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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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