🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Hal Clement
Barlennan is an adventurer who sails across uncharted waters into Mesklin. The man would brave any alien for the right amount. While the Mesklinites never knew there were other planets but theirs, they do not respond as bad to aliens. They do not know that Barlennan plans to use their body shapes and giant sizes to his advantage. While the Mesklinites are more advanced in technology, their bodies make it impossible for them to fly. All the science and attention to detail make this story sound real while enhancing the sense of wonder. What would happen if the Mesklinites were forced to fly? Perhaps the most outstanding thing about this book is the world-building.
All Book Series by Hal Clement
Variations on a Theme by Sir Isaac Newton
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2000
The Diplomacy Guild
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1990 Anthology · Isaac Asimov,Martin H. Greenberg,Robert Sheckley
Phases in Chaos
Book 2 of 5 · published 1991 Anthology · Isaac Asimov,Martin H. Greenberg
Unnatural Diplomacy
Book 3 of 5 · published 1992 Anthology · Isaac Asimov,Martin H. Greenberg
Murder at the Galactic Writers' Society
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 1995 Anthology · Janet Asimov
Stellar #1
Series opener · book 1 of 8 · published 1974 Anthology · Judy-Lynn del Rey
Stellar Short Novels
Book 2 of 8 · published 1976 Anthology · Gordon R. Dickson,Andrew J. Offutt,Judy-Lynn del Rey,Shawn Oueinsteen
Stellar #2
Book 3 of 8 · published 1976 Co-authored · Isaac Asimov,Larry Niven,Howard Waldrop,Clifford D. Simak,Jack C. Haldeman II,Steven Utley,James White,Richard S. Simak,Judy-Lynn del Rey,Patrick G. Conner
Stellar #3
Book 4 of 8 · published 1977 Anthology · Jack L. Chalker,Clifford D. Simak,Gene DeWeese,Jeffrey M. Wallman,Charles W. Runyon,Mildred Downey Broxon,Henry Melton,Judy-Lynn del Rey,Arsen Darney,B. Lee Cooper,Larry S. Haverkos,Steve Utley,Bill Starr
Stellar #7
Latest in the series · book 8 of 8 · published 1981 Anthology · Terry Carr,Leanne Frahm,Judy-Lynn del Rey
Astounding Science Fiction, May 1958
Series opener · book 1 of 15 · published 1958
The John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology / Astounding
Book 5 of 15 · published 1973
Science Fiction Today and Tomorrow: A Discursive Symposium
Book 7 of 15 · published 1975
Visions of Tomorrow: Science Fiction Predictions that Came True
Book 14 of 15 · published 2010
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hal Clement?
Barlennan is an adventurer who sails across uncharted waters into Mesklin. The man would brave any alien for the right amount. While the Mesklinites never knew there were other planets but theirs, they do not respond as bad to aliens.
Which Hal Clement series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Mesklin series, the earliest of Hal Clement's multi-book series: it opens with Mission of Gravity (1954) and runs to 4 books across 1954–2001, ending with Heavy Planet (2001). Hal Clement's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Hal Clement written?
Hal Clement has 54 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1943 and 2026. 22 of them belong to 5 named series — the largest being the Stellar series with 8 books — and 32 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Hal Clement's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Hal Clement's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Needle (1949–1978, 2 books), Mesklin (1954–2001, 4 books) and Stellar (1974–1981, 8 books), plus 2 more.
How are Hal Clement's books organised into series?
This guide splits Hal Clement's 54 books into 5 named series and 32 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Stellar (8 books, 1974–1981); Isaac's Universe (5 books, 1990–1995); Mesklin (4 books, 1954–2001); The Essential Hal Clement (3 books, 1999–2000); Needle (2 books, 1949–1978).