Robert Rankin Reading Order

3 books (1990–1992)

Robert Rankin's Armageddon series consists of three complete novels published between 1990 and 1992 that should be read in publication order. The trilogy begins with Armageddon: The Musical, followed by They Came and Ate Us and concluding with The Suburban Book of the Dead. This fantasy and science fiction series blends Rankin's characteristic comedic style with imaginative worldbuilding across its three installments.

Start with Armageddon: The Musical and read in order.

#	Title
1	Armageddon: The Musical 1990Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	They Came and Ate Us 1991Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Suburban Book of the Dead 1992Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

3 books (1997–2000)

Robert Rankin's complete Barking Mad Trilogy consists of three novels published between 1997 and 2000: Sprout Mask Replica, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag, and Waiting For Godalming. These fantasy and science fiction adventures should be read in publication order to follow the series' narrative arc. The trilogy concluded in 2000 and is not ongoing.

Start with Sprout Mask Replica and read in order.

#	Title
1	Sprout Mask Replica 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Waiting For Godalming 2000Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

11 books (1981–2025)

The Brentford series consists of 11 fantasy and science fiction novels by Robert Rankin, beginning with The Antipope in 1981 and continuing through Normanghast in 2025. The series remains ongoing and should be read in publication order to follow the connected narratives across the books. This prolific sequence blends absurdist humor with imaginative worldbuilding across four decades of storytelling.

Start with The Antipope, the first of 11 books in the Brentford series.

#	Title
1	The Antipope 1981Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Brentford Triangle 1982Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	East of Ealing 1984Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Sprouts of Wrath 1988Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	The Brentford Chainstore Massacre 1997Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	Sex and Drugs and Sausage Rolls 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Knees Up Mother Earth 2004Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Brightonomicon 2005Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Lord of the Ring Roads 2017Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	The Chronicles of Banarnia 2019Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Normanghast 2025Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (1993–1995)

Robert Rankin's Cornelius Murphy series consists of four complete fantasy and science fiction novels published between 1993 and 1995. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Book of Ultimate Truths and continuing through Raiders of the Lost Carpark, The Greatest Show Off Earth, and concluding with The Most Amazing Man Who Ever Lived. This standalone series showcases Rankin's distinctive blend of surreal humor and imaginative storytelling across its four installments.

Start with The Book of Ultimate Truths, the first of 4 books in the Cornelius Murphy series.

#	Title
1	The Book of Ultimate Truths 1993Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	Raiders of the Lost Carpark 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Greatest Show Off Earth 1994Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Most Amazing Man Who Ever Lived 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

2 books (2002–2006)

Robert Rankin's Eddie Bear series consists of two complete fantasy and science fiction novels published between 2002 and 2006. Both books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse, followed by The Toyminator. This is a finished series with no additional planned installments.

Start with The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse and read in order.

#	Title
1	The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse 2002Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Toyminator 2006Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

4 books (2010–2013)

The Japanese Devil Fish Girl series by Robert Rankin consists of four complete fantasy and science fiction novels published between 2010 and 2013. The books should be read in publication order, beginning with The Japanese Devil Fish Girl and Other Unnatural Attractions, followed by The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age, The Educated Ape and Other Wonders of the World, and concluding with The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends. This concluded series blends fantastical and comedic elements across its interconnected entries.

Start with The Japanese Devil Fish Girland Other Unnatural Attractions, the first of 4 books in the Japanese Devil Fish Girl series.

#	Title
1	The Japanese Devil Fish Girland Other Unnatural Attractions 2010Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	The Mechanical Messiah and Other Marvels of the Modern Age 2011Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	The Educated Ape and Other Wonders of the World 2012Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends 2013Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible

1 book (2021–2021)

12 books (1995–2014)

Robert Rankin's Standalone Novels series consists of 12 complete books published between 1995 and 2014, beginning with The Garden of Unearthly Delights and concluding with The Abominable Showman. Though each novel functions as an independent entry, reading them in publication order allows appreciation of Rankin's evolving themes across fantasy, science fiction, and non-fiction elements. The series encompasses titles such as Nostradamus Ate My Hamster, Apocalypso, Snuff Fiction, The Fandom of the Operator, Web Site Story, The Witches of Chiswick, The Da Da De Da Da Code, Necrophenia, and Retromancer, showcasing Rankin's distinctive blend of genres and imaginative storytelling throughout the collection.

Start with The Garden of Unearthly Delights, the first of 12 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#	Title
1	The Garden of Unearthly Delights 1995Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
2	A Dog Called Demolition 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
3	Nostradamus Ate My Hamster 1996Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
4	Apocalypso 1998Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
5	Snuff Fiction 1999Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
6	The Fandom of the Operator 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
7	Web Site Story 2001Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
8	The Witches of Chiswick 2003Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
9	The Da Da De Da Da Code 2007Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
10	Necrophenia 2008Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
11	Retromancer 2009Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible
12	The Abominable Showman 2014Buy 🇺🇸🎧 Audible