Order of Book Series
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Barbara Hambly Books in Order

Barbara Hambly has written 119 books, published between 1982 and 2026. The first book is The Time of the Dark (1982) and the newest is Death in the Palace (2026). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
119
Published
1982–2026
Confirmed
117 of 119 titles
Pages on record
18,025 in 54 of 119 books
See all 119 books in order Printable Barbara Hambly checklist
Photo of Barbara Hambly, author

Barbara Hambly, an American novelist and screenwriter born August 28, 1951, works across fantasy, science fiction, mystery and historical fiction. The Benjamin January mysteries follow a free man of color, a musician and physician, in antebellum New Orleans. Hambly's other series include James Asher, Darwath, Sun Wolf and Starhawk and the Windrose Chronicles, and the science fiction extends into Star Trek and Star Wars settings. Historical novels about Mary Todd Lincoln and Abigail Adams are also part of the output. The 119 catalogued books run from The Time of the Dark (1982) to Death in the Palace (2026).

How many Barbara Hambly books are there?

Barbara Hambly has 119 books, released between 1982 and 2026. They include 15 separate series.

Barbara Hambly Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 119 Barbara Hambly 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 The Walls of Air by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the Darwath series (1983)
  2. Cover of The Armies of Daylight by Barbara Hambly, book 3 of the Darwath series (1983)
  3. Cover of The Tears of the Singers by Barbara Hambly, book 8 of the Star Trek: TOS series (1984)
  4. Cover of Ishmael by Barbara Hambly, book 12 of the Star Trek: TOS series (1985)
  5. Cover of Ishmael by Barbara Hambly, book 17 of the Star Trek: TOS (Original) series (1985)
  6. Cover of The Silent Tower by Barbara Hambly, book 1 of the Windrose Chronicles (1986)
  7. Cover of The Witches of Wenshar by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series (1987)
  8. Cover of Beauty and the Beast by Barbara Hambly, book 1 of the Beauty and the Beast series (1989)
  9. Cover of Song of Orpheus by Barbara Hambly, book 3 of the Beauty and the Beast series (1990)
  10. Cover of The Dark Hand of Magic by Barbara Hambly, book 3 of the Sun Wolf and Starhawk series (1990)
  11. Cover of The Rainbow Abyss by Barbara Hambly, book 1 of the Sun-Cross series (1991)
  12. Cover of Ghost-Walker by Barbara Hambly, book 25 of the Star Trek: TOS series (1991)
  13. Cover of The Magicians of Night by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the Sun-Cross series (1992)
  14. Cover of Bride of the Rat God by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the Barbara Hambly Standalone Novels series (1994)
  15. Cover of Stranger at the Wedding by Barbara Hambly, book 4 of the Windrose Chronicles (1994)
  16. Cover of Crossroad by Barbara Hambly, book 40 of the Star Trek: TOS series (1994)
  17. Cover of Crossroad by Barbara Hambly, book 54 of the Star Trek: TOS (Original) series (1994)
  18. Cover of Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly, book 1 of the Callista Trilogy (1995)
  19. Cover of Traveling with the Dead by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the James Asher series (1995)
  20. Cover of Mother of Winter by Barbara Hambly, book 4 of the Darwath series (1996)
  21. Cover of A Free Man of Color by Barbara Hambly, book 1 of the Benjamin January series (1997)
  22. Cover of Planet of Twilight by Barbara Hambly, book 3 of the Callista Trilogy (1997)
  23. Cover of Icefalcon's Quest by Barbara Hambly, book 5 of the Darwath series (1998)
  24. Cover of Dragonshadow by Barbara Hambly, book 2 of the Winterlands (Dragonsbane) series (1999)
  1. 1
    The Time of the DarkDarwath #11982 · confirmed 3/4
    1982–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    The Quirinal Hill Affair/Search the Seven HillsBarbara Hambly Standalone Novels #11983 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    The Walls of AirDarwath #21983 · 297 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983297
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    The Armies of DaylightDarwath #31983 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1983309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    The Ladies of MandrigynSun Wolf and Starhawk #11984 · confirmed 3/4
    1984–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    The Tears of the SingersStar Trek: TOS #81984 · 252 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1984252
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    DragonsbaneWinterlands (Dragonsbane) #11985 · 341 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985341
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    IshmaelStar Trek: TOS #121985 · 256 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1985256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    IshmaelStar Trek: TOS (Original) #171985 · confirmed 3/4
    1985–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    The Silent TowerWindrose Chronicles #11986 · 369 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1986369
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    The Witches of WensharSun Wolf and Starhawk #21987 · 295 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1987295
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Those Who Hunt the NightJames Asher #11988 · 296 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988296
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    The Silicon MageWindrose Chronicles #21988 · 338 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1988338
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast #11989 · confirmed 3/4
    1989–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Song of OrpheusBeauty and the Beast #31990 · confirmed 3/4
    1990–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    The Dark Hand of MagicSun Wolf and Starhawk #31990 · 309 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1990309
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Rainbow AbyssSun-Cross #11991 · confirmed 3/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Ghost-WalkerStar Trek: TOS #251991 · 273 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1991273
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Magicians of NightSun-Cross #21992 · confirmed 3/4
    1992–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Dog WizardWindrose Chronicles #31992 · 389 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1992389
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    Bride of the Rat GodBarbara Hambly Standalone Novels #21994 · 336 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1994336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Stranger at the WeddingWindrose Chronicles #41994 · confirmed 3/4
    1994–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    CrossroadStar Trek: TOS #401994 · 274 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1994274
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    CrossroadStar Trek: TOS (Original) #541994 · confirmed 3/4
    1994–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Children of the JediCallista Trilogy #11995 · 432 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1995432
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Traveling with the DeadJames Asher #21995 · 343 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1995343
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Children of the JediStar Wars Legends #71995 · confirmed 3/4
    1995–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Mother of WinterDarwath #41996 · 380 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1996380
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    A Free Man of ColorBenjamin January #11997 · 412 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1997412
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Planet of TwilightCallista Trilogy #31997 · 389 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1997389
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Barbara Hambly series and characters in order

Each link below opens a reading-order page with every book in publication order.

Barbara Hambly books grouped by series

Each title below is a row in the publication-order table above. None of these groups has a reading-order page of its own on this site.

James Asher in order

9 books
  1. 1. Those Who Hunt the Night
  2. 2. Traveling with the Dead
  3. 3. Blood Maidens
  4. 4. Magistrates of Hell
  5. 5. The Kindred of Darkness
  6. 6. Darkness on his Bones
  7. 7. Pale Guardian
  8. 8. Prisoner of Midnight
  9. 9. Gravemould and Ectoplasm

Darwath in order

8 books
  1. 1. The Time of the Dark
  2. 2. The Walls of Air
  3. 3. The Armies of Daylight
  4. 4. Mother of Winter
  5. 5. Icefalcon's Quest
  6. 6. Pretty Polly
  7. 7. Whisper
  8. 8. Elsewhere

Sun Wolf and Starhawk in order

8 books
  1. 1. The Ladies of Mandrigyn
  2. 2. The Witches of Wenshar
  3. 3. The Dark Hand of Magic
  4. 4. Fairest in the Land
  5. 5. Nanya of the Butterflies
  6. 6. A Night With the Girls
  7. 7. Hazard
  8. 8. Gwenael

Star Trek: TOS (Original) in order

8 books
  1. 17. Ishmael
  2. 54. Crossroad
  3. 88. From History's Shadow
  4. 102. Elusive Salvation
  5. 105. The Antares Maelstrom
  6. 107. Agents of Influence
  7. 108. A Contest of Principles
  8. 111. Lost to Eternity

Barbara Hambly Standalone Novels

7 books

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

Windrose Short Stories/Novellas

7 books

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

Winterlands (Dragonsbane) in order

5 books
  1. 1. Dragonsbane
  2. 2. Dragonshadow
  3. 3. Knight of the Demon Queen
  4. 4. Dragonstar
  5. 5. Cat's Paw

Windrose Chronicles in order

5 books
  1. 1. The Silent Tower
  2. 2. The Silicon Mage
  3. 3. Dog Wizard
  4. 4. Stranger at the Wedding
  5. 5. Just Like Real People

Star Trek: TOS in order

5 books
  1. 8. The Tears of the Singers
  2. 12. Ishmael
  3. 25. Ghost-Walker
  4. 40. Crossroad
  5. 56. Federation

Winterlands Short Stories/Novellas

4 books

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

Silver Screen Historical Mystery in order

4 books
  1. 1. Scandal in Babylon
  2. 2. One Extra Corpse
  3. 3. Saving Susy Sweetchild
  4. 4. Death in the Palace

Anne Steelyard: The Garden of Emptiness in order

3 books
  1. 1. An Honorary Man
  2. 2. The Gate of Dreams and Starlight
  3. 3. A Thousand Waters

Abigail Adams Series as Barbara Hamilton in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Ninth Daughter
  2. 2. A Marked Man
  3. 3. Sup with the Devil

Barbara Hambly Short Stories/Novellas

3 books

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

Beauty and the Beast in order

2 books
  1. 1. Beauty and the Beast
  2. 3. Song of Orpheus

Sun-Cross in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Rainbow Abyss
  2. 2. The Magicians of Night

Callista Trilogy in order

2 books
  1. 1. Children of the Jedi
  2. 3. Planet of Twilight

Sisters of the Raven in order

2 books
  1. 1. Sisters of the Raven
  2. 2. Circle of the Moon

Sherlock Holmes Adventures in order

2 books
  1. 1. Sherlock Holmes - Adventure of the Lost Boy
  2. 2. Sherlock Holmes - Adventure of the Sinister Chinaman

Star Wars Legends in order

2 books
  1. 7. Children of the Jedi
  2. 13. Planet of Twilight

Magic Time in order

1 book
  1. 1. Magic Time

Colossus Films in order

1 book
  1. 1. Castle of Horror

Do you have to read Barbara Hambly books in order?

You only need to read Barbara Hambly books in order within each series: the books listed here span 15 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Barbara Hambly

Start with the first book of the Barbara Hambly series you want to read: Benjamin January starts with A Free Man of Color (1997) and Benjamin January Mysteries starts with A Free Man of Color (1997). The earliest catalogued title overall is The Time of the Dark (1982).

What is the newest Barbara Hambly book?

Death in the Palace (2026) is the newest Barbara Hambly book released so far.

Is there a new Barbara Hambly book coming?

No next Barbara Hambly 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 Barbara Hambly has won

Wikidata records 2 awards and 14 nominations for Barbara Hambly. The most recent 12 are listed here. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

Barbara Hambly at a glance

Still publishing
Barbara Hambly published a book as recently as 2026.
Release pace
Barbara Hambly books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
18,025 pages across the 54 of 119 books with a recorded length, a median of 321 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Barbara Hambly books, 52 of 119, were published in the 2010s.

What the Barbara Hambly books are about

58 of the 119 Barbara Hambly books carry subject tags in Open Library's catalogue. The subjects below are the ones that recur across them, most frequent first: fantasy is tagged on 16 of 58. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.