📖 About Urth/Solar Cycle

Urth/Solar Cycle is a series universe written by Gene Wolfe. The complete collection runs to 12 books across 3 series, published between 1980 and 2001.

The main series is Publication Order of Urth: Book of the New Sun Books with 5 books. It opens with The Shadow of the Torturer (1980) and currently runs to The Urth of the New Sun (1987).

Series included on this page:

🎯 Where to Start with Urth/Solar Cycle

New readers should begin with the first book of the main series in publication order: The Shadow of the Torturer (1980), book 1 of Publication Order of Urth: Book of the New Sun 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 3 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.

📚 Urth/Solar Cycle Books in Order

Publication Order of Urth: Book of the New Sun Books
5 books
1
The Shadow of the Torturer book cover1The Shadow of the Torturer1980Buy on Amazon
The Claw of the Conciliator book cover2The Claw of the Conciliator1981Buy on Amazon
The Sword of the Lictor book cover3The Sword of the Lictor1982Buy on Amazon
The Citadel of the Autarch book cover4The Citadel of the Autarch1983Buy on Amazon
The Urth of the New Sun book cover5The Urth of the New Sun1987Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Urth: Book of the Long Sun Books
4 books
2
Nightside the Long Sun book cover1Nightside the Long Sun1993Buy on Amazon
Lake of the Long Sun book cover2Lake of the Long Sun1994Buy on Amazon
Caldé of the Long Sun book cover3Caldé of the Long Sun1994Buy on Amazon
Exodus from the Long Sun book cover4Exodus from the Long Sun1996Buy on Amazon
Publication Order of Urth: Book of the Short Sun Books
3 books
3
On Blue's Waters book cover1On Blue's Waters1999Buy on Amazon
In Green's Jungles book cover2In Green's Jungles2000Buy on Amazon
Return to the Whorl book cover3Return to the Whorl2001Buy on Amazon

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many Urth/Solar Cycle books are there?
There are 12 books in the Urth/Solar Cycle collection, organised into 3 series and published between 1980 and 2001.
What is the first Urth/Solar Cycle book?
The first book is The Shadow of the Torturer, published in 1980.
What order should I read the Urth/Solar Cycle 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 Urth/Solar Cycle books?
The Urth/Solar Cycle books were written by Gene Wolfe.
Is the Urth/Solar Cycle series finished?
The main series, Publication Order of Urth: Book of the New Sun Books, has 5 books so far. The most recent title listed on this page gives the current end point of the series.
When did the Urth/Solar Cycle series start?
The earliest title in this collection was published in 1980, and the most recent in 2001.