René Barjavel published 11 novels, beginning with Ashes, Ashes (1943). The best-known is The Ice People (1968).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with René Barjavel
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The Ice People
René Barjavel's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Ashes, Ashes
One of the most-read, at about 279 pages.
René Barjavel books in order of publication
Ashes, Ashes (1943)
Le Voyageur Imprudent (1944)
The Tragic Innocents (1946)
Le Diable L'emporte (1948)
The Ice People (1968)
Les Chemins De Katmandou (1969)
The Immortals (1973)
Les Dames À La Licorne (1974)
Une Rose Au Paradis (1981)
La Tempête (1982)
L'Enchanteur (1984)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Pleasure Pit (1969)Film · from Les Chemins De Katmandou
- Le grand secret (1989)TV · from The Immortals
About René Barjavel
René Barjavel was a French author, journalist and critic who may have been the first to think of the grandfather paradox in time travel. He was born in Nyons, a town in the Drôme department in southeastern France. He is best known as a science fiction author, whose work often involved the fall of civilisation due to technocratic hubris and the madness of war, but who also favoured themes emphasising the durability of love.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
René Barjavel FAQ
- How many books has René Barjavel written?
- René Barjavel published 11 novels that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read René Barjavel's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Ice People.
- What is René Barjavel's last book?
- L'Enchanteur (1984).
- What is René Barjavel's most famous book?
- The Ice People (1968) is René Barjavel's most widely read book.
- Which René Barjavel books have been adapted?
- 2 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Les Chemins De Katmandou (as The Pleasure Pit, film, 1969) and The Immortals (as Le grand secret, TV, 1989).
Authors like René Barjavel
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.