Reading Order List β€” Book Series Reading Order Guide
William C. Dietz

William C. Dietz Reading Order

22 series Β· 89 books Β· Born 1945

William C. Dietz is a prolific author known for his contributions to military science fiction, with over 89 novels across 22 series, including popular titles like America Rising and Legion. His engaging storytelling often blends action and adventure, captivating readers around the world. Active from 1986 to 2025, Dietz has established a significant presence in the genre, further enhanced by adaptations of his work into various games.

America Rising Series

Complete

3 books (2016–2018)

Start with Into the Guns and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Into the Guns
Into the Guns
2
Seek and Destroy
3
Battle Hymn

Anthologies Series

Complete

10 books (1990–2017)

Start with The Far Stars War, the first of 10 books in the Anthologies series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Far Stars War
The Far Stars War
2
Cover of The Siege of Arsita
The Siege of Arsita
3
Elemental: The Tsunami Relief Anthology
4
Cover of Horrors Beyond 2
Horrors Beyond 2
5
Five by Five 2: No Surrender
6
Cover of No Surrender
No Surrender
7
Cover of Shadows of the New Sun
Shadows of the New Sun
8
Hath No Fury
9
Cover of Infinite Stars
Infinite Stars
10

Crickets Series

Likely Complete

2 books (2022–2023)

Start with Crickets and read in order.

#Title
1
2
Crickets 2

Crisis of Empire Series

Complete

4 books (1988–2012)

Start with An Honorable Defense(By: David Drake), the first of 4 books in the Crisis of Empire series.

#Title
1
Cover of An Honorable Defense(By: David Drake)
An Honorable Defense(By: David Drake)
2
Cover of Cluster Command
Cluster Command
3
Cover of The War Machine(By: David Drake,Roger MacBride Allen)
The War Machine(By: David Drake,Roger MacBride Allen)
4
Cover of Crown of Empire(By: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,David Drake)
Crown of Empire(By: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro,David Drake)

Drifter Series

Complete

3 books (1991–1992)

Start with Drifter and read in order.

#Title
1
2
Cover of Drifter's Run
Drifter's Run
3
Cover of Drifter's War
Drifter's War

Halo: The Original Series

Complete

4 books (2001–2006)

Start with The Fall of Reach(By: Eric Nylund), the first of 4 books in the Halo: The Original series.

#Title
1
Cover of The Fall of Reach(By: Eric Nylund)
The Fall of Reach(By: Eric Nylund)
2
Cover of First Strike(By: Eric Nylund)
First Strike(By: Eric Nylund)
3
4
Cover of Ghosts of Onyx(By: Eric Nylund)
Ghosts of Onyx(By: Eric Nylund)

Hitman Series

Complete

2 books (2007–2012)

Start with Enemy Within and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Enemy Within
Enemy Within
2
Cover of Damnation(By: Raymond Benson)
Damnation(By: Raymond Benson)

Legion Series

Likely Complete

10 books (1993–2023)

Start with Legion of the Damned, the first of 10 books in the Legion series.

#Title
1
Cover of Legion of the Damned
Legion of the Damned
2
The Final Battle
3
Cover of By Blood Alone
By Blood Alone
4
By Force of Arms
5
Cover of For More Than Glory
For More Than Glory
6
Cover of For Those Who Fell
For Those Who Fell
7
Cover of When All Seems Lost
When All Seems Lost
8
When Duty Calls
9
A Fighting Chance
10
From the Ashes

Mass Effect Series

Complete

4 books (2007–2012)

Start with Revelation(By: Drew Karpyshyn), the first of 4 books in the Mass Effect series.

#Title
1
Revelation(By: Drew Karpyshyn)
2
Ascension(By: Drew Karpyshyn)
3
Retribution(By: Drew Karpyshyn)
4

Mutant Files Series

Complete

3 books (2015–2016)

Start with Deadeye and read in order.

#Title
1
2
3

Resistance Universe Series

Complete

2 books (2009–2011)

Start with The Gathering Storm and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of The Gathering Storm
The Gathering Storm
2
Cover of A Hole in the Sky
A Hole in the Sky

Rex Corvan Series

Complete

2 books (1990–1992)

Start with Matrix Man and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Matrix Man
Matrix Man
2
Mars Prime

Run Series

Complete

2 books (2005–2006)

Start with Runner and read in order.

#Title
1
2

Sam McCade Series

Complete

5 books (1986–2004)

Start with Galactic Bounty / War World, the first of 5 books in the Sam McCade series.

#Title
1
Galactic Bounty / War World
2
Imperial Bounty
3
Cover of Alien Bounty
Alien Bounty
4
McCade's Bounty
5
Cover of McCade for Hire
McCade for Hire

Sauron Series

Complete

2 books (2001–2002)

Start with DeathDay and read in order.

#Title
1
2

Short Stories/Novellas Series

Complete

1 book (2013–2013)

#Title
1
Rogan's World

Standalone Novels Series

Complete

8 books (1987–2013)

Start with Freehold, the first of 8 books in the Standalone Novels series.

#Title
1
2
Prison Planet
3
4
Where the Ships Die
5
Steelheart
6
7
8
The Seeds of Man

Star Wars: Dark Forces Series

Complete

3 books (1997–1998)

Start with Soldier for the Empire and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Soldier for the Empire
Soldier for the Empire
2
Cover of Jedi Knight
Jedi Knight
3
Cover of Rebel Agent
Rebel Agent

Starcraft II Series

Complete

3 books (2009–2012)

Start with Heaven's Devils and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Heaven's Devils
Heaven's Devils
2
Cover of Devils' Due(By: Christie Golden)
Devils' Due(By: Christie Golden)
3
Cover of Flashpoint(By: Christie Golden)
Flashpoint(By: Christie Golden)

The Prequel Legion Series

Complete

3 books (2012–2014)

Start with Andromeda's Fall and read in order.

#Title
1
Cover of Andromeda's Fall
Andromeda's Fall
2
Cover of Andromeda's Choice
Andromeda's Choice
3
Andromeda's War

Winds of War Series

Ongoing

11 books (2018–2025)

Start with Red Ice, the first of 11 books in the Winds of War series.

#Title
1
2
3
Red Dragon
4
Red Thunder
5
6
7
8
9
10
11

Zak Cato Series

Complete

2 books (2009–2010)

Start with At Empire's Edge and read in order.

#Title
1
At Empire's Edge
2
Bones of Empire

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has William C. Dietz written?
William C. Dietz has written 89 books across 22 series. Their published works span from 1986 to 2025.
What is the first book in each William C. Dietz series?
Here are the first books in William C. Dietz's series: America Rising: Into the Guns; Anthologies: The Far Stars War; Crickets: Crickets; Crisis of Empire: An Honorable Defense(By: David Drake); Drifter: Drifter.
What order should I read William C. Dietz's books?
We recommend reading William C. Dietz's series in publication order. Each series can be read independently.
Is William C. Dietz still writing new books?
Yes, William C. Dietz has 1 ongoing series: Winds of War.

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