Carl Sagan books in order
American astrophysicist, cosmologist and author
- Lived
- 1934–1996
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 24
Carl Sagan published 9 novels, 1 novella, 5 non-fiction books and 9 other books, beginning with Intelligent Life in the Universe (1966). The best-known is Contact (1985).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Carl Sagan
Start here
Contact
Carl Sagan's most-read book, rated by 103 Open Library readers.
Highest rated
Pale Blue Dot
Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 30 readers.
Shortest way in
Billions and Billions
One of the most-read, at about 292 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Intelligent Life in the Universe (1966)
The Cosmic Connection (1973)
The Cold and the Dark: The World After Nuclear War (1984)
Contact (Sep 1985)
The Faith Healers (1987), with James Randi
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (Oct 1993), with Ann Druyan
Pale Blue Dot (1994)
Conversations with Carl Sagan (2004)
The Varieties of Scientific Experience (Nov 2006), with Ann Druyan
Novellas in order
Billions and Billions (1997)
Non-fiction in order
The Dragons of Eden (1977)
Broca's Brain (1979)
Cosmos (1980)
Comet (1985), with Ann Druyan
The Demon-Haunted World (1995)
Other books in order
Planets (1966)
Planetary Exploration (1970)
UFO's (1972)
Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (1974)
Other Worlds (1975)
A Path Where No Man Thought (1990)
Life in the Universe (1995)
The Evolution of a Planetary System (1995)
Visions for the 21st Century (1997)
Film and TV adaptations
- Contact (1997)Film · from Contact
- Wanderers (2014)Film · from Pale Blue Dot
About Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist and science communicator. Initially an assistant professor at Harvard, Sagan later moved to Cornell, where he was the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences and directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He played an active role in the Mariner, Viking and Voyager programs. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and several popular science books, starting with The Cosmic Connection. He won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for The Dragons of Eden.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Carl Sagan FAQ
- How many books has Carl Sagan written?
- Carl Sagan published 9 novels, 1 novella, 5 non-fiction books and 9 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Carl Sagan's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Contact.
- What is Carl Sagan's last book?
- Billions and Billions (1997).
- What is Carl Sagan's most famous book?
- Contact (1985) is Carl Sagan's most widely read book.
- Which Carl Sagan books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Contact (film, 1997) and Pale Blue Dot (as Wanderers, film, 2014).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.