🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Ellen Kushner
Ellen Kushner is a children’s fiction and fantasy author best known for writing the Swords of Riverside series of novels. Over the years, she has held a variety of jobs that include public speaker, radio host, performer, teacher, and author. Upon graduating from high school, she went to Barnard College and then proceeded to Bryn Mawr College. After she was done with college, she decided to find a job as a fiction editor working for a publishing company in New York. However, she did not stay long in publishing as she left soon after to go become a published author herself. She published “Swordspoint” her debut novel in 1987 and the novel went on to become the progenitor of mannerpunk subgenre of urban fantasy and a cult classic.
All Book Series by Ellen Kushner
The Cave of Time
Series opener · book 1 of 191 · published 1979 Anthology · Edward Packard
By Balloon to the Sahara / Danger in the Desert
Book 2 of 191 · published 1980 Anthology · Douglas Terman
The Mystery of Chimney Rock
Book 3 of 191 · published 1980 Anthology · Edward Packard
Your Code Name is Jonah / Spy Trap
Book 4 of 191 · published 1980 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Third Planet From Altair / Message from Space / Exploration Infinity
Book 5 of 191 · published 1980 Anthology · Edward Packard
Who Killed Harlowe Thrombey?
Book 7 of 191 · published 1981 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Lost Jewels of Nabooti / The Lost Jewels
Book 8 of 191 · published 1981 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Abominable Snowman
Book 11 of 191 · published 1982 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Forbidden Castle
Book 12 of 191 · published 1982 Anthology · Edward Packard
Secret of the Pyramids
Book 18 of 191 · published 1983 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Prisoner of the Ant People
Book 24 of 191 · published 1983 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Horror of High Ridge
Book 25 of 191 · published 1983 Anthology · Julius Goodman
Trouble on Planet Earth
Book 27 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Curse of Batterslea Hall
Book 28 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Dragon's Den
Book 31 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Mystery of the Highland Crest
Book 32 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
The Secret Treasure of Tibet
Book 33 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
War with the Evil Power Master
Book 34 of 191 · published 1984 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Throne of Zeus
Book 38 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Deborah Lerme Goodman
Search for the Mountain Gorillas
Book 39 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Jim Wallace
The Mystery of Echo Lodge
Book 40 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
The Mystery of Ura Senke / Cup of Death
Book 42 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Shannon Gilligan
The Deadly Shadow
Book 44 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Spy for George Washington
Book 46 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Jay Leibold
Danger at Anchor Mine
Book 47 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
Return to the Cave of Time
Book 48 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Magic of the Unicorn
Book 49 of 191 · published 1985 Anthology · Deborah Lerme Goodman
The Case of the Silk King
Book 51 of 191 · published 1986 Anthology · Shannon Gilligan
The Trumpet of Terror
Book 53 of 191 · published 1986 Anthology · Deborah Lerme Goodman
The Mardi Gras Mystery
Book 63 of 191 · published 1987 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
Invaders of the Planet Earth
Book 68 of 191 · published 1987 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Brilliant Dr. Wogan
Book 70 of 191 · published 1987 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Planet of the Dragons
Book 73 of 191 · published 1987 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Mona Lisa is Missing!
Book 74 of 191 · published 1988 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Mystery of the Sacred Stones
Book 77 of 191 · published 1988 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
Terror in Australia
Book 79 of 191 · published 1988 Anthology · Shannon Gilligan
Exiled to Earth / Punishment: Earth
Book 85 of 191 · published 1988 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Through the Black Hole
Book 86 of 191 · published 1989 Anthology · Edward Packard
Master of Kung Fu
Book 87 of 191 · published 1989 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Phantom Submarine
Book 95 of 191 · published 1989 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Revenge of the Russian Ghost
Book 97 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · Jay Leibold
The Worst Day of Your Life
Book 98 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · Edward Packard
Master of Tae Kwon Do
Book 100 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Cobra Connection
Book 102 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · Louise Munro Foley
The Treasure of the Onyx Dragon / Pirate Treasure of the Onyx Dragon
Book 103 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Master of Karate
Book 106 of 191 · published 1990 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Invaders from Within
Book 108 of 191 · published 1991 Anthology · Edward Packard
Skateboard Champion
Book 110 of 191 · published 1991 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Search For Aladdin's Lamp
Book 114 of 191 · published 1991 Anthology · Jay Leibold
The Terrorist Trap
Book 116 of 191 · published 1991 Anthology · Shannon Gilligan
The Search for Aladdin's Lamp
Book 118 of 191 · published 1991 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Master of Martial Arts
Book 123 of 191 · published 1992 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
The Luckiest Day of Your Life
Book 129 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Forgotten Planet
Book 130 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
Secret of the Dolphins
Book 131 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Edward Packard
Playoff Champion
Book 132 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Felix Von Moschzisker
The Secret of Mystery Hill
Book 138 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
The Reality Machine
Book 139 of 191 · published 1993 Anthology · Edward Packard
Everest Adventure!
Book 142 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Antimatter Universe
Book 144 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · Kate Mueller
Master of Judo
Book 145 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Gunfire at Gettysburg
Book 148 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
War with the Mutant Spider Ants
Book 149 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · Edward Packard
Cyberspace Warrior
Book 151 of 191 · published 1994 Anthology · Edward Packard
The Computer Takeover
Book 156 of 191 · published 1995 Anthology · Edward Packard
Shadow of the Swastika / Shadow of Evil
Book 159 of 191 · published 1995 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
Master of Aikido
Book 162 of 191 · published 1995 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Terror on the Titanic
Book 165 of 191 · published 1996 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Greed, Guns, and Gold
Book 166 of 191 · published 1996 Anthology · Edward Packard
Death in the Dorm / The Corpse in the Dorm
Book 167 of 191 · published 1996 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Gold Medal Secret
Book 169 of 191 · published 1996 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
The Underground Railroad
Book 171 of 191 · published 1996 Anthology · Doug Wilhelm
Master of Kendo
Book 172 of 191 · published 1997 Anthology · Richard Brightfield
Space and Beyond
Book 181 of 191 · published 2005 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery,Vorrarit Pornkerd,Sasiprapa Yaweera,Jintanan Donploypetch
Journey Under the Sea
Book 182 of 191 · published 2006 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery,Sittisan Sundaravej,Kriangsak Thongmoon
Forecast from Stonehenge
Book 183 of 191 · published 2007 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
U.N. Adventure: Mission to Molowa
Book 184 of 191 · published 2009 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Blood on the Handle
Book 185 of 191 · published 2010 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
The Destiny Device
Book 187 of 191 · published 2011 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Search for the Black Rhino
Book 188 of 191 · published 2011 Anthology · Alison Gilligan
Escape From the Haunted Warehouse
Book 190 of 191 · published 2015 Anthology · R.A. Montgomery
Your Baby Unicorn
Latest in the series · book 191 of 191 · published 2021 Anthology · Darren McKee,Erin Falligant
The North Side of the Sun
Book 2 of 53 · published 2015 Anthology · Alaya Dawn Johnson
The Dagger and the Sword
Book 5 of 53 · published 2015 Anthology · Alaya Dawn Johnson
Go and Tell The Morning Star
Book 11 of 53 · published 2016 Anthology · Alaya Dawn Johnson
Alive and Home Here
Book 19 of 53 · published 2016 Anthology · Alaya Dawn Johnson
In the Shadow of Riverside
Book 26 of 53 · published 2017 Anthology · Tessa Gratton
The Siege of Riverside
Book 30 of 53 · published 2017 Anthology · Tessa Gratton
Into the Woods
Book 35 of 53 · published 2017 Anthology · Delia Sherman,Liz Duffy Adams
A Blur of Bright Water
Book 38 of 53 · published 2017 Anthology · Tessa Gratton
What Goes Up
Book 43 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Joel Derfner,Liz Duffy Adams
Building Bridges
Book 44 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Delia Sherman,Liz Duffy Adams
The Turning of the Tide
Book 46 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Joel Derfner,Liz Duffy Adams
What Light in the Houses Beneath the Earth?
Book 47 of 53 · published 2018 Anthology · Tessa Gratton
After the Flood
Book 49 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Joel Derfner,Liz Duffy Adams
Set the Night on Fire
Book 52 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Tessa Gratton
Onward
Latest in the series · book 53 of 53 · published 2018 Co-authored · Racheline Maltese,Karen Lord,Tessa Gratton
Tremontaine: The Complete Season 1
Series opener · book 1 of 4 · published 2016 Co-authored · Paul Witcover,Alaya Dawn Johnson,Joel Derfner,Racheline Maltese,Malinda Lo,Patty Bryant
Tremontaine: The Complete Season 2
Book 2 of 4 · published 2017 Co-authored · Mary Anne Mohanraj,Paul Witcover,Joel Derfner,Racheline Maltese,Tessa Gratton
Tremontaine: The Complete Season 3
Book 3 of 4 · published 2018 Co-authored · Delia Sherman,Joel Derfner,Racheline Maltese,Karen Lord,Tessa Gratton,Liz Duffy Adams
Tremontaine: The Complete Season 4
Latest in the series · book 4 of 4 · published 2018 Co-authored · Delia Sherman,Joel Derfner,Racheline Maltese,Karen Lord,Tessa Gratton,Liz Duffy Adams
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror Fourth Annual Collection
Book 3 of 29 · published 1991
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume 5
Book 20 of 29 · published 2011
Far Out: Recent Queer Science Fiction and Fantasy
Book 28 of 29 · published 2021
Heiresses of Russ 2011: The Year's Best Lesbian Speculative Fiction
Latest in the series · book 29 of 29 · published 2011
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ellen Kushner?
Ellen Kushner is a children’s fiction and fantasy author best known for writing the Swords of Riverside series of novels. Over the years, she has held a variety of jobs that include public speaker, radio host, performer, teacher, and author. Upon graduating from high school, she went to Barnard College and then proceeded to Bryn Mawr College.
Which Ellen Kushner series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Choose Your Own Adventure series, the earliest of Ellen Kushner's multi-book series: it opens with The Cave of Time (1979) and runs to 191 books across 1979–2021, ending with Your Baby Unicorn (2021). Ellen Kushner's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Ellen Kushner written?
Ellen Kushner has 293 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1979 and 2021. 260 of them belong to 6 named series — the largest being the Choose Your Own Adventure series with 191 books — and 33 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Ellen Kushner's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Ellen Kushner's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Choose Your Own Adventure (1979–2021, 191 books), The World of Riverside (1987–2010, 5 books) and Ellen Kushner Audiobooks (2011, 1 book), plus 2 more.
How are Ellen Kushner's books organised into series?
This guide splits Ellen Kushner's 293 books into 6 named series and 33 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Choose Your Own Adventure (191 books, 1979–2021); Tremontaine (53 books, 2015–2018); The World of Riverside (5 books, 1987–2010); Tremontaine Collection (4 books, 2016–2018); Ellen Kushner Audiobooks (1 book, 2011), plus 1 further series.