Order of Book Series
0

Larry Niven Books in Order

Larry Niven has written 93 books, published between 1964 and 2020. The first book is The Coldest Place (1964) and the newest is Starborn and Godsons (2020). Publication order is the reading order below.

Books
93
Published
1964–2020
Confirmed
91 of 93 titles
Pages on record
23,368 in 67 of 93 books
Reading time
389–584 hours

Reading time is an estimate, not a recorded figure: 23,368 pages at 300 words a page, read at 200–300 words a minute, covering the 67 of 93 titles with a page count on record.

See all 93 books in order Printable Larry Niven checklist
Photo of Larry Niven, author

Larry Niven, born Laurence van Cott Niven in 1938, is an American science fiction writer working primarily in hard science fiction, with elements of detective fiction and adventure. Ringworld (1970) took the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and Ditmar awards, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named Niven its Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master in 2015. Jerry Pournelle co-wrote The Mote in God's Eye (1974) and Lucifer's Hammer (1977) with Niven. The catalogue holds 93 titles from The Coldest Place (1964) to Starborn and Godsons (2020). Series listed include Known Space, Ringworld Prequel / Fleet of the Worlds, Dream Park, Heorot, Moties, State and Magic Goes Away, a fantasy sequence treating magic as a non-renewable resource.

How many Larry Niven books are there?

Larry Niven has 93 books, released between 1964 and 2020. They include 11 separate series.

Larry Niven Books in Publication Order

The table lists all 93 Larry Niven 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 Gift from Earth by Larry Niven, book 2 of the Known Space series (1968)
  2. Cover of Neutron Star by Larry Niven, book 3 of the Known Space series (1968)
  3. Cover of Ringworld by Larry Niven, book 1 of the Ringworld series (1970)
  4. Cover of The Flying Sorcerers by Larry Niven, book 1 of the David Gerrold Standalone Novels series (1970)
  5. Cover of The Flight of the Horse by Larry Niven, book 4 of the Larry Niven Short Story series (1973)
  6. Cover of Protector by Larry Niven, book 5 of the Known Space series (1973)
  7. Cover of The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven, book 1 of the Moties series (1974)
  8. Cover of Tales of Known Space by Larry Niven, book 6 of the Known Space series (1975)
  9. Cover of Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven, book 2 of the Larry Niven Standalone Novels series (1977)
  10. Cover of The Magic Goes Away by Larry Niven, book 1 of the Magic Goes Away series (1978)
  11. Cover of The Ringworld Engineers by Larry Niven, book 2 of the Ringworld series (1979)
  12. Cover of Convergent Series by Larry Niven, book 6 of the Larry Niven Short Story series (1979)
  13. Cover of Dream Park by Larry Niven, book 1 of the Dream Park series (1981)
  14. Cover of The Magic May Return by Larry Niven, book 2 of the Magic Goes Away series (1981)
  15. Cover of Oath of Fealty by Larry Niven, book 3 of the Larry Niven Standalone Novels series (1981)
  16. Cover of The Descent of Anansi by Larry Niven, book 4 of the Larry Niven Standalone Novels series (1982)
  17. Cover of The Integral Trees by Larry Niven, book 2 of the State series (1983)
  18. Cover of More Magic by Larry Niven, book 4 of the Magic Goes Away series (1984)
  19. Cover of Footfall by Larry Niven, book 5 of the Larry Niven Standalone Novels series (1985)
  20. Cover of Limits by Larry Niven, book 7 of the Larry Niven Short Story series (1985)
  21. Cover of The Smoke Ring by Larry Niven, book 3 of the State series (1987)
  22. Cover of The Man-Kzin Wars by Larry Niven, book 1 of the Man-Kzin Wars series (1988)
  23. Cover of The Barsoom Project by Larry Niven, book 2 of the Dream Park series (1989)
  24. Cover of N-Space by Larry Niven, book 8 of the Larry Niven Short Story series (1990)
  1. 1
    The Coldest PlaceLarry Niven Short Stories/Novellas with Steven Barnes #11964 · confirmed 3/4
    1964–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  2. 2
    World of PtavvsKnown Space #11966 · confirmed 3/4
    1966–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  3. 3
    A Relic of the EmpireLarry Niven Short Stories/Novellas #21966 · confirmed 2/4
    1966–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  4. 4
    All the Myriad WaysLarry Niven Short Story #11968 · confirmed 3/4
    1968–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  5. 5
    A Gift from EarthKnown Space #21968 · confirmed 3/4
    1968–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  6. 6
    Neutron StarKnown Space #31968 · 113 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1968113
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  7. 7
    The Shape of SpaceLarry Niven Short Story #21969 · confirmed 3/4
    1969–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  8. 8
    The Long Arm of Gil HamiltonKnown Space #41969 · confirmed 3/4
    1969–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  9. 9
    RingworldRingworld #11970 · 342 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1970342
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  10. 10
    The Flying SorcerersDavid Gerrold Standalone Novels #11970 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1970320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  11. 11
    Inconstant MoonLarry Niven Short Story #31971 · 208 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1971208
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  12. 12
    Flash CrowdLarry Niven Short Stories/Novellas with Steven Barnes #31973 · confirmed 3/4
    1973–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  13. 13
    The Flight of the HorseLarry Niven Short Story #41973 · 224 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1973224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  14. 14
    ProtectorKnown Space #51973 · 224 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1973224
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  15. 15
    The Mote in God's EyeMoties #11974 · 592 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1974592
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  16. 16
    A Kind of MurderLarry Niven Short Stories/Novellas with Steven Barnes #41974 · confirmed 3/4
    1974–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  17. 17
    A Hole in SpaceLarry Niven Short Story #51974 · confirmed 3/4
    1974–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  18. 18
    InfernoInferno #11975 · confirmed 3/4
    1975–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  19. 19
    The Borderland of SolLarry Niven Short Stories/Novellas with Steven Barnes #51975 · confirmed 3/4
    1975–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  20. 20
    Tales of Known SpaceKnown Space #61975 · 240 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1975240
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  21. 21
    A World Out of TimeState #11976 · confirmed 3/4
    1976–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  22. 22
    Lucifer's HammerLarry Niven Standalone Novels #21977 · 640 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1977640
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  23. 23
    The Magic Goes AwayMagic Goes Away #11978 · 213 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1978213
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  24. 24
    The Ringworld EngineersRingworld #21979 · 368 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1979368
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  25. 25
    Convergent SeriesLarry Niven Short Story #61979 · 227 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1979227
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  26. 26
    The LocustsSteven Barnes Short Stories/Novellas #61979 · confirmed 2/4
    1979–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  27. 27
    The Patchwork GirlKnown Space #71980 · confirmed 3/4
    1980–
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  28. 28
    Dream ParkDream Park #11981 · 320 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981320
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  29. 29
    The Magic May ReturnMagic Goes Away #21981 · 255 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981255
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK
  30. 30
    Oath of FealtyLarry Niven Standalone Novels #31981 · 336 pages · confirmed 3/4
    1981336
    Buy at Amazon USAmazon UK

Larry Niven series and characters in order

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

Larry Niven 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.

Larry Niven Short Story

17 books

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

Larry Niven Standalone Novels

11 books

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

Known Space in order

9 books
  1. 1. World of Ptavvs
  2. 2. A Gift from Earth
  3. 3. Neutron Star
  4. 4. The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton
  5. 5. Protector
  6. 6. Tales of Known Space
  7. 7. The Patchwork Girl
  8. 8. Crashlander
  9. 9. Flatlander

Man-Kzin Wars in order

9 books
  1. 1. The Man-Kzin Wars
  2. 8. Man-Kzin Wars VII
  3. 11. Man-Kzin Wars VIII: Choosing Names
  4. 12. Man-Kzin Wars IX
  5. 17. Man-Kzin Wars XII
  6. 18. Man-Kzin Wars XIII
  7. 19. Man-Kzin Wars XIV
  8. 20. Treasure Planet
  9. 21. Man-Kzin Wars XV

Larry Niven Short Stories/Novellas with Steven Barnes

5 books

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

Magic Goes Away in order

5 books
  1. 1. The Magic Goes Away
  2. 2. The Magic May Return
  3. 3. The Time of the Warlock
  4. 4. More Magic
  5. 5. The Seascape Tattoo

Ringworld Prequel / Fleet of the Worlds in order

5 books
  1. 1. Fleet of Worlds
  2. 2. Juggler of Worlds
  3. 3. Destroyer of Worlds
  4. 4. Betrayer of Worlds
  5. 5. Fate of Worlds

Ringworld books in order

4 books by Larry Niven
  1. 1. Ringworld
  2. 2. The Ringworld Engineers
  3. 3. The Ringworld Throne
  4. 4. Ringworld's Children

Dream Park in order

4 books
  1. 1. Dream Park
  2. 2. The Barsoom Project
  3. 3. California Voodoo Game / The Voodoo Game
  4. 4. The Moon Maze Game

Heorot in order

4 books
  1. 1. The Legacy of Heorot
  2. 2. Beowulf's Children / The Dragons of Heorot
  3. 3. The Secret of Black Ship Island
  4. 4. Starborn and Godsons

State in order

3 books
  1. 1. A World Out of Time
  2. 2. The Integral Trees
  3. 3. The Smoke Ring

Bowl Of Heaven in order

3 books
  1. 1. Bowl of Heaven
  2. 2. Shipstar
  3. 3. Glorious

Moties in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Mote in God's Eye
  2. 2. The Gripping Hand / The Moat Around Murcheson's Eye

Inferno in order

2 books
  1. 1. Inferno
  2. 2. Escape from Hell

Golden Road in order

2 books
  1. 1. The Burning City
  2. 2. Burning Tower

Ringworld Graphic Novels in order

2 books
  1. 1. Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part One
  2. 2. Ringworld: The Graphic Novel, Part Two

Stellar Guild in order

2 books
  1. 2. On the Train
  2. 6. Red Tide

David Gerrold Standalone Novels

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Larry Niven Short Stories/Novellas

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Star Trek The Newspaper Strip in order

1 book
  1. 2. Star Trek: The Newspaper Strip Volume 2

Steven Barnes Short Stories/Novellas

1 book

1 title published under this heading without a numbered place in a series.

Larry Niven Books in Chronological Order

By publication date, the Larry Niven books run from The Coldest Place (1964) to Starborn and Godsons (2020), the sequence in the table above. No separate story order is recorded for Larry Niven in the book listings this catalogue merges, so publication order is the only order on record.

Do you have to read Larry Niven books in order?

You only need to read Larry Niven books in order within each series: the books listed here span 11 separate series, and each series has its own publication order.

Where to start with Larry Niven

Start with World of Ptavvs (1966), the first Ringworld book. The earliest catalogued title overall is The Coldest Place (1964).

What is the newest Larry Niven book?

Starborn and Godsons (2020) is the newest Larry Niven book released so far.

Is there a new Larry Niven book coming?

No next Larry Niven 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 Larry Niven has won

Wikidata records 12 awards and 65 nominations for Larry Niven. The most recent 12 are listed here. Each row states whether the title won or was shortlisted, and the year the award was given.

  • Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award2015Won
  • Locus Award for Best Short Story2001Wonfor The Missing Mass
  • Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel1985Wonfor The Integral Trees
  • Locus Award for Best Collection1980Wonfor Convergent Series
  • Inkpot Award1979Won
  • Seiun Award for Best Translated Long Work1979Wonfor Ringworld
  • Hugo Award for Best Novelette1976Wonfor The Borderland of Sol
  • Hugo Award for Best Short Story1975Wonfor The Hole Man
  • Nebula Award for Best Novel1971Wonfor Ringworld
  • Locus Award for Best Novel1971Wonfor Ringworld
  • Hugo Award for Best Novel1971Wonfor Ringworld
  • Hugo Award for Best Short Story1967Wonfor Neutron Star

Larry Niven at a glance

No recent titles
The newest Larry Niven title on record dates from 2020, 6 years ago. No later title is catalogued.
Release pace
Larry Niven books have appeared more than one a year on average.
Length
23,368 pages across the 67 of 93 books with a recorded length, a median of 342 pages each.
Busiest decade
Most Larry Niven books, 20 of 93, were published in the 2010s.

What the Larry Niven books are about

75 of the 93 Larry Niven 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 53 of 75. The subjects are cataloguers’ headings, not a plot summary.