📖 About Future History

Future History is a series universe written by Robert A. Heinlein. The complete collection runs to 15 books across 2 series, published between 1939 and 1987.

The main series is Publication Order of Future History/Heinlein Timeline Books with 11 books. It opens with Misfit (1939) and currently runs to The Past Through Tomorrow (1967).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Future History

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: Misfit (1939), book 1 of Publication Order of Future History/Heinlein Timeline Books. Reading in publication order lets the world and characters develop the way the author intended, and it avoids spoilers that later books may contain.

Each of the 2 series on this page is expandable — click a series heading to see every title it contains, in order, with a direct link to buy the book on Amazon.

📚 Future History Books in Order

Publication Order of Future History/Heinlein Timeline Books
11 books
1
Misfit book cover1Misfit1939Buy on Amazon
Let There Be Light book cover2Let There Be Light1940Buy on Amazon
Blowups Happen book cover3Blowups Happen1940Buy on Amazon
Methuselah's Children book cover4Methuselah's Children1941Buy on Amazon
We Also Walk Dogs book cover5We Also Walk Dogs1941Buy on Amazon
The Long Watch book cover6The Long Watch1949Buy on Amazon
The Man Who Sold the Moon book cover7The Man Who Sold the Moon1950Buy on Amazon
The Green Hills of Earth book cover8The Green Hills of Earth1951Buy on Amazon
Revolt in 2100 book cover9Revolt in 21001953Buy on Amazon
Orphans of the Sky book cover10Orphans of the Sky1963Buy on Amazon
The Past Through Tomorrow book cover11The Past Through Tomorrow1967Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of World As Myth Books
4 books
2
Time Enough for Love book cover1Time Enough for Love1973Buy on Amazon
The Number of the Beast book cover2The Number of the Beast1980Buy on Amazon
The Cat Who Walks Through Walls book cover3The Cat Who Walks Through Walls1985Buy on Amazon
To Sail Beyond the Sunset book cover4To Sail Beyond the Sunset1987Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Future History books are there?
There are 15 books in the Future History collection, organised into 2 series and published between 1939 and 1987.
What is the first Future History book?
The first book is Misfit, published in 1939.
What order should I read the Future History books in?
Most readers use publication order, which is the order the books were originally released. A chronological order is also provided on this page for readers who prefer to follow the internal timeline of the story.
Who wrote the Future History books?
The Future History books were written by Robert A. Heinlein.
Is the Future History series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Future History/Heinlein Timeline Books, has 11 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Future History series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1939, and the most recent in 1987.