Universes

Acorna

A science-fiction universe centered on Acorna and the Linyaari, whose story grows from her discovery by human prospectors into a larger family and people-wide saga.

Alchemical Journeys

A connected fantasy universe of alchemy, gods, and the Impossible City, including The Up-and-Under stories published under Seanan McGuire’s pseudonym A. Deborah Baker.

Arkship Universe

A generation-ship setting for the Arkship Trilogy.

Barque Cats

A connected science-fiction series about cats aboard interstellar trading ships and the bond between those animals and their human crews.

Bill Hodges Universe

The Bill Hodges trilogy introduces characters who continue into the Holly Gibney investigations. Start with Mr. Mercedes and follow the trilogy before the later Holly books for the fullest character progression. Only the title novella in If It Bleeds belongs to that sequence; the other stories in the collection are independent. The complete Holly guide provides the annotated route.

Brainships

A universe where individuals with severe physical disabilities are encased in titanium shells and become the 'brains' of starships.

Castle Rock Universe

Castle Rock is a recurring Maine town used in novels, novellas and short stories. Its books share local history and returning characters without forming a single continuous series. The core route introduces the principal novels; Gwendy has a separate trilogy, and collections contain further visits. Use those guides to choose a path rather than treating every appearance as a required step.

Conan the Barbarian

Conan is a shared sword-and-sorcery world created by Robert E. Howard and expanded by later writers. Robert Jordan wrote seven novels in the wider franchise, including the novelisation of Conan the Destroyer. Those adventures are separate from The Wheel of Time and do not require reading other Jordan series; this guide maps only his books.

Cosmere

The Cosmere is Brandon Sanderson's shared fantasy universe, linking worlds such as Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive through background connections and occasional crossover characters. For a first Mistborn read, begin with The Final Empire and follow Mistborn's own seven core novels. No other Cosmere series is a prerequisite.

Crystal Singer

A universe centering around the Crystal Singers of Ballybran.

Cytoverse

The science fiction universe of the Skyward series.

Derry Universe

Derry is a recurring setting in Stephen King’s fiction, with It at the centre of its best-known story. Other novels revisit the town or its history while following different characters. The relationships are useful context rather than a compulsory sequence. Read It first if you want the central background, then choose another Derry-linked novel by its own premise.

Discworld

A flat, disc-shaped world resting on the backs of four elephants, who in turn stand on the back of a giant star turtle. It is a satirical, humorous fantasy universe mirroring our own.

Doc Savage Universe

James Patterson and Brian Sitts continue the Doc Savage legacy through Brandt Savage, the pulp hero’s grandson, in a modern thriller series.

Doctor Who Universe

A long-running science-fiction universe spanning television, novels, audio and comics. Harvest of Time is Alastair Reynolds's standalone novel-length Doctor Who adventure; it can be read without his other books.

Doona

A first-contact science-fiction universe that follows the human and feline settlers of Doona and their uneasy relationship with the planet’s alien inhabitants.

Dune Universe

The epic science fiction universe originated by Frank Herbert, set thousands of years in the future.

Elemental Masters

Historical fantasy based on classic fairy tales.

Elves on the Road

Elves on the Road links contemporary urban fantasy with historical fantasy, following elves and their allies as they move through human society. Its strands include the racing-focused SERRAted Edge novels and the Tudor-era Doubled Edge books, alongside other connected stories. The SERRAted Edge brings magical conflicts into car culture and the lives of vulnerable young people, while Doubled Edge follows court intrigue around Princess Elizabeth. The guides separate those routes so readers can choose the setting that suits them.

Exodus

The science-fiction game universe explored in Peter F. Hamilton’s Exodus duology.

Hidden Legacy Universe

Ile-Rien Universe

In Death Universe

Futuristic police procedurals featuring Eve Dallas.

InCryptid Universe

Infernal Affairs

A contemporary supernatural series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Ireta and Planet Pirates

A shared science-fiction setting linking the Ireta dinosaur expeditions with the Planet Pirates novels. Their plots overlap, so the separate series routes need a clear crossover note.

Magic Kingdom of Landover

A comedic portal fantasy series.

Mercyverse

An urban fantasy universe featuring werewolves, vampires, fae, and skinwalkers, primarily set in the Tri-Cities area.

Middle-earth

The seminal high fantasy universe featuring rich mythological history, diverse races like Elves and Dwarves, and the ongoing struggle against dark lords Morgoth and Sauron.

Myths & Outlaws

A fantasy series by Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Night's Dawn Universe

A science fiction universe where the dead return.

Outlander Universe

The Outlander Universe contains the nine published Claire and Jamie Fraser novels and the related Lord John Grey mysteries and novellas. New readers should start with Outlander and follow the main novels in publication order. The Lord John route is optional: it can stand alone, but readers following the wider story should begin it after Voyager. You do not need to complete Lord John to understand the main Outlander sequence.

Pern

A science fiction universe detailing the colonization of the planet Pern and the genetically engineered dragons who protect it from Thread.

Petaybee

A shared science-fiction universe about the sentient ice world Petaybee, the people who live there, and the Shongili twins whose abilities connect them to the planet.

Poseidon's Children Universe

A future history of the Akinya family and humanity's expansion into space. The three books are connected across generations but each works as a standalone novel; publication order gives the clearest view of the family's long arc.

Revelation Space Universe

A far-future setting where human civilizations contend with ancient alien legacies, posthuman politics, and the threat of the Inhibitors. The novels share a universe but vary in how tightly they connect; begin with Revelation Space, then follow the core Inhibitor sequence.

Riordanverse

The Riordanverse brings Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Norse mythology into a shared modern world. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the easiest starting route; Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo continue its Greek and Roman story, while Kane Chronicles and Magnus Chase follow other groups whose paths sometimes cross. Companion collections and crossovers add optional context rather than prerequisites.

Safehold

Sci-fi series exploring a hidden colony fighting a religious autocracy.

Salvation Universe

A high-concept space opera about a hidden alien threat.

Sianim

A high fantasy universe following various protagonists.

Star Wars Universe

R. A. Salvatore’s novels written within the Star Wars universe.

The 500 Kingdoms

Fairy tale parodies where the Tradition dictates destiny.

The Baldacci Thriller Universe

A loosely connected universe of political and crime thrillers.

The Bolitar Universe

The thriller universe centered around sports agent Myron Bolitar and his nephew Mickey.

The Bridgerton Universe

The Captive's War

A far-future setting centred on humanity's first contact with the alien Carryx empire and the captive human team forced to serve its war effort.

The Catteni Sequence

A science-fiction universe in which the Catteni abduct humans and other people from their worlds, scattering them across space. The four Freedom novels follow Kris Bjornsen and the settlers of Botany as they fight for survival and autonomy.

The Commonwealth Universe

A sprawling space opera universe centered around wormhole technology.

The Connelly Universe

The Crimson Shadow Universe

A separate fantasy setting following Luthien Bedwyr and his companions as they challenge the rule of King Greensparrow.

The Cussler Universe

The interconnected thriller universe created by Clive Cussler.

The Dark Tower Universe

The Dark Tower connects many of Stephen King’s fictional settings, but most related novels remain independent reading choices. Begin the main quest with The Gunslinger and follow its seven numbered books. Connected stories and The Wind Through the Keyhole offer optional expansion. This universe map helps identify relationships; the dedicated reading-order pages explain sequences and possible spoilers.

The Dark-Hunter Universe

A vast urban fantasy universe involving immortal warriors.

The Davenport Universe

The connected crime novels featuring Lucas Davenport, Virgil Flowers and Letty Davenport. Begin with Rules of Prey for Lucas or choose the first novel in either spin-off series; crossover cases are identified in their reading guides.

The DemonWars Saga Universe

Salvatore's original epic fantasy universe of Corona.

The Dresdenverse

The Expanse

A grounded, hard science fiction universe set centuries in the future where humanity has colonized the solar system, leading to intense political friction between Earth, Mars, and the Belters.

The Foundation Universe

The Guild Hunter Universe

A world ruled by powerful and deadly archangels.

The Hollows Universe

Urban fantasy following witch and bounty hunter Rachel Morgan.

The Honorverse

A massive military science fiction universe centering on Honor Harrington.

The Hyperion Cantos

The Jack Reacher Universe

The Jack Reacher universe follows former military police investigator Jack Reacher and people connected to his life and work. Its main route is the numbered Reacher series; a short-story collection and a crossover novella add optional stories, while the Neagley books follow Frances Neagley in a separate spin-off. Readers can enjoy the main novels without reading every connected work, and publication order is the clearest first route.

The Kate Daniels Universe

The League Universe

Epic sci-fi romance series.

The Legend of Drizzt Universe

The iconic Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms adventures featuring Drizzt Do'Urden.

The Murderbot Diaries

The Obsidian Universe

The Obsidian Universe links the Obsidian Mountain Trilogy, The Enduring Flame Trilogy, and The Dragon Prophecy Trilogy. The first two cycles explore the same magical lands at different points in their history; Dragon Prophecy reaches thousands of years further into the past, following the first war against the Endarkened. Readers can begin with the Obsidian Mountain Trilogy, then explore the later and earlier connected stories. The current catalogue includes the Obsidian Mountain and Dragon Prophecy guides; Enduring Flame remains outside this pass.

The October Daye Universe

The Otherworld

A vast urban fantasy universe featuring werewolves, witches, and necromancers.

The Patterson Thriller Universe

The vast collection of procedural thrillers by James Patterson.

The Psy-Changeling Universe

A world divided by emotionless Psy and passionate Changelings.

The Realm of the Elderlings

A connected fantasy world told through five linked sequences: Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, Rain Wild Chronicles, and Fitz and the Fool. Read them in publication order for the full arc, beginning with Assassin’s Apprentice. The Soldier Son Trilogy is separate and does not belong to this universe.

The Rebus Universe

Edinburgh-based crime thrillers.

The Riftwar Universe

The massive epic fantasy universe spanning Midkemia and Kelewan.

The Rockton Universe

A hidden off-the-grid town where people go to disappear.

The Shannara Universe

The expansive epic fantasy world of Shannara.

The Sookie Stackhouse Universe

The Spearwielder's Tale Universe

A comic fantasy trilogy about Tim and the unlikely world he reaches through a magical spear.

The Talents Universe

A connected future history in which people with psychic and telekinetic abilities become central to human society and its expansion into space.

The Valdemar Universe

The massive magical world of Valdemar and its Heralds.

The Vorkosigan Saga Universe

Space opera series centering on the Vorkosigan family of Barrayar.

The Wheel of Time

The Wheel of Time is Robert Jordan’s epic fantasy world, where the Pattern weaves lives and nations into recurring Ages. The fourteen-book main story is self-contained as a series; New Spring adds an earlier story about Moiraine and Lan. The easiest route is the main novels in publication order, with New Spring after Crossroads of Twilight. Conan and the Fallon family saga are separate works, not part of this universe.

Thousand Worlds

The Thousand Worlds is the shared science-fiction setting behind several George R. R. Martin stories and novels. The works are loosely connected rather than one continuous plot. Begin with Dying of the Light for a novel-length entry; the stories and collections are optional companions.

Westeros

Westeros and Essos are the settings for A Song of Ice and Fire, the Dunk and Egg novellas, and histories of House Targaryen. The main novels have a clear publication order; the earlier-set companions are optional and can be read separately. Start with A Game of Thrones for the central story.

When the Wind Blows / Maximum Ride Universe

When the Wind Blows and The Lake House introduce a science-fiction world that later connects to the Maximum Ride and Hawk novels. The books can be read as separate series, but publication order is the clearest route through the crossover.

Wild Cards

Wild Cards is a long-running shared-world science-fiction series created and edited by George R. R. Martin with many other writers. Martin’s contribution listed here is the co-written novel Dead Man’s Hand; this is not a complete reading order for the wider series.

Wizarding World

The Wizarding World connects the seven core Harry Potter novels with the later Cursed Child stage script, the three optional Hogwarts Library companion books, and the separate Fantastic Beasts screenplays. New readers should begin with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and finish the seven novels in publication order. None of the companion branches is required to understand Harry's main story.

World of the Five Gods

A fantasy universe centered around Chalion.

Ynis Aielle Universe

A fantasy trilogy set in Ynis Aielle, where the old magic and a new threat shape the kingdom's future.