Order of Book Series
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Dave Duncan Books in Order

Dave Duncan has written 67 books, published between 1987 and 2024. The first book is A Rose-Red City (1987) and the newest is Corridor to Nightmare (2024). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
67
Published
1987–2024
Pages on record
18,679 in 55 of 67 books
Reading time
311–467 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 18,679 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 55 of 67 titles with a page count on record.

See all 67 books in order Printable Dave Duncan checklist

Dave Duncan (1933-2018) was a Canadian fantasy and science fiction author, and swordsmen, swordplay and magic run through most of his 67 catalogued books. The King's Blades and King's Daggers, the Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word and A Handful of Men are among twelve series, with the Venice Trilogy, Years of Longdirk, Great Game and Enchanter General beside them. Historical fantasy and science fiction sit next to the epic fantasy. A Rose-Red City (1987) opens the catalogue and Corridor to Nightmare (2024) closes it, with the 1990s his heaviest decade and a median of 332 pages.

How many Dave Duncan books are there?

Dave Duncan has 67 books, released between 1987 and 2024. They include 14 series and 18 titles listed outside any series.

Dave Duncan Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 67 Dave Duncan 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 A Rose-Red City by Dave Duncan (1987)
  2. Cover of Shadow by Dave Duncan (1987)
  3. Cover of The Reluctant Swordsman by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the Seventh Sword series (1988)
  4. Cover of The Coming of Wisdom by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the Seventh Sword series (1988)
  5. Cover of The Destiny of the Sword by Dave Duncan, book 3 of the Seventh Sword series (1988)
  6. Cover of West of January by Dave Duncan (1989)
  7. Cover of Magic Casement by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the A Man of His Word series (1990)
  8. Cover of Faery Lands Forlorn by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the A Man of His Word series (1991)
  9. Cover of Perilous Seas by Dave Duncan, book 3 of the A Man of His Word series (1991)
  10. Cover of The Cutting Edge by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the A Handful of Men series (1992)
  11. Cover of The Reaver Road by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the Omar series (1992)
  12. Cover of Emperor and Clown by Dave Duncan, book 4 of the A Man of His Word series (1992)
  13. Cover of Upland Outlaws by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the A Handful of Men series (1993)
  14. Cover of The Stricken Field by Dave Duncan, book 3 of the A Handful of Men series (1993)
  15. Cover of The Living God by Dave Duncan, book 4 of the A Handful of Men series (1994)
  16. Cover of Demon Sword by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the Years of Longdirk series (1995)
  17. Cover of Past Imperative by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the Great Game series (1995)
  18. Cover of The Hunters' Haunt by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the Omar series (1995)
  19. Cover of Present Tense by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the Great Game series (1996)
  20. Cover of Demon Rider by Dave Duncan, book 2 of the Years of Longdirk series (1997)
  21. Cover of Future Indefinite by Dave Duncan, book 3 of the Great Game series (1997)
  22. Cover of The Gilded Chain by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the King's Blades series (1998)
  23. Cover of Daughter of Troy by Dave Duncan (1998)
  24. Cover of Sir Stalwart by Dave Duncan, book 1 of the King's Daggers series (1999)
  1. 1
    A Rose-Red City1987 · 230 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1987230
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    Shadow1987 · 276 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1987276
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    The Reluctant SwordsmanSeventh Sword #11988 · 326 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988326
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    The Coming of WisdomSeventh Sword #21988 · 337 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988337
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    The Destiny of the SwordSeventh Sword #31988 · 338 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1988338
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    West of January1989 · 343 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1989343
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    Magic CasementA Man of His Word #11990 · 307 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1990307
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    Strings1990 · confirmed 2/4
    1990–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    Faery Lands ForlornA Man of His Word #21991 · 335 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1991335
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    Perilous SeasA Man of His Word #31991 · 336 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1991336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Hero!1991 · confirmed 2/4
    1991–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    The Cutting EdgeA Handful of Men #11992 · 30 pages · confirmed 2/4
    199230
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    The Reaver RoadOmar #11992 · 236 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1992236
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    Emperor and ClownA Man of His Word #41992 · 469 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1992469
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    Upland OutlawsA Handful of Men #21993 · confirmed 2/4
    1993–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    The Stricken FieldA Handful of Men #31993 · confirmed 2/4
    1993–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    The Living GodA Handful of Men #41994 · confirmed 2/4
    1994–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    Demon SwordYears of Longdirk #11995 · confirmed 2/4
    1995–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    Past ImperativeGreat Game #11995 · 445 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1995445
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    The Hunters' HauntOmar #21995 · 232 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1995232
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    The Cursed1995 · confirmed 2/4
    1995–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Present TenseGreat Game #21996 · 418 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1996418
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    Demon RiderYears of Longdirk #21997 · 415 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1997415
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    Future IndefiniteGreat Game #31997 · 334 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1997334
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    The Gilded ChainKing's Blades #11998 · 418 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1998418
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    Demon KnightYears of Longdirk #31998 · confirmed 2/4
    1998–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    Daughter of Troy1998 · 544 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1998544
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Sir StalwartKing's Daggers #11999 · 256 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1999256
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    Lord of the Fire LandsKing's Blades #21999 · 480 pages · confirmed 2/4
    1999480
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    The Crooked HouseKing's Daggers #22000 · 246 pages · confirmed 2/4
    2000246
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Dave Duncan 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.

King's Blades in order

8 books
  1. 1. The Gilded Chain
  2. 2. Lord of the Fire Lands
  3. 3. Sky of Swords
  4. 4. Paragon Lost
  5. 5. Impossible Odds
  6. 6. The Jaguar Knights
  7. 7. One Velvet Glove
  8. 8. The Ethical Swordsman

Seventh Sword in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Reluctant Swordsman
  2. 2. The Coming of Wisdom
  3. 3. The Destiny of the Sword
  4. 4. The Death of Nnanji

A Man of His Word in order

4 books
  1. 1. Magic Casement
  2. 2. Faery Lands Forlorn
  3. 3. Perilous Seas
  4. 4. Emperor and Clown

A Handful of Men in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Cutting Edge
  2. 2. Upland Outlaws
  3. 3. The Stricken Field
  4. 4. The Living God

King's Daggers in order

4 books
  1. 1. Sir Stalwart
  2. 2. The Crooked House
  3. 3. Silvercloak
  4. 4. The Monster War

Ivor of Glenbroch in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Runner and the Wizard
  2. 2. The Runner and the Saint
  3. 3. The Runner and the Kelpie
  4. 4. The Adventures of Ivor

Years of Longdirk in order

3 books
  1. 1. Demon Sword
  2. 2. Demon Rider
  3. 3. Demon Knight

Great Game in order

3 books
  1. 1. Past Imperative
  2. 2. Present Tense
  3. 3. Future Indefinite

Venice Trilogy in order

3 books
  1. 1. The Alchemist's Apprentice
  2. 2. The Alchemist's Code
  3. 3. The Alchemist's Pursuit

Brothers Magnus in order

3 books
  1. 1. Speak to the Devil
  2. 2. When the Saints
  3. 3. The Speaker and the Saints

Enchanter General in order

3 books
  1. 1. Ironfoot
  2. 2. Trial by Treason
  3. 3. Merlin Redux

Omar in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Reaver Road
  2. 2. The Hunters' Haunt

Dodec in order

2 books
  1. 1. Children of Chaos
  2. 2. Mother of Lies

Starfolk in order

2 books
  1. 1. King of Swords
  2. 2. Queen of Stars

Standalone books

18 books

18 Dave Duncan titles here are not listed as part of any series.

Do you have to read Dave Duncan books in order?

You only need to read Dave Duncan books in order within each series: the books listed here span 14 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Dave Duncan

Start with A Rose-Red City (1987), the earliest published title.

What is the newest Dave Duncan book?

Corridor to Nightmare (2024) is the newest Dave Duncan book released so far.

Is there a new Dave Duncan book coming?

No next Dave Duncan 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 Dave Duncan has won

Wikidata records 1 award and 3 nominations for Dave Duncan. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

Dave Duncan at a glance

Still publishing
Dave Duncan published a book as recently as 2024.
Release pace
Dave Duncan books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
18,679 pages across the 55 of 67 books with a recorded length, a median of 332 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Dave Duncan books, 23 of 67, were published in the 1990s.

What the Dave Duncan books are about

53 of the 67 Dave Duncan 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 33 of 53. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.