein) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
22	This Is Chick-Lit(By: Lauren Baratz-Logsted) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
23	Welcome to Wisteria Lane(By: Leah Wilson) 2006Buy 🇺🇸
24	Coffee at Luke's(By: Leah Wilson,Jennifer Crusie) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
25	Grey's Anatomy 101(By: Leah Wilson) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
26	Halo Effect(By: Glenn Yeffeth,Jennifer Thomason) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
27	House Unauthorized(By: Leah Wilson) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
28	Neptune Noir(By: Rob Thomas) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
29	Perfectly Plum(By: Leah Wilson) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
30	Serenity Found 2007Buy 🇺🇸
31	Webslinger(By: Leah Wilson,Gerry Conway) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
32	Batman Unauthorized(By: Leah Wilson) 2008Buy 🇺🇸
33	Secrets of the Dragon Riders(By: James A. Owen) 2008Buy 🇺🇸
34	In the Hunt(By: Leah Wilson) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
35	James Bond in the 21st Century(By: Leah Wilson,Glenn Yeffeth) 2009Buy 🇺🇸
36	A Taste of True Blood(By: Leah Wilson) 2010Buy 🇺🇸
37	Ardeur(By: Laurell K. Hamilton) 2010Buy 🇺🇸
38	You Do Not Talk About Fight Club(By: Chuck Palahniuk,Read Mercer Schuchardt) 2015Buy 🇺🇸

18 books (1978–2018)

Start with A Planet Called Treason / Treason, the first of 18 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	A Planet Called Treason / Treason 1978Buy 🇺🇸
2	Songmaster 1980Buy 🇺🇸
3	Hart's Hope 1983Buy 🇺🇸
4	Saints / A Woman of Destiny 1984Buy 🇺🇸
5	Wyrms 1987Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Abyss(With: James Cameron) 1989Buy 🇺🇸
7	Lost Boys 1992Buy 🇺🇸
8	Treasure Box 1996Buy 🇺🇸
9	Stone Tables 1997Buy 🇺🇸
10	Homebody 1998Buy 🇺🇸
11	Enchantment 1999Buy 🇺🇸
12	Magic Mirror 1999Buy 🇺🇸
13	Robota 2003Buy 🇺🇸
14	Zanna's Gift(With: Scott Richards) 2004Buy 🇺🇸
15	Magic Street 2005Buy 🇺🇸
16	Invasive Procedures(With: Aaron Johnston) 2007Buy 🇺🇸
17	Space Boy 2007Buy 🇺🇸
18	A Town Divided by Christmas 2018Buy 🇺🇸

7 books (1987–2026)

Start with Seventh Son, the first of 7 books in the Tales Of Alvin Maker series.

#	Title
1	Seventh Son 1987Buy 🇺🇸
2	Red Prophet 1988Buy 🇺🇸
3	Prentice Alvin 1989Buy 🇺🇸
4	Alvin Journeyman 1995Buy 🇺🇸
5	Heartfire 1998Buy 🇺🇸
6	The Crystal City 2003Buy 🇺🇸
7	Master Alvin 2026Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2022–2025)

Start with Wakers and read in order.

#	Title
1	Wakers 2022Buy 🇺🇸
2	Reawakening 2025Buy 🇺🇸

2 books (2006–2008)

Start with Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1 and read in order.

3 books (2000–2004)

Start with Sarah and read in order.

#	Title
1	Sarah 2000Buy 🇺🇸
2	Rebekah 2001Buy 🇺🇸
3	Rachel & Leah 2004Buy 🇺🇸

3 books (1979–1983)

Start with Capitol and read in order.

#	Title
1	Capitol 1979Buy 🇺🇸
2	Hot Sleep 1979Buy 🇺🇸
3	The Worthing Chronicle 1983Buy 🇺🇸