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Standalone Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Standalone books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: March 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Standalone series? Start with "In the Drift" (1984) and follow publication order through all 42 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order

In the Drift
1984

Vacuum Flowers
1987

Stations of the Tide
1991

Jack Faust
1997

Bones of the Earth
2002

The Man Who Met Picasso
1982

Dogfight (in Omni) (With: William Gibson)
1985
The Edge of the World
1989

Griffin's Egg
1991
The Changeling\'s Tale
1994

Walking Out (in Asimov's)
1995

Radio Waves
1995

The Dead (in Starlight 1)
1996

The Very Pulse of the Machine (in The Best of...)
1998

Wild Minds (in The Best of...)
1998

Radiant Doors (in The Best of...)
1998

Ancient Engines (in Asimov's)
1999

Scherzo with Tyrannosaur (in Asimov's)
1999

The Raggle Taggle Gypsy-O
2000

'Hello,' Said the Stick
2002

The Little Cat Laughed to See Such Sport
2002
Slow Life
2002

Legions in Time
2003

Lord Weary’s Empire
2006

A Small Room in Koboldtown
2007

From Babel’s Fall’n Glory We Fled
2008

Zeppelin City
2011

The Trains That Climb the Winter Tree
2011

The Dala Horse
2016

Annie Without Crow
2021

The Star-Bear
2023

Gravity's Angels
1991

Cigar-Box Faust and Other Miniatures
1991

Tales of Old Earth
1992

A Geography of Unknown Lands
1997

Moon Dogs
2000

Michael Swanwick's Field Guide to Mesozoic Megafauna
2004

The Periodic Table of Science Fiction
2005

The Dog Said Bow-Wow
2007

The Best of Michael Swanwick
2008

Not So Much, Said the Cat
2016

The Universe Box
2026
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