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A. E. van Vogt

5 series 24 books in order 12 standalone books

Alfred Elton van Vogt was a Canadian-American science fiction writer (1912-2000) born on a farm in Edenburg, a Russian Mennonite community east of Gretna, Manitoba. He began writing for true confession pulp magazines before turning to science fiction. His first published SF story, "Black Destroyer," appeared in 1939 and is considered one of the first works of the Golden Age of science fiction.

Born
1912
Known for
Masters of Science Fiction, Null-A, The Weapon Shops of Isher, Clane series

Where to start with A. E. van Vogt

Begin with The World of Ā, the first book in the Null-A series, published in 1945. It introduces the core concepts of the series and establishes the foundational narrative. Proceed in publication order through the remaining two books in the series: The Pawns of Null-A (1956) and Null-A Three (1984). After completing the Null-A series, move to Empire of the Atom, the first book in the Clane series, followed by The Wizard of Linn (1962). For a standalone entry, Slan (1975) offers a well-known and influential work that stands independently. The Voyage of the Space Beagle (1959) and The War Against the Rull (1959) are also accessible as standalone novels. The Masters of Science Fiction series begins with The Universe Maker (1950), and its subsequent books follow in publication order.

Series by A. E. van Vogt

Masters of Science Fiction

6 books in order · 1950–1980

  1. Cover of The House that Stood Still

    The House that Stood Still

    1950 · A. E. van Vogt

    A 1950 novel by A. E. van Vogt. Allison Stephens must solve the mystery of a centuries-old house and its sinister, masked immortal inhabitants,…

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  2. Cover of More Than Human

    More Than Human

    1953 · Theodore Sturgeon

    The coming of the superman without a superego: six extraordinary people are taken away their human frailties, their strengths burnished, creating a…

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  3. Cover of The Universe Maker

    The Universe Maker

    1953 · A. E. van Vogt

    Morton Cargill is about to die for a crime he committed 400 years ago in this 1953 novel by A. E. van Vogt. Lieutenant Cargill was brought from the…

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  4. Cover of The Chrysalids

    The Chrysalids

    1955 · John Wyndham

    The Chrysalids is a 1955 novel by John Wyndham, set in a post-apocalyptic world resembling the era of horse and carriage. Deviations are punished or…

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  5. Cover of The Mind Cage

    The Mind Cage

    1957 · A. E. van Vogt

    A 1957 novel by A.E. van Vogt. David Marin risks his reputation and government career to plead for scientist Wade Trask, condemned to execution for…

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  6. Cover of Cosmic Encounter

    Cosmic Encounter

    1980 · A. E. van Vogt

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Null-A

3 books in order · 1945–1984

  1. Cover of The World of Ā

    The World of Ā

    1945 · A. E. van Vogt

    A 1948 novel by A. E. van Vogt. Gilbert Gosseyn lives in an apparent utopia ruled by those with superior mental control, but discovers his memories…

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  2. The Players of Null-A

    1948 · A. E. van Vogt

    The Pawns of Null-A is a 1956 science fiction novel by A. E. van Vogt. It was originally published as a four-part serial in Astounding Stories from…

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  3. Cover of Null-A Three

    Null-A Three

    1984 · A. E. van Vogt

    "Null-A 3" is a 1984 novel by A. E. van Vogt. It follows Gilbert Gosseyn, a man with an extra brain who has previously saved the Solar System. In…

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The Weapon Shops of Isher

2 books in order · 1947–1951

  1. Cover of The Weapon Shops of Isher

    The Weapon Shops of Isher

    1951 · A. E. van Vogt

    A 1951 novel by A.E. van Vogt. McAllister, a 20th-century reporter, is caught in a paradox of time and finds himself 7,000 years in the future, in an…

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  2. Cover of The Weapon Makers

    The Weapon Makers

    1947 · A. E. van Vogt

    The Isher Dynasty has ruled a vast empire that includes Earth and other planets for centuries. The Weapon Makers, a group of scientists, act as a…

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Clane series

2 books in order · 1957–1962

  1. Cover of Empire of the atom

    Empire of the atom

    1957 · A. E. van Vogt

    The story begins after an atomic war has destroyed the world, wiping out most of humanity and erasing all historical records. Survivors are unable to…

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  2. Cover of The Wizard of Linn

    The Wizard of Linn

    1962 · A. E. van Vogt

    This science fiction novel follows Clane Linn, a brilliant mutant who previously defeated the barbarian leader Czinczar in L'empire de l'atome. Now,…

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Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories

25 books in order · 1979–1992

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  4. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 4

    Year unknown · Fredric Brown, Lester del Rey, Isaac Asimov, A. E. van Vogt, Hal Clement, Anthony Boucher, C. L. Moore and George Oliver Smith

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 4 (1942) is a science fiction anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. It is the fourth…

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  5. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 5

    1981

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 5 (1943) is a short story anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. It is the fifth volume…

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  6. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 6

    1981 · A. E. van Vogt, Cleve Cartmill, Leigh Brackett, Fritz Leiber, Clifford D. Simak and Lester del Rey

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 6 (1944) is the sixth volume in a series of science fiction short story collections edited by Isaac Asimov…

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  7. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 7

    Year unknown · Fredric Brown, Fritz Leiber, Isaac Asimov, Raymond F. Jones, Murray Leinster, Leigh Brackett, Lester del Rey and Henry Kuttner

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 7 (1945) is an English-language science fiction short story collection edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin…

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  8. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 8

    1982 · Theodore Sturgeon, Arthur C. Clarke, Fredric Brown, Nelson Slade Bond, Leigh Brackett and Ray Bradbury

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 8 (1946) is a science fiction short story anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. It is…

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  9. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 9

    1983 · Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 9 (1947) is a science fiction anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. It is the ninth…

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  10. Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 10

    1983

    Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories 10 (1948) is a short story anthology edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. It is the tenth…

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Show all 25 Isaac Asimov Presents The Great SF Stories books in order →

Standalone books

  1. Cover of The Book of Ptath
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  2. Cover of Rogue Ship
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  3. Cover of The Silkie
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  4. Cover of Children of Tomorrow
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  5. Cover of Supermind
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  6. Cover of Slan
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  7. Cover of Quest for the Future
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  8. Cover of The Winged Man
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  9. Cover of The War Against the Rull
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  10. Cover of The Pawns of Null-A
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  11. Cover of The Mixed Men
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  12. Cover of The Voyage of the Space Beagle
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has A. E. van Vogt written?

We list 24 books by A. E. van Vogt across 5 series, published between 1945–1993 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read A. E. van Vogt's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “The House that Stood Still.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy A. E. van Vogt's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Reading order compiled from author/publisher guidance and verified bibliographic data. Spotted a wrong order, a missing book, or any other mistake? and we'll correct it.