🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About Kevin Ikenberry
Kevin, a retired Army space operations officer, lives in Colorado with his family. And his home is seldom a boring place. “Runs in the Family” is the first stand alone novel and was released in 2014. Mairin Shields, an outcast of the Eden Academy, is physically unfit for military duty and lacks a civil service assignment. He is going nowhere fast. Without much hope of leaving the outer rim of the Milky Way, Mairin agrees to take part in this classified experiment that offers her genetic perfection and the chance to see the galaxy. Now, she is armed with her grandpa’s military knowledge and combat refined instincts, Mairin’s been tasked with leading some inexperienced troops in this war against this shadowy enemy which uses hauntingly familiar tactics.
All Book Series by Kevin Ikenberry
Have Keyboard, Will Type
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2020 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,William Alan Webb
Indie Publishing for Profit
Book 2 of 5 · published 2020 Anthology · Chris Kennedy
Brief Lessons in Writing
Book 3 of 5 · published 2022 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,William Alan Webb
World Building for Novices
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2023 Anthology · Jon R. Osborne
Shades of the Past
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 2025 Anthology · Marisa Wolf,Chris Kennedy
Shadows of Our Ancestors
Book 4 of 11 · published 2025 Anthology · Mark Stallings
Companions in Anguish
Book 7 of 11 · published 2026 Co-authored · Kacey Ezell,David Shadoin
A Plea for Justice
Book 8 of 11 · published 2026 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
The Wrath of God
Book 9 of 11 · published 2026 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
A Silence in Heaven
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2026 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey,Jon R. Osborne
Broken City
Series opener · book 1 of 20 · published 2016 Anthology · Christopher Woods
From the Ashes
Book 4 of 20 · published 2019 Anthology · David Carrico,Marisa Wolf,Jamie Ibson,Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey,Ian J. Malone,Christopher Woods,Alex Rath,Derek Shupert,Jon R. Osborne,Joseph Capdepon II,Kevin Steverson,David Alan Jones,Jan Kotouč,Brisco Woods,Philip S. Bolger
The Island of Dr. Laroue
Book 10 of 20 · published 2020 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Christopher Woods
Among the Embers
Book 17 of 20 · published 2022 Co-authored · Marisa Wolf,Jamie Ibson,Chris Kennedy,Christopher Woods,Jon R. Osborne,Benjamin Tyler Smith,Casey Moores,Kevin Steverson,Nick Steverson,Matt Novotny,MarkStallings,Melissa Olthoff,J.P. Chandler,Brisco Woods
Children of the Fall
Latest in the series · book 20 of 20 · published 2023 Anthology · J.P. Chandler
Gunboat Diplomacy
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 2019 Anthology · Jamie Ibson,Jason Cordova
The Gates of Hell
Book 4 of 11 · published 2020 Anthology · Quincy J. Allen,Jon R. Osborne
High Mountain Hunters
Book 5 of 11 · published 2020 Anthology · William Alan Webb
In the Wings
Book 7 of 11 · published 2021 Anthology · Kacey Ezell,Jon R. Osborne
The Executioners
Book 8 of 11 · published 2022 Anthology · Jason Cordova,Matt Novotny
Earned Legacy
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2026 Anthology · Michael Morton
The Last Stand
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2022 Co-authored · Chris Kennedy
Meanwhile Back on Earth
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2025 Anthology · Kevin Steverson
Waveoff
Latest in the series · book 6 of 6 · published 2020 Anthology · Chris Kennedy
Shadows
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2021 Anthology · William A. Webb
A Fiery Sunset
Series opener · book 1 of 13 · published 2018 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
Dark Moon Arisen
Book 3 of 13 · published 2018 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
A Pale Dawn
Book 8 of 13 · published 2019 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
Do No Harm
Book 9 of 13 · published 2019 Anthology · Robert E. Hampson,Chris Kennedy,Sandra L. Medlock
Alabaster Noon
Book 12 of 13 · published 2019 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
Ne Pas Nuire
Latest in the series · book 13 of 13 · published 2023 Anthology · Robert E. Hampson,Chris Kennedy,Sandra L. Medlock
The Lyons' Pride
Series opener · book 1 of 17 · published 2022 Anthology · Marisa Wolf,Chris Kennedy
World Enders
Book 2 of 17 · published 2022 Anthology · Marisa Wolf,Chris Kennedy
Companions in Chains
Book 12 of 17 · published 2024 Anthology · Melissa Olthoff
Companion to Ghosts
Book 13 of 17 · published 2024 Anthology · Kacey Ezell,David Shadoin
Bureau 42
Book 14 of 17 · published 2024 Co-authored · Marisa Wolf,Rob Howell,Jon R. Osborne,Casey Moores,Kevin Steverson,William Alan Webb,Fred Hughes,Nick Steverson,Mia R. Kleve
This I Swear
Latest in the series · book 17 of 17 · published 2025 Anthology · Robert E. Hampson,Sandra L. Medlock
Cartwright's Cavaliers
Series opener · book 1 of 12 · published 2016 Anthology · Mark Wandrey
For a Few Credits More
Book 7 of 12 · published 2017 Anthology · Josh Hayes,Peter Cawdron,Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey,Terry Mixon,Rob Howell,Scott Moon,Tim C. Taylor,J.R. Handley,Thomas A. Mays,Corey Truax
The Good, the Bad, and the Merc
Book 8 of 12 · published 2017 Anthology · Kacey Ezell,Stephanie Osborn,Eric S. Brown,Jason Cordova,Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey,Terry Maggert,Kal Spriggs,T. Allen Diaz,Chris Smith
Alpha Contracts
Book 9 of 12 · published 2018 Anthology · Chris Kennedy,Mark Wandrey
CASPer Alamo
Book 10 of 12 · published 2018 Anthology · Eric S. Brown,Jason Brannon
Time Spike
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2008 Anthology · Eric Flint,Marilyn Kosmatka
The Alexander Inheritance
Book 2 of 5 · published 2017 Anthology · Eric Flint,Gorg Huff,Paula Goodlett
The Macedonian Hazard
Book 3 of 5 · published 2021 Anthology · Eric Flint,Gorg Huff,Paula Goodlett
An Angel Called Peterbilt
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2024 Anthology · Eric Flint,Gorg Huff,Paula Goodlett
Redacted Affairs
Series opener · book 1 of 10 · published 2019 Co-authored · Kevin Steverson
Prodigal Son
Book 4 of 10 · published 2021 Anthology · Matt Novotny,Mark Stallings
Fire with Fire
Series opener · book 1 of 7 · published 2013 Anthology · Charles E. Gannon
Watch the Skies
Book 6 of 7 · published 2021 Co-authored · Charles E. Gannon,Kacey Ezell,William Alan Webb
Mission Critical
Latest in the series · book 7 of 7 · published 2023 Anthology · Mike Massa,Charles E. Gannon,Griffin Barber,Chris Kennedy
Science Fiction Writers Sampler 2014
Series opener · book 1 of 14 · published 2014
Blood, Sweat, and Steel: Tales of Future Combat and Mechanized Warfare
Book 9 of 14 · published 2023
A Bit of Luck: Alternate Histories in Honor of Eric Flint
Book 10 of 14 · published 2024
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kevin Ikenberry?
Kevin, a retired Army space operations officer, lives in Colorado with his family. And his home is seldom a boring place. “Runs in the Family” is the first stand alone novel and was released in 2014. Mairin Shields, an outcast of the Eden Academy, is physically unfit for military duty and lacks a civil service assignment.
Which Kevin Ikenberry series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Ring of Fire: Assiti Shards series, the earliest of Kevin Ikenberry's multi-book series: it opens with Time Spike (2008) and runs to 5 books across 2008–2024, ending with An Angel Called Peterbilt (2024). Kevin Ikenberry's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Kevin Ikenberry written?
Kevin Ikenberry has 159 books catalogued in this guide, published between 2008 and 2026. 137 of them belong to 16 named series — the largest being The Phoenix Initiative series with 17 books — and 22 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Kevin Ikenberry's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Kevin Ikenberry's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Ring of Fire: Assiti Shards (2008–2024, 5 books), Tales of the Terran Republic (2013–2023, 7 books) and The Protocol War (2015–2022, 3 books), plus 11 more.
How are Kevin Ikenberry's books organised into series?
This guide splits Kevin Ikenberry's 159 books into 16 named series and 22 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: The Phoenix Initiative (17 books, 2022–2025); Omega War (13 books, 2018–2023); Exodus (11 books, 2025–2026); Four Horsemen Sagas (11 books, 2019–2026); Rise of the Peacemakers (10 books, 2019–2022), plus 11 further series.