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Gregory Benford

2 series 8 books in order 1 standalone book

Gregory Benford is a science fiction author and astrophysicist who serves on the faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is also a contributing editor of Reason magazine. Benford is known for the Galactic Center Saga, a series that explores a galaxy where organic and electromechanical life engage in continuous conflict. He was born in Mobile, Alabama. Benford earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Oklahoma, and later obtained his Master's and Doctorate from the University of California, San Diego. He has authored more than 200 scientific papers, focusing on astrophysics and plasma physics. Benford has received multiple awards, including two Nebula Awards, the John W. Campbell Award, the Australian Ditmar Award, the Lord Foundation Prize, and the 1990 United Nations Medal in Literature.

Born
1941
Known for
Second Foundation Trilogy, Galactic Center Saga

Series by Gregory Benford

Second Foundation Trilogy

3 books in order · 1997–1999

  1. Cover of Foundation's Fear

    Foundation's Fear

    1997 · Gregory Benford

    A 1997 novel by Gregory Benford, continuing Isaac Asimov's Foundation series with the permission of the Asimov estate. Hari Seldon is thrust into the…

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  2. Cover of Foundation and Chaos

    Foundation and Chaos

    1998 · Greg Bear

    Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy introduced many themes now central to science fiction. With the approval of the Asimov estate, the saga continues…

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  3. Cover of Foundation's Triumph

    Foundation's Triumph

    1999 · David Brin

    The Second Foundation Trilogy includes three novels: Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford, Foundation and Chaos by Gregory Bear, and Foundation's…

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Galactic Center Saga

6 books in order · 1977–1995

  1. Cover of In the Ocean of Night

    In the Ocean of Night

    1977 · Gregory Benford

    In 2019, NASA astronaut Nigel Walmsley is sent on a mission to destroy a rogue asteroid heading toward Earth. Instead, he discovers the asteroid is…

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  2. Cover of Across the Sea of Suns

    Across the Sea of Suns

    1984 · Gregory Benford

    In 2076, the starship Lancer, Earth's first, is on a mission to find interstellar civilizations in this 1984 novel by Gregory Benford. Astronaut…

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  3. Cover of Great sky river

    Great sky river

    1987 · Gregory Benford

    Great Sky River is a 1987 novel by Gregory Benford. Nearly 100,000 years after first contact with machines that dominate the universe, only a few…

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  4. Cover of Tides of Light

    Tides of Light

    1989 · Gregory Benford

    A 1989 novel by Gregory Benford follows Killeen and the Bishop tribe as they flee their mech-ruled world of Snowglade aboard an ancient starship.…

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  5. Furious gulf

    1994 · Gregory Benford

    A 1994 novel by Gregory Benford follows the last humans from the planet Snowglade as they flee from mechs. They travel in an ancient starship toward…

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  6. Cover of Sailing Bright Eternity

    Sailing Bright Eternity

    1995 · Gregory Benford

    The continuing war between humans and mechs, artificial intelligences dedicated to destroying the human race, reaches its end. Remnants of humans and…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of Heart of the Comet
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Gregory Benford written?

We list 8 books by Gregory Benford across 2 series, published between 1977–2011 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Gregory Benford's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Foundation's Fear.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Gregory Benford'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.