🎯 Where Should I Start?
Best Starting Point
Publication Order of Iron Dragon's Daughter Books
Start with: The Iron Dragon's Daughter (1993)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Darger and Surplus Books
Start with: Dancing with Bears (2011)
Popular Choice
Publication Order of Mongolian Wizard Books
Start with: The Mongolian Wizard (2012)
ⓘ About Michael Swanwick
About Michael Swanwick Starting out in the early eighties, American author Michael Swanwick has been making a name for himself for a long time now. Beginning as a short-story writer he is well known for producing science-fiction novels that really transport the reader to far off distant lands. Asking some of the bigger questions on life and human nature, he is definitely a writer who excels in his particular literary genre. Making a distinctive niche for himself, he sets himself apart with his idiosyncratic style that really resonates with the reader, despite the otherworldly settings of the stories themselves. It is the characters that make his stories too, allowing them to breathe life into the worlds that he creates, giving them a grounded and realistic tone.
All Book Series by Michael Swanwick
1
The Iron Dragon's Daughter
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 1993
Buy on Amazon1993
2
The Dragons of Babel
Book 2 of 3 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
3
The Iron Dragon's Mother
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
1
Dancing with Bears
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
2
Chasing the Phoenix
Book 2 of 3 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
3
The Postutopian Adventures of Darger and Surplus
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
1
The Mongolian Wizard
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
3
Day of the Kraken
Book 3 of 11 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
4
House of Dreams
Book 4 of 11 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
5
The Night of the Salamander
Book 5 of 11 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
6
The Pyramid of Krakow
Book 6 of 11 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
7
The Phantom in the Maze
Book 7 of 11 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
8
Murder in the Spook House
Book 8 of 11 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
9
The New Prometheus
Book 9 of 11 · published 2019
Buy on Amazon2019
10
Halcyon Afternoon
Book 10 of 11 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
11
Dragons of Paris
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2024
Buy on Amazon2024
1
In the Drift
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 1984
Buy on Amazon1984
3
Stations of the Tide
Book 3 of 5 · published 1991
Buy on Amazon1991
5
Bones of the Earth
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
1
The Man Who Met Picasso
Series opener · book 1 of 26 · published 1982
Buy on Amazon1982
2
Dogfight (in Omni)
Book 2 of 26 · published 1985 Co-authored · William Gibson
Buy on Amazon1985
3
The Edge of the World
Book 3 of 26 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
5
The Changeling\'s Tale
Book 5 of 26 · published 1994
Buy on Amazon1994
6
Walking Out (in Asimov's)
Book 6 of 26 · published 1995
Buy on Amazon1995
8
The Dead (in Starlight 1)
Book 8 of 26 · published 1996
Buy on Amazon1996
9
The Very Pulse of the Machine (in The Best of...)
Book 9 of 26 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
10
Wild Minds (in The Best of...)
Book 10 of 26 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
11
Radiant Doors (in The Best of...)
Book 11 of 26 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
12
Ancient Engines (in Asimov's)
Book 12 of 26 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
13
Scherzo with Tyrannosaur (in Asimov's)
Book 13 of 26 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
14
The Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O
Book 14 of 26 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
15
'Hello,' Said the Stick
Book 15 of 26 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
16
The Little Cat Laughed to See Such Sport
Book 16 of 26 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
18
Legions in Time
Book 18 of 26 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
19
Lord Weary’s Empire
Book 19 of 26 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
20
A Small Room in Koboldtown
Book 20 of 26 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
21
From Babel’s Fall’n Glory We Fled
Book 21 of 26 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
22
Zeppelin City
Book 22 of 26 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
23
The Trains That Climb the Winter Tree
Book 23 of 26 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
24
The Dala Horse
Book 24 of 26 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
25
Annie Without Crow
Book 25 of 26 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
26
The Star-Bear
Latest in the series · book 26 of 26 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
1
Gravity's Angels
Series opener · book 1 of 11 · published 1991
Buy on Amazon1991
2
Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures
Book 2 of 11 · published 1991
Buy on Amazon1991
3
Tales of Old Earth
Book 3 of 11 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
4
A Geography of Unknown Lands
Book 4 of 11 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
6
Michael Swanwick's Field Guide to Mesozoic Megafauna
Book 6 of 11 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
7
The Periodic Table of Science Fiction
Book 7 of 11 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
8
The Dog Said Bow-Wow
Book 8 of 11 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
9
The Best of Michael Swanwick
Book 9 of 11 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
10
Not So Much, Said the Cat
Book 10 of 11 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
11
The Universe Box
Latest in the series · book 11 of 11 · published 2026
Buy on Amazon2026
1
The Postmodern Archipelago
Series opener · book 1 of 3 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
2
Being Gardner Dozois
Book 2 of 3 · published 2001 Co-authored · Gardner Dozois
Buy on Amazon2001
3
Hope-in-the-Mist
Latest in the series · book 3 of 3 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
1
Year's Best SF
Series opener · book 1 of 18 · published 1996
Buy on Amazon1996
2
Year's Best SF 2
Book 2 of 18 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
3
Year's Best SF 3
Book 3 of 18 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
4
Year's Best SF 4
Book 4 of 18 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
5
Year's Best SF 5
Book 5 of 18 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
6
Year's Best SF 6
Book 6 of 18 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
7
Year's Best SF 7
Book 7 of 18 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
8
Year's Best SF 8
Book 8 of 18 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
9
Year's Best SF 9
Book 9 of 18 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
10
Year's Best SF 10
Book 10 of 18 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
11
Year's Best SF 11
Book 11 of 18 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
12
Year's Best SF 12
Book 12 of 18 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
13
Year's Best SF 13
Book 13 of 18 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
14
Year's Best SF 14
Book 14 of 18 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
15
Year's Best SF 15
Book 15 of 18 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
16
Year's Best SF 16
Book 16 of 18 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
17
Year's Best SF 17
Book 17 of 18 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
18
Year's Best SF 18
Latest in the series · book 18 of 18 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
1
The Winter Market
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 1985 Anthology · William Gibson
Buy on Amazon1985
2
Dogfight (in Omni)
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 1985 Co-authored · William Gibson
Buy on Amazon1985
1
Universe 1
Series opener · book 1 of 17 · published 1971 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1971
2
Universe 2
Book 2 of 17 · published 1972 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1972
3
Universe 3
Book 3 of 17 · published 1973 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1973
4
Universe 4
Book 4 of 17 · published 1974 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1974
5
Universe 5
Book 5 of 17 · published 1974 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1974
6
Universe 6
Book 6 of 17 · published 1976 Anthology · John Shirley,Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1976
7
Universe 7
Book 7 of 17 · published 1977 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1977
8
Universe 8
Book 8 of 17 · published 1978 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1978
9
Universe 9
Book 9 of 17 · published 1979 Anthology · John Shirley,Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1979
10
Universe 10
Book 10 of 17 · published 1980 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1980
11
Universe 11
Book 11 of 17 · published 1981 Co-authored · Kim Stanley Robinson,William Gibson,Carter Scholz,Michael Bishop,Ian Watson,Nancy Kress,Carol Emshwiller,Josephine Saxton,Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1981
12
Universe 12
Book 12 of 17 · published 1982 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1982
13
Universe 13
Book 13 of 17 · published 1983 Anthology · Kim Stanley Robinson,Lucius Shepard,Michael Bishop,Ian Watson,Terry Carr,Bruce Sterling,Leanne Frahm,Bill Bickel
Buy on Amazon1983
14
Universe 14
Book 14 of 17 · published 1984 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1984
15
Universe 15
Book 15 of 17 · published 1985 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1985
16
Universe 16
Book 16 of 17 · published 1986 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1986
17
Universe 17
Latest in the series · book 17 of 17 · published 1987 Anthology · Terry Carr
Buy on Amazon1987
1
New World Blues
Series opener · book 1 of 5 · published 2012 Anthology · L.E. Modesitt Jr.
Buy on Amazon2012
2
Dormanna
Book 2 of 5 · published 2012 Anthology · Gene Wolfe
Buy on Amazon2012
3
Thanatos Beach
Book 3 of 5 · published 2012 Anthology · James K. Morrow
Buy on Amazon2012
4
The Woman Who Shook the World-Tree
Book 4 of 5 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
5
The Sigma Structure Symphony
Latest in the series · book 5 of 5 · published 2012 Anthology · Gregory Benford
Buy on Amazon2012
1
The Witch Who Came In From The Cold: Season One
Series opener · book 1 of 2 · published 2016 Co-authored · Ian Tregillis,Max Gladstone,Lindsay Smith,Cassandra Rose Clarke
Buy on Amazon2016
2
The Witch Who Came In From The Cold: The Complete Season 2
Latest in the series · book 2 of 2 · published 2023 Anthology · Ian Tregillis,Fran Wilde,Max Gladstone,Lindsay Smith,Cassandra Rose Clarke
Buy on Amazon2023
1
Year's Best Fantasy
Series opener · book 1 of 9 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
2
Year's Best Fantasy 2
Book 2 of 9 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
3
Year's Best Fantasy 3
Book 3 of 9 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
4
Year's Best Fantasy 4
Book 4 of 9 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
5
Year's Best Fantasy 5
Book 5 of 9 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
6
Year's Best Fantasy 6
Book 6 of 9 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
7
Year's Best Fantasy 7
Book 7 of 9 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
8
Year's Best Fantasy 8
Book 8 of 9 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
9
Year's Best Fantasy 9
Latest in the series · book 9 of 9 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
1
TriQuarterly 49: Science Fiction
Series opener · book 1 of 92 · published 1980
Buy on Amazon1980
4
The Sixth Omni Book of Science Fiction
Book 4 of 92 · published 1985
Buy on Amazon1985
5
Terry's Universe: Science fiction's finest writers join in honoring the memory of Terry Carr
Book 5 of 92 · published 1987
Buy on Amazon1987
6
The Seventh Omni Book of Science Fiction
Book 6 of 92 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
7
Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, June 1989
Book 7 of 92 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
8
The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Third Annual Collection
Book 8 of 92 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
9
The Best Fantasy Stories of the Year, 1989
Book 9 of 92 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
10
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Seventh Annual Collection
Book 10 of 92 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
11
Slow Dancing Through Time
Book 11 of 92 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
12
Christmas on Ganymede and Other Stories
Book 12 of 92 · published 1990
Buy on Amazon1990
13
Isaac Asimov's Earth
Book 13 of 92 · published 1992
Buy on Amazon1992
14
Omni Visions Two
Book 14 of 92 · published 1994
Buy on Amazon1994
15
Asimov's Science Fiction, November 1994
Book 15 of 92 · published 1994
Buy on Amazon1994
16
Spirits Of Christmas: Twenty Other-Worldly Tales
Book 16 of 92 · published 1995
Buy on Amazon1995
17
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, February 1995
Book 17 of 92 · published 1995
Buy on Amazon1995
18
Year's Best Fantasy & Horror: Tenth Annual Collection
Book 18 of 92 · published 1996
Buy on Amazon1996
20
Modern Classics of Fantasy
Book 20 of 92 · published 1997
Buy on Amazon1997
21
Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers
Book 21 of 92 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
22
Asimov's Science Fiction, May 1998
Book 22 of 92 · published 1998
Buy on Amazon1998
23
The Good New Stuff
Book 23 of 92 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
24
Asimov's Science Fiction, February 1999
Book 24 of 92 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
25
Year's Best SF 4
Book 25 of 92 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
26
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, July 1999
Book 26 of 92 · published 1999
Buy on Amazon1999
28
Asimov's Science Fiction, April 2000
Book 28 of 92 · published 2000
Buy on Amazon2000
29
Nebula Awards 35 (2001)
Book 29 of 92 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
30
Meditations on Middle-Earth
Book 30 of 92 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
31
Infinity Plus One
Book 31 of 92 · published 2001
Buy on Amazon2001
33
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2002
Book 33 of 92 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
34
The Mammoth Book Of Science Fiction
Book 34 of 92 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
35
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 15
Book 35 of 92 · published 2002
Buy on Amazon2002
36
Year's Best SF 8
Book 36 of 92 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
37
I premi Hugo 2002
Book 37 of 92 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
38
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 16
Book 38 of 92 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
39
The Hard SF Renaissance
Book 39 of 92 · published 2003
Buy on Amazon2003
40
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-First Annual Edition
Book 40 of 92 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
41
Year's Best Fantasy and Horror: Seventeenth Annual Collection
Book 41 of 92 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
42
The Fiction Factory
Book 42 of 92 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
43
The Best of the Best: 20 Years of the Best Short Science Fiction Novels
Book 43 of 92 · published 2005
Buy on Amazon2005
44
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Third Annual Collection
Book 44 of 92 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
45
Year's Best SF 11
Book 45 of 92 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
46
Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2006
Book 46 of 92 · published 2006
Buy on Amazon2006
48
The Best of the Best, Vol 2
Book 48 of 92 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
49
Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology
Book 49 of 92 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
50
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fourth Annual Collection
Book 50 of 92 · published 2007
Buy on Amazon2007
52
The Mammoth Book of Extreme Fantasy
Book 52 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
53
Science Fiction: The Best of the Year, 2008 Edition
Book 53 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
54
Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, February 2008
Book 54 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
55
From Babel’s Fall’n Glory We Fled
Book 55 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
56
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 21
Book 56 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
57
The Mammoth Book of Best New SF 22
Book 57 of 92 · published 2008
Buy on Amazon2008
58
The Mammoth Book of Mindblowing SF
Book 58 of 92 · published 2009
Buy on Amazon2009
59
Asimov's Science Fiction, December 2010
Book 59 of 92 · published 2010
Buy on Amazon2010
60
Alien Contact
Book 60 of 92 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
61
Unfit for Eden: A Postscripts Anthology 26/27
Book 61 of 92 · published 2011
Buy on Amazon2011
62
The Sword & Sorcery Anthology
Book 62 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
63
Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2011 edition
Book 63 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
64
The Palencar Project
Book 64 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
65
Timeless Time Travel Tales
Book 65 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
66
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Ninth Annual Collection
Book 66 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
67
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk
Book 67 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
68
The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 4
Book 68 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
69
Rock On: The Greatest Hits of Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book 69 of 92 · published 2012
Buy on Amazon2012
70
Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2012 Edition
Book 70 of 92 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
71
Steampunk Specs
Book 71 of 92 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
72
The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF
Book 72 of 92 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
73
Shadows of the New Sun
Book 73 of 92 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
74
The Time Traveler's Almanac
Book 74 of 92 · published 2013
Buy on Amazon2013
76
The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year, Volume Nine
Book 76 of 92 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
77
The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 6
Book 77 of 92 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
78
The Year's Best Science Fiction: Thirty-First Annual Collection
Book 78 of 92 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
79
Far Voyager: A Postcripts Anthology 32/33
Book 79 of 92 · published 2014
Buy on Amazon2014
80
The Year's Top Ten Tales of Science Fiction 7
Book 80 of 92 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
81
Letters to Tiptree
Book 81 of 92 · published 2015
Buy on Amazon2015
82
Clarkesworld: Year Eight
Book 82 of 92 · published 2016
Buy on Amazon2016
83
Once Upon a Time Machine Volume 2
Book 83 of 92 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
84
The Final Frontier
Book 84 of 92 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
85
The Year's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2018
Book 85 of 92 · published 2018
Buy on Amazon2018
87
The 2020 Look at Space Opera Book
Book 87 of 92 · published 2020
Buy on Amazon2020
88
Love, Death and Robots: The Official Anthology: Volume One
Book 88 of 92 · published 2021
Buy on Amazon2021
89
The Year's Top Tales of Space and Time 3
Book 89 of 92 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
90
The Year's Top Robot and AI Stories: Fourth Annual Collection
Book 90 of 92 · published 2023
Buy on Amazon2023
91
Third Annual Collection
Book 91 of 92 · published 1989
Buy on Amazon1989
92
The Year's Best Science Fiction: 21 Annual Edition
Latest in the series · book 92 of 92 · published 2004
Buy on Amazon2004
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Michael Swanwick?
About Michael Swanwick Starting out in the early eighties, American author Michael Swanwick has been making a name for himself for a long time now. Beginning as a short-story writer he is well known for producing science-fiction novels that really transport the reader to far off distant lands. Asking some of the bigger questions on life and human nature, he is definitely a writer who excels in his particular literary genre.
Which Michael Swanwick series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Universe series, the earliest of Michael Swanwick's multi-book series: it opens with Universe 1 (1971) and runs to 17 books across 1971–1987, ending with Universe 17 (1987). Michael Swanwick's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has Michael Swanwick written?
Michael Swanwick has 207 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1971 and 2026. 70 of them belong to 9 named series — the largest being the Universe series with 17 books — and 137 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should Michael Swanwick's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. Michael Swanwick's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Universe (1971–1987, 17 books), William Gibson Short Stories/Novellas (1985, 2 books) and Iron Dragon's Daughter (1993–2019, 3 books), plus 4 more.
How are Michael Swanwick's books organised into series?
This guide splits Michael Swanwick's 207 books into 9 named series and 137 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Universe (17 books, 1971–1987); Mongolian Wizard (11 books, 2012–2024); The Palencar Project (5 books, 2012); Iron Dragon's Daughter (3 books, 1993–2019); Darger and Surplus (3 books, 2011–2020), plus 4 further series.
