Piers Anthony books in order
American author
- Born
- 1934
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 198
- Series
- 14
Piers Anthony has published 178 novels, 8 novellas, 3 short story collections, 1 children's book and 8 other books, beginning with Chthon (1967). The 14 series include Xanth (49 books, starting with A Spell for Chameleon), Incarnations of Immortality (8 books, starting with On a Pale Horse) and Apprentice Adept (7 books, starting with Split Infinity). The best-known is A Spell for Chameleon (1977). The latest is Knickelpede Knight (2026).
Updated September 2026
Xanth books in order (49)Series page
Reading order: 1 A Spell for Chameleon (1977) · 2 The Source of Magic (1979) · 3 Castle Roogna (1979) · 4 Centaur Aisle (1982) · 5 Ogre, Ogre (1982) · 6 Night Mare (1983) · 7 Dragon on a Pedestal (1983) · 8 Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn (1984) · 9 Golem in the Gears (1986) · 10 Vale of the Vole (1987) · … all 49 below
- 1.
A Spell for Chameleon (Sep 1977)
- 2.
The Source of Magic (Feb 1979)
- 3.
Castle Roogna (Jul 1979)
- 4.
Centaur Aisle (Jan 1982)
- 5.
Ogre, Ogre (Oct 1982)
- 6.
Night Mare (Jan 1983)
- 7.
Dragon on a Pedestal (Oct 1983)
- 8.
Crewel Lye: A Caustic Yarn (Dec 1984), also published as Crewel Lye
- 9.
Golem in the Gears (Feb 1986)
- 10.
Vale of the Vole (1987)
- 11.
Heaven Cent (Oct 1988)
- 12.
Man from Mundania (Oct 1989)
- 13.
Isle of View (Oct 1990)
- 14.
Question Quest (Oct 1991)
- 15.
The Color of Her Panties (Sep 1992)
- 16.
Demons Don't Dream (Feb 1993)
- 17.
Harpy Thyme (Jan 1994)
- 18.
Geis of the Gargoyle (Feb 1995)
- 19.
Roc and a Hard Place (Oct 1995)
- 20.
Yon Ill Wind (1996)
- 21.
Faun & Games (Oct 1997)
- 22.
Zombie Lover (1998)
- 23.
Xone of Contention (1999)
- 24.
The Dastard (Oct 2000)
- 25.
Swell Foop (2001)
- 26.
Up in a Heaval (Oct 2002)
- 27.
Cube Route (Oct 2003)
- 28.
Currant Events (Oct 2004)
- 29.
Pet Peeve (2005)
- 30.
Stork Naked (2006)
- 31.
Air Apparent (Oct 2007)
- 32.
Two to the Fifth (Oct 2008)
- 33.
Jumper Cable (2009)
- 34.
Knot Gneiss (2010)
- 35.
Well-Tempered Clavicle (Nov 2011)
- 36.
Luck of the Draw (2012)
- 37.
Esrever Doom (2013)
- 38.
Board Stiff (Xanth) (2013)
- 39.
Five Portraits (2014)
- 40.
Isis Orb (2016)
- 41.
Ghost Writer in the Sky (2017)
- 42.
Fire Sail (2019)
- 43.
Jest Right (2020)
- 44.
Skeleton Key (2021)
- 45.
Tryst of Fate (2021)
- 46.
Six Crystal Princesses (2022)
- 47.
Apoca Lips (2023)
- 48.
Three Novel Nymphs (2025)
- 49.
Knickelpede Knight (2026)
Incarnations of Immortality books in order (8)Series page
Reading order: 1 On a Pale Horse (1983) · 2 Bearing an Hourglass (1984) · 3 With a Tangled Skein (1985) · 4 Wielding a Red Sword (1986) · 5 Being a Green Mother (1987) · 6 For Love of Evil (1988) · 7 And Eternity (1990) · 8 Under a Velvet Cloak (2007)
- 1.
On a Pale Horse (Oct 1983)
- 2.
Bearing an Hourglass (Aug 1984)
- 3.
With a Tangled Skein (Oct 1985)
- 4.
Wielding a Red Sword (Oct 1986)
- 5.
Being a Green Mother (Oct 1987)
- 6.
For Love of Evil (Nov 1988)
- 7.
And Eternity (Jan 1990)
- 8.
Under a Velvet Cloak (2007)
Apprentice Adept books in order (7)Series page
Reading order: 1 Split Infinity (1980) · 2 Blue Adept (1981) · 3 Juxtaposition (1982) · 4 Out of Phaze (1987) · 5 Robot Adept (1988) · 6 Unicorn Point (1989) · 7 Phaze Doubt (1990)
- 1.
Split Infinity (Apr 1980)
- 2.
Blue Adept (May 1981)
- 3.
Juxtaposition (Mar 1982)
- 4.
Out of Phaze (1987)
- 5.
Robot Adept (1988)
- 6.
Unicorn Point (1989)
- 7.
Phaze Doubt (1990)
Jason Striker series books in order (6)
Reading order: 1 Kiai! (2014) · 2 Mistress of Death (1974) · 3 Bamboo Bloodbath (1974) · 4 Ninja's Revenge (1975) · 5 Amazon Slaughter (1976) · 6 Curse of the Ninja (2001)
- 1.
Kiai! (2014)
- 2.
Mistress of Death (1974)
- 3.
Bamboo Bloodbath (1974)
- 4.
Ninja's Revenge (1975)
- 5.
Amazon Slaughter (1976)
- 6.
Curse of the Ninja (2001)
Bio of a Space Tyrant books in order (6)Series page
Reading order: 1 Refugee (1983) · 2 Mercenary (1984) · 3 Politician (1985) · 4 Executive (1985) · 5 Statesman (1987) · 6 The Iron Maiden (2001)
- 1.
Refugee (1983)
- 2.
Mercenary (1984)
- 3.
Politician (1985)
- 4.
Executive (1985)
- 5.
Statesman (1987)
- 6.
The Iron Maiden (2001)
Cluster books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Cluster (Cluster Series, Bk. 1) (2011) · 2 Chaining the Lady (1978) · 3 Kirlian Quest (1978) · 4 Thousandstar (1984) · 5 Viscous Circle (1982)
- 1.
Cluster (Cluster Series, Bk. 1) (2011)
- 2.
Chaining the Lady (1978)
- 3.
Kirlian Quest (1978)
- 4.
Thousandstar (1984)
- 5.
Viscous Circle (1982)
Kelvin of Rud books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Dragon's Gold (1991) · 2 Serpent's Silver (1988) · 3 Chimaera's Copper (1990) · 4 Orc's Opal (1990) · 5 Mouvar's Magic (1992)
- 1.
Dragon's Gold (1991)
- 2.
Serpent's Silver (1988)
- 3.
Chimaera's Copper (1990)
- 4.
Orc's Opal (1990)
- 5.
Mouvar's Magic (1992)
Geodyssey books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Isle of Woman (1993) · 2 Shame of Man (1994) · 3 Hope of Earth (1997) · 4 Muse of Art (1999) · 5 Climate of Change (2010)
- 1.
Isle of Woman (1993)
- 2.
Shame of Man (1994)
- 3.
Hope of Earth (1997)
- 4.
Muse of Art (1999)
- 5.
Climate of Change (2010)
ChroMagic books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 Key to Havoc (2003) · 2 Key to Chroma (2003) · 3 Key to Destiny (2004) · 4 Key to Liberty (2007) · 5 Key to Survival (2008)
- 1.
Key to Havoc (2003)
- 2.
Key to Chroma (2003)
- 3.
Key to Destiny (2004)
- 4.
Key to Liberty (2007)
- 5.
Key to Survival (2008)
Tarot books in order (4)Series page
Reading order: 1 God of Tarot (1979) · 2 Vision of Tarot (1980) · 3 Faith Of Tarot (1980) · 4 Tarot (1987)
- 1.
God of Tarot (1979)
- 2.
Vision of Tarot (1980)
- 3.
Faith Of Tarot (1980)
- 4.
Tarot (1987)
Mode books in order (4)Series page
Reading order: 1 Virtual Mode (1991) · 2 Fractal Mode (1992) · 3 Chaos Mode (1993) · 4 DoOon Mode (2001)
- 1.
Virtual Mode (1991)
- 2.
Fractal Mode (1992)
- 3.
Chaos Mode (1993)
- 4.
DoOon Mode (2001)
Of Man and Manta books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Omnivore (1968) · 2 Orn (1970) · 3 0X (1976)
- 1.
Omnivore (1968)
- 2.
Orn (1970)
- 3.
0X (1976)
Battle Circle books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Sos the Rope (1968) · 2 Var the Stick (1969) · 3 Neq the Sword (1975)
- 1.
Sos the Rope (1968)
- 2.
Var the Stick (1969)
- 3.
Neq the Sword (1975)
Metal Maiden books in order (3)Series page
Reading order: 1 Shepherd (2014) · 2 Flytrap (2014) · 3 Awares (2014)
- 1.
Shepherd (2014)
- 2.
Flytrap (2014)
- 3.
Awares (2014)
Where to start with Piers Anthony
Start here
A Spell for Chameleon
Piers Anthony's most-read book and the first of the 49 Xanth books.
Shortest way in
On a Pale Horse
One of the most-read, at about 336 pages.
Newest
Knickelpede Knight
Published 2026.
Standalone novels in order
Chthon (Jul 1967)
The Ring (1968)
Macroscope (1969)
Prostho Plus (1971)
Rings of Ice (1974)
Triple Detente (1974)
Phthor (1975)
But What of Earth? (1976)
Ox (1976)
Hasan (1977)
Pretender (1979)
Vicinity Cluster (1979)
Mute (1981)
Double Exposure (1982)
Battle Circle (1983)
Anthonology (1985)
Ghost (1986)
Of Man and Manta (1986)
Piers Anthony (1986)
Shade of the Tree (1986)
Bio of an Ogre (1988)
Pornucopia (1988)
Vaya (1988)
Vaya! Level 3 Libro 3 Tchr Resource Book (Vaya!) (1988)
Centaur Aisle, Ogre Ogre, Night Mare (1989)
Stdt Book-Vaya Level 4 Libro 4 (Vaya) (1989)
Through the Ice (1989)
Total Recall (1989)
Visual Guide to Xanth (1989)
Balook (1990)
Dead Morn (1990)
Firefly (1990)
Hard Sell (1990)
Mercycle (1991)
Tatham Mound (1991)
The E.S.P. Worm (1991)
Mode (Feb 1991)
The Caterpillar's Question (1992)
Killobyte (1993)
Letters to Jenny (Oct 1994)
The Willing Spirit (1996)
Volk (1996)
Dream a Little Dream (1998)
Spider Legs (1998)
Realty Check (1999)
The Gutbucket Quest (2000)
The Secret of Spring (2000)
How Precious Was That While (2001)
Jason Striker Martial Arts Series Volume 3 (2001)
The Quest for Magic (2002)
The Magic Fart (2003)
Eroma (2011)
Trail Mix Vol #2 (2011)
Trail Mix Volume #1 (2011)
Esrever Doom: A Fun-Filled Adventure in the Magical Land of Xanth (2013)
Metal Maiden Collection (2014)
Sopaths (2014)
To Be a Woman (2014)
The Pornucopia Compendium (2015)
Captive (2016)
Neris (2016)
Pira (2016)
Soul of the Cell (2016)
The Worm Returns (2016)
Board Stiff, Five Portraits, and Isis Orb (2017)
Relationships 6 (2018)
Relationships 8 (2020)
Novellas in order
Dolfin Tayle (2013)
Pandora Park (2013)
Aliena (2014)
Aliena Too (2014)
Odd Exam (2014)
WereWoman (2014)
Short story collections in order
Alien Plot (1992)
Tales from the Great Turtle (1994)
Cautionary Tales (2014)
Children's books in order
Race Against Time (1973)
Other books in order
Apprentice Adept-3 Vols (Boxed) (Apprentice Adept (1983)
Vaya! Nuevo 3 (1997)
Dragon Assassin (2014)
Lavabull (2015)
Cluster Series (2018)
Isle of Women (2021)
Read the Read (2021)
Biography of Queen Elizabeth II (2022)
About Piers Anthony
Piers Anthony Dillingham Jacob is an American author in the science fiction and fantasy genres, publishing under the name Piers Anthony. He is best known for his long-running Xanth novel series, set in the fictional realm of Xanth.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Piers Anthony FAQ
- How many books has Piers Anthony written?
- Piers Anthony has published 178 novels, 8 novellas, 3 short story collections, 1 children's book and 8 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Piers Anthony's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Xanth with A Spell for Chameleon, Incarnations of Immortality with On a Pale Horse and Apprentice Adept with Split Infinity. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is Piers Anthony's latest book?
- Knickelpede Knight (2026).
- What is Piers Anthony's most famous book?
- A Spell for Chameleon (1977) is Piers Anthony's most widely read book.
- Are Piers Anthony's books connected?
- 113 books belong to 14 series (Xanth, Incarnations of Immortality, Apprentice Adept and Jason Striker series); the other 85 books stand alone.
Authors like Piers Anthony
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.