Order of Book Series
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Anne McCaffrey Books in Order

Anne McCaffrey has written 96 books, published between 1967 and 2011. The first book is Restoree (1967) and the newest is Sky Dragons (2011). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
96
Published
1967–2011
Confirmed
96 of 96 titles
Pages on record
23,410 in 74 of 96 books
Reading time
390–585 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 23,410 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 74 of 96 titles with a page count on record.

See all 96 books in order Printable Anne McCaffrey checklist
Photo of Anne McCaffrey, author

Anne McCaffrey (1 April 1926 to 21 November 2011) was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. McCaffrey was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction, for the novella Weyr Search (1968), and the first to win a Nebula, for Dragonrider (1969). The White Dragon (1978) was among the earliest science fiction books on the New York Times Best Seller list. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master in 2005. The catalogue lists 96 books, from Restoree (1967) to Sky Dragons (2011), plus the Acorna, Crystal Singer and Tower and Hive series.

How many Anne McCaffrey books are there?

Anne McCaffrey has 96 books, released between 1967 and 2011. They include 13 separate series.

Anne McCaffrey Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 96 Anne McCaffrey books in the order they were published, with the release year, the page count where one is on record, and how many independent book listings confirm each title. Catalogue data as of September 2026.

  1. Cover of Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Doona series (1969)
  2. Cover of The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Brainship series (1969)
  3. Cover of Ring of Fear by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Three Women series (1971)
  4. Cover of The Mark of Merlin by Anne McCaffrey, book 2 of the Anne McCaffrey Standalone Novels series (1971)
  5. Cover of Cooking Out Of This World by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Anne McCaffrey Non-Fiction series (1973)
  6. Cover of A Time When by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Anne McCaffrey Short Stories/Novellas series (1975)
  7. Cover of Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey, book 4 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1977)
  8. Cover of The Smallest Dragonboy by Anne McCaffrey, book 5 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1977)
  9. Cover of The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey, book 6 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1978)
  10. Cover of Dragondrums by Anne McCaffrey, book 7 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1979)
  11. Cover of Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Crystal Singer Trilogy (1982)
  12. Cover of The Coelura by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Crystal Universe series (1983)
  13. Cover of Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, book 8 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1983)
  14. Cover of Dinosaur Planet Survivors by Anne McCaffrey, book 2 of the Dinosaur Planet series (1984)
  15. Cover of The Atlas of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, book 2 of the Anne McCaffrey Non-Fiction series (1984)
  16. Cover of Stitch in Snow by Anne McCaffrey, book 3 of the Anne McCaffrey Standalone Novels series (1984)
  17. Cover of Killashandra by Anne McCaffrey, book 2 of the Crystal Singer Trilogy (1985)
  18. Cover of The Year of the Lucy by Anne McCaffrey, book 4 of the Anne McCaffrey Standalone Novels series (1986)
  19. Cover of Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey, book 9 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1986)
  20. Cover of The People of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, book 3 of the Anne McCaffrey Non-Fiction series (1988)
  21. Cover of Dragonsdawn by Anne McCaffrey, book 10 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1988)
  22. Cover of The Renegades of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, book 12 of the Dragonriders of Pern series (1989)
  23. Cover of The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey, book 1 of the Tower and Hive series (1990)
  24. Cover of The Death of Sleep, book 2 of the Planet Pirates series (1990)
  1. 1
    RestoreeAnne McCaffrey Standalone Novels #11967 · 252 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1967252
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    DragonflightDragonriders of Pern #11968 · confirmed 4/4
    1968–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    Decision at DoonaDoona #11969 · confirmed 3/4
    1969–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    The Ship Who SangBrainship #11969 · 256 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1969256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    Ring of FearThree Women #11971 · 256 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1971256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    DragonquestDragonriders of Pern #21971 · confirmed 4/4
    1971–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    The Mark of MerlinAnne McCaffrey Standalone Novels #21971 · 196 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1971196
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Cooking Out Of This WorldAnne McCaffrey Non-Fiction #11973 · 204 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1973204
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    To Ride PegasusTalent #11973 · confirmed 3/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    A Time WhenAnne McCaffrey Short Stories/Novellas #11975 · 76 pages · confirmed 3/4
    197576
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The Kilternan LegacyThree Women #21975 · confirmed 3/4
    1975–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    DragonsongDragonriders of Pern #31976 · confirmed 3/4
    1976–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    Future loveAnne McCaffrey Short Story #21977 · confirmed 3/4
    1977–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    DragonsingerDragonriders of Pern #41977 · 288 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1977288
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    The Smallest DragonboyDragonriders of Pern #51977 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1977320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    Dinosaur PlanetDinosaur Planet #11978 · 202 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1978202
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The White DragonDragonriders of Pern #61978 · 464 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1978464
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    DragondrumsDragonriders of Pern #71979 · 256 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1979256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Crystal SingerCrystal Singer Trilogy #11982 · 311 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1982311
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The CoeluraCrystal Universe #11983 · 156 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983156
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Moreta: Dragonlady of PernDragonriders of Pern #81983 · 359 pages · confirmed 4/4
    1983359
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Dinosaur Planet SurvivorsDinosaur Planet #21984 · 294 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1984294
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    The Atlas of PernAnne McCaffrey Non-Fiction #21984 · 169 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1984169
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Habit is an old horseAnne McCaffrey Short Story #31984 · confirmed 3/4
    1984–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Stitch in SnowAnne McCaffrey Standalone Novels #31984 · confirmed 3/4
    1984–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    KillashandraCrystal Singer Trilogy #21985 · 373 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985373
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Girl Who Heard DragonsAnne McCaffrey Short Story #41985 · 352 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985352
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    The Year of the LucyAnne McCaffrey Standalone Novels #41986 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1986320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Nerilka's StoryDragonriders of Pern #91986 · confirmed 3/4
    1986–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    The Lady / The Carradyne TouchAnne McCaffrey Standalone Novels #51987 · 461 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987461
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Anne McCaffrey characters in order

Each character linked below has its own reading-order page.

Anne McCaffrey books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. A group whose heading is a link has its own reading-order page; the other groups have no page of their own on this site.

Dragonriders of Pern books in order

28 books by Anne McCaffrey
  1. 1. Dragonflight
  2. 2. Dragonquest
  3. 3. Dragonsong
  4. 4. Dragonsinger
  5. 5. The Smallest Dragonboy
  6. 6. The White Dragon
  7. 7. Dragondrums
  8. 8. Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
  9. 9. Nerilka's Story
  10. 10. Dragonsdawn
  11. 11. The Impression
  12. 12. The Renegades of Pern
  13. and 16 more in the table above

Acorna in order

10 books
  1. 1. Acorna: The Unicorn Girl
  2. 2. Acorna's Quest
  3. 3. Acorna's People
  4. 4. Acorna's World
  5. 5. Acorna's Search
  6. 6. Acorna's Rebels
  7. 7. Acorna's Triumph
  8. 8. First Warning: Acorna's Children
  9. 9. Second Wave: Acorna's Children
  10. 10. Third Watch: Acorna's Children

Anne McCaffrey Standalone Novels

9 books

9 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Anne McCaffrey Non-Fiction

5 books

5 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Tower and Hive in order

5 books
  1. 1. The Rowan
  2. 2. Damia
  3. 3. Damia's Children
  4. 4. Lyon's Pride
  5. 5. The Tower and the Hive

Freedom in order

4 books
  1. 1. Freedom's Landing
  2. 2. Freedom's Choice
  3. 3. Freedom's Challenge
  4. 4. Freedom's Ransom

Doona in order

3 books
  1. 1. Decision at Doona
  2. 2. Crisis on Doona
  3. 3. Treaty at Doona / Treaty Planet

Brainship in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Ship Who Sang
  2. 2. The Ship Who Searched
  3. 5. The Ship Who Won

Three Women in order

3 books
  1. 1. Ring of Fear
  2. 2. The Kilternan Legacy
  3. 3. Three Women

Talent books in order

3 books by Anne McCaffrey
  1. 1. To Ride Pegasus
  2. 2. Pegasus in Flight
  3. 3. Pegasus in Space

Anne McCaffrey Short Stories/Novellas

3 books

3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Crystal Singer Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. Crystal Singer
  2. 2. Killashandra
  3. 3. Crystal Line

Anne McCaffrey Graphic Novels with Brynne Stephens in order

3 books
  1. 1. Dragonflight #1
  2. 2. Dragonflight #2
  3. 3. Dragonflight #3

Twins of Petaybee in order

3 books
  1. 1. Changelings
  2. 2. Maelstrom
  3. 3. Deluge

Anne McCaffrey Short Story

3 books

3 titles published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Dinosaur Planet in order

2 books
  1. 1. Dinosaur Planet
  2. 2. Dinosaur Planet Survivors

Crystal Universe in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Coelura
  2. 2. Nimisha's Ship

Tales of the Barque Cats in order

2 books
  1. 1. Catalyst
  2. 2. Catacombs

Petaybee/Powers Trilogy in order

1 book
  1. 1. Powers That Be

Planet Pirates in order

1 book
  1. 2. The Death of Sleep

Anne McCaffrey Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Anne McCaffrey books run from Restoree (1967) to Sky Dragons (2011), the sequence in the table above. The Dragonriders of Pern series also has a separate in-universe order on record: Dragonriders of Pern books in chronological order. No other Anne McCaffrey story order is on record.

Do you have to read Anne McCaffrey books in order?

You only need to read Anne McCaffrey books in order within each series: the books listed here span 13 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

What order should you read Anne McCaffrey books in?

Read Anne McCaffrey one series at a time, each in its own publication order: Dragonriders of Pern starts with Dragonflight (1968) and The Talents starts with To Ride Pegasus (1973). The earliest catalogued title overall is Restoree (1967).

What is the newest Anne McCaffrey book?

Sky Dragons (2011) is the newest Anne McCaffrey book released so far.

Is there a new Anne McCaffrey book coming?

No next Anne McCaffrey book is announced in the catalogue, which is a gap in the listings it merges rather than a sign that the run has ended.

Awards Anne McCaffrey has won

Wikidata records 10 awards and 25 nominations for Anne McCaffrey. The most recent 12 are listed here. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Robert A. Heinlein Award2007Won
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame2006Won
  • Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award2005Won
  • Margaret Edwards Award1999Wonfor Dragonflight
  • Balrog Awards1980Wonfor Dragondrums
  • Ditmar Award1979Wonfor The White Dragon
  • Gandalf Award1979Wonfor The White Dragon
  • Edward E. Smith Memorial Award1976Won
  • Nebula Award for Best Novella1969Wonfor Dragonrider
  • Hugo Award for Best Novella1968Wonfor Weyr Search
  • Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel1995Shortlistedfor The Dolphins of Pern
  • Locus Award for Best Collection1995Shortlistedfor The Girl Who Heard Dragons

Anne McCaffrey at a glance

Died
Anne McCaffrey died in 2011, according to Wikidata.
Last book
The newest book credited to Anne McCaffrey on record dates from 2011.
Release pace
Anne McCaffrey books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
23,410 pages across the 74 of 96 books with a recorded length, a median of 320 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Anne McCaffrey books, 38 of 96, were published in the 1990s.
Corroboration
19 of the 96 titles appear in all four independent book listings, and every one of them in at least three.

What the Anne McCaffrey books are about

85 of the 96 Anne McCaffrey books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: science fiction is tagged on 58 of 85. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.