george-r-r-martin-song-of-ice-and-fire

Whenever I finish a book, the next step is deciding what to read next. I’m never short on options, but recently I have been noticing just how many of the books jostling for the next spot on my “to read” list are parts of series. So I thought it would be interesting to actually compile a list of the series that I am currently in the midst of reading. For all of these, I have read at least one book in the series but not all of them (books I have read are in bold), either because the series is not all published (unpublished book titles are in italics), or because I haven’t had time, or because I am not interested in continuing (series name crossed out). I’ve tried to include only novels here, though some of the more massive series (Vorkosigan Saga, Dragonriders of Pern, Dune) are pretty complicated and have sub-series, novellas, collections of short stories, etc.

On the one hand, series are great: if you like a book, there’s more like it! But on the other hand… I would not mind some more standalone fiction. Also, there is always the dreaded series bloat. Game of Thrones certainly suffers from this, and I haven’t even dared delve into the ultimate bloated series, the Wheel of Time, whose author did not even live long enough to finish it. Given that the second massive book in the Stormlight Archive series just debuted at #1 on the NYT bestseller list, and that that series is starting off with a plan for at least 10 books, I’m not holding my breath for the end of multi-book series any time soon. I am, however, going to avoid starting any new series until I’ve made at least some progress on the ones below.

The First Law Series by Joe Abercrombie

  • The Blade Itself
  • Before They are Hanged
  • Last Argument of Kings

The Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold

  • Falling Free
  • Shards of Honor
  • Barrayar
  • The Warrior’s Apprentice
  • The Vor Game
  • Cetaganda
  • Ethan of Athos
  • Brothers in Arms
  • Mirror Dance
  • Memory
  • Komarr
  • A Civil Campaign
  • Diplomatic Immunity
  • Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance
  • Cryoburn

Chalion Series by Lois McMaster Bujold

  • Curse of Chalion
  • Paladin of Souls
  • The Hallowed Hunt

Asian Saga by James Clavell

  • Shogun
  • Tai-Pan
  • Gai-jin
  • King Rat
  • Noble House
  • Whirlwind

The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell

  • The Last Kingdom
  • The Pale Horseman
  • The Lords of the North
  • Sword Song
  • The Burning Land
  • Death of Kings
  • The Pagan Lord
  • The Empty Throne

The Magicians Series by Lev Grossman

  • The Magicians
  • The Magician King
  • The Magician’s Land

Dune Series by Frank Herbert

  • Dune
  • Dune Messiah
  • Children of Dune
  • God Emperor of Dune
  • Heretics of Dune
  • Chapterhouse: Dune
  • Plus many more by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson…

Silo Series by Hugh Howey

  • Wool
  • Shift
  • Dust

  The Conqueror Series by Conn Iggulden

  • Wolf of the Plains
  • Lords of the Bow
  • Bones of the Hills
  • Empire of Silver
  • Conqueror

The Dark Tower by Stephen King

  • The Gunslinger
  • The Drawing of the Three
  • The Waste Lands
  • Wizard and Glass
  • Wolves of the Calla
  • Song of Susannah
  • The Dark Tower
  • The Wind Through the Keyhole

Warchild Series by Karin Lowachee

  • Warchild
  • Burndive
  • Cagebird

Thomas Cromwell series by Hilary Mantel

  • Wolf Hall
  • Bring up the Bodies
  • The Mirror and the Light

A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

  • A Game of Thrones
  • A Clash of Kings
  • A Storm of Swords
  • A Feast for Crows
  • A Dance With Dragons
  • The Winds of Winter
  • A Dream of Spring

Dragonriders of Pern Series by Anne McCaffrey

  • Dragonflight
  • Dragonquest
  • The White Dragon
  • Dragonsong
  • Dragonsinger
  • Dragondrums
  • Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
  • Nerilka’s Story
  • Dragonsdawn
  • Renegades of Pern
  • All the Weyrs of Pern
  • The Dolphins of Pern
  • Red Star Rising
  • The Masterharper of Pern
  • The Skies of Pern
  • Plus many more by McCaffrey’s son

Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy

  • Wildwood
  • Under Wildwood
  • Wildwood Imperium

Bas-Lag Series by China Mieville

  • Perdido Street Station
  • The Scar
  • The Iron Council

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

  • The Final Empire
  • The Well of Ascension
  • The Hero of Ages
  • The Alloy of Law

 Old Man’s War Series by John Scalzi

  • Old Man’s War
  • The Ghost Brigades
  • The Last Colony
  • Zoe’s Tale
  • The Human Division

The Henry Family series by Herman Wouk

  • Winds of War
  • War and Remembrance