Reading Order List — Book Series Reading Order Guide
Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness Reading Order

8 series · 39 books · Born 1971-10-17

Young Adult

Patrick Ness is an American-British author who has established himself as a major voice in young adult fiction through emotionally complex narratives that often blur genre boundaries. Best known for his Chaos Walking trilogy, a dystopian space opera exploring themes of identity and power, and the philosophical novella A Monster Calls, Ness has published over thirty-seven books spanning multiple series and standalone works. His prolific career spanning from 2003 onward demonstrates versatility across young adult science fiction, contemporary drama, and licensed fiction including Doctor Who, while his work as a screenwriter and journalist has further expanded his influence on contemporary storytelling.

Anthologies Series

Complete

6 books (2011–2019)

Start with One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1, the first of 6 books in the Anthologies series.

Start this series with One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1
One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of Doctor Who: 11 Doctors, 11 Stories
Doctor Who: 11 Doctors, 11 Stories
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
The Booby Trap and Other Bits and Boobs
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Doctor Who: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of Monstrous Affections: An Anthology of Beastly Tales
Monstrous Affections: An Anthology of Beastly Tales
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors, 13 Stories
Doctor Who: Thirteen Doctors, 13 Stories
2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Book Slam Annual Series

Complete

2 books (2011–2012)

Start with One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1(With: Irvine Welsh,Simon Armitage,Jon Ronson,William Boyd,Hari Kunzru,Joe Dunthorne,Bernardine Evaristo,Helen Oyeyemi,Richard Milward,Roger Robinson,Paul Murray,Don Paterson,Patrick Neate,Jon McGregor,Sophie Woolley,Luke Wright,Tim Key,Kae Tempest) and read in order.

Start this series with One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1(With: Irvine Welsh,Simon Armitage,Jon Ronson,William Boyd,Hari Kunzru,Joe Dunthorne,Bernardine Evaristo,Helen Oyeyemi,Richard Milward,Roger Robinson,Paul Murray,Don Paterson,Patrick Neate,Jon McGregor,Sophie Woolley,Luke Wright,Tim Key,Kae Tempest)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1(With: Irvine Welsh,Simon Armitage,Jon Ronson,William Boyd,Hari Kunzru,Joe Dunthorne,Bernardine Evaristo,Helen Oyeyemi,Richard Milward,Roger Robinson,Paul Murray,Don Paterson,Patrick Neate,Jon McGregor,Sophie Woolley,Luke Wright,Tim Key,Kae Tempest)
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Too Much Too Young(By: David Nicholls,Jeremy Dyson,Jackie Kay,Nikesh Shukla,Patrick Neate,Emylia Hall,Craig Taylor,Diana Evans,Jesse Armstrong,Marina Lewycka)
2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chaos Walking Series

Complete

6 books (2008–2013)

Start with The Knife of Never Letting Go, the first of 6 books in the Chaos Walking series.

Start this series with The Knife of Never Letting Go

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Knife of Never Letting Go
2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of The Ask and the Answer
The Ask and the Answer
2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of Monsters of Men
Monsters of Men
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
The New World
2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
6
The Wide, Wide Sea
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody Series

Ongoing

2 books (2024–2025)

Start with Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody and read in order.

Start this series with Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
2024Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
The Hat of Great Importance
2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Doctor Who 50th Anniversary E-Shorts Series

Complete

12 books (2013–2014)

Start with A Big Hand for the Doctor(By: Eoin Colfer), the first of 12 books in the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary E-Shorts series.

Start this series with A Big Hand for the Doctor(By: Eoin Colfer)

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
A Big Hand for the Doctor(By: Eoin Colfer)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Nothing O'Clock(By: Neil Gaiman)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Something Borrowed: Sixth Doctor(By: Eoin Colfer,Richelle Mead)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Spore(By: Alex Scarrow)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
The Beast of Babylon(By: Charlie Higson)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage(By: Derek Landy)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7
The Nameless City(By: Michael Scott)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
The Ripple Effect(By: Malorie Blackman)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9
The Roots of Evil(By: Philip Reeve)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10
The Spear of Destiny(By: Marcus Sedgwick)
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11
Tip of the Tongue
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12
Lights Out(By: Holly Black)
2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

New World Trilogy Series

Complete

1 book (2026–2026)

#Title
1
Cover of Piper at the Gates of Dusk
Piper at the Gates of Dusk
2026Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Short Story Collections Series

Complete

1 book (2005–2005)

#Title
1
Cover of Topics About Which I Know Nothing
Topics About Which I Know Nothing
2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Standalone Novels Series

Likely Complete

9 books (2003–2023)

Start with The Crash of Hennington, the first of 9 books in the Standalone Novels series.

Start this series with The Crash of Hennington

Buy Book 1 🇺🇸🎧 Listen free on Audible
#Title
1
Cover of The Crash of Hennington
The Crash of Hennington
2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2
Cover of A Monster Calls
A Monster Calls
2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3
Cover of More Than This
More Than This
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4
Cover of The Crane Wife
The Crane Wife
2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5
Cover of The Rest of Us Just Live Here
The Rest of Us Just Live Here
2015Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6
Cover of Release
7
Cover of And The Ocean Was Our Sky
And The Ocean Was Our Sky
2018Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8
Cover of Burn
9
Cover of Different for Boys
Different for Boys
2023Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Patrick Ness written?
Patrick Ness has written 39 books across 8 series. Their published works span from 2003 to 2026.
What is the first book in each Patrick Ness series?
Here are the first books in Patrick Ness's series: Anthologies: One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1; Book Slam Annual: One for the Trouble: Book Slam Volume 1(With: Irvine Welsh,Simon Armitage,Jon Ronson,William Boyd,Hari Kunzru,Joe Dunthorne,Bernardine Evaristo,Helen Oyeyemi,Richard Milward,Roger Robinson,Paul Murray,Don Paterson,Patrick Neate,Jon McGregor,Sophie Woolley,Luke Wright,Tim Key,Kae Tempest); Chaos Walking: The Knife of Never Letting Go; Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody: Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody; Doctor Who 50th Anniversary E-Shorts: A Big Hand for the Doctor(By: Eoin Colfer).
What order should I read Patrick Ness's books?
We recommend reading Patrick Ness's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is Patrick Ness still writing new books?
Yes, Patrick Ness has 1 ongoing series: Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody.

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