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Tad Williams

5 series 21 books in order 1 standalone book

Robert Paul "Tad" Williams, born March 14, 1957, in San Jose, California, is an American fantasy author based in California. He writes across multiple genres, including epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, comics, and scripts. His works have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide and have influenced a generation of writers. Williams is known for genre-defining and genre-blending contributions to literature, including his breakthrough novel Tailchaser's Song, the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, the Otherland series, and The War of the Flowers.

Born
1957
Known for
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Otherland, Shadowmarch, Bobby Dollar

Where to start with Tad Williams

Begin with The Dragonbone Chair, the first book in the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, published in 1990. This novel introduces the world of Osten Ard and sets the foundation for the series' central narrative. Proceed in publication order through the remaining four books: Stone of Farewell, To Green Angel Tower, The Stolen Throne, and The Last King of Osten Ard. This sequence ensures a continuous reading experience as the story unfolds across the series' five volumes. After completing the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, consider the Otherland series, beginning with City of Golden Shadow, published in 1996. Continue in publication order through the remaining three books. For a standalone work, The Dragons of Ordinary Farm, published in 2009, offers a distinct narrative not connected to the series.

Series by Tad Williams

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn

5 books in order · 1988–1994

  1. Cover of The Dragonbone Chair

    The Dragonbone Chair

    1988 · Tad Williams

    In the peaceful land of Osten Ard, the good king is dying, and a long-dreaded evil is about to be unleashed. Simon, a lowly castle scullion who is…

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  2. Stone of Farewell

    1990 · Tad Williams

    Stone of Farewell is a 1990 fantasy novel by Tad Williams, serving as the second book in his Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. It continues the…

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  3. Cover of To Green Angel Tower

    To Green Angel Tower

    1993 · Tad Williams

    To Green Angel Tower is the third and final novel in Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, at over 520,000 words one of the longest novels…

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  4. Cover of To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Book 3)

    To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 (Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Book 3)

    1994 · Tad Williams

    The concluding volume of Tad Williams' trilogy Memory, Sorrow and Thorn, following The Dragonbone Chair and Stone of Farewell. In this second part of…

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Otherland

4 books in order · 1996–2001

  1. Cover of City of Golden Shadow

    City of Golden Shadow

    1996 · Tad Williams

    In the near future, people live a second life in cyberspace, with a growing subculture of cyberfolk and cyberpunks spending more time online than in…

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  2. Cover of River of Blue Fire

    River of Blue Fire

    1998 · Tad Williams

    Volume two of the Otherland series follows a group of determined individuals who have successfully broken through the Grail Brotherhood's defenses…

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  3. Cover of Mountain of Black Glass

    Mountain of Black Glass

    1999 · Tad Williams

    Mountain of Black Glass is a science fiction novel by American writer Tad Williams, the third book in his Otherland series. It was first published in…

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  4. Cover of Sea of Silver Light

    Sea of Silver Light

    2001 · Tad Williams

    Sea of Silver Light is a science fiction novel by American writer Tad Williams, the fourth and final book in his Otherland series. It was published…

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Shadowmarch

4 books in order · 2004–2010

  1. Cover of Shadowmarch

    Shadowmarch

    2004 · Tad Williams

    Shadowmarch is a fantasy novel by Tad Williams, published in 2004. It is the first book in the Shadowmarch tetralogy. The novel was released in…

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  2. Cover of Shadowplay (Shadowmarch, Vol. 2)

    Shadowplay (Shadowmarch, Vol. 2)

    2007 · Tad Williams

    Shadowplay is a 2007 novel by Tad Williams. It is the continuation of the epic fantasy series that began with Shadowmarch. The book was written by…

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  3. Cover of Shadowrise

    Shadowrise

    2010 · Tad Williams

    With King Olin imprisoned and Prince Kendrick slain, royal twins Barrick and Briony are forced to flee their homeland. Facing dark secrets within…

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  4. Cover of Shadowheart

    Shadowheart

    2010 · Tad Williams

    Something powerful and terrible, unseen for thousands of years, is awakening beneath Southmarch Castle. Its young defenders Barrick and Briony, along…

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Bobby Dollar

3 books in order · 2012–2014

  1. Cover of The Dirty Streets of Heaven

    The Dirty Streets of Heaven

    2012 · Tad Williams

    Bobby Dollar is an angel—a real one. He knows a lot about sin, and not just in his professional capacity as an advocate for souls caught between…

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  2. Cover of Happy Hour In Hell

    Happy Hour In Hell

    2013 · Tad Williams

    I’ve been told to go to Hell more times than I can count. But this time I’m actually going. My name’s Bobby Dollar, sometimes known as Doloriel, and…

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  3. Cover of Sleeping Late On Judgement Day

    Sleeping Late On Judgement Day

    2014 · Tad Williams

    Where does an angel go when he's been to Hell and back? Renegade angel Bobby Dollar does not have an easy afterlife. After surviving the myriad…

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Last King of Osten Ard

4 books in order · 2014–2024

  1. Cover of The Witchwood Crown

    The Witchwood Crown

    2017 · Tad Williams

    New York Times-bestselling Tad Williams’ ground-breaking epic fantasy saga of Osten Ard begins an exciting new cycle! • Volume One of The Last King…

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  2. Cover of Empire of Grass

    Empire of Grass

    2014 · Tad Williams

    Set in Williams' New York Times bestselling fantasy world, the second book of The Last King of Osten Ard returns to the trials of King Simon and…

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  3. Cover of Into the Narrowdark

    Into the Narrowdark

    2022 · Tad Williams

    The New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard returns in the third Last King of Osten Ard novel, as threats to the kingdom loom... The High…

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  4. Cover of The Navigator's Children

    The Navigator's Children

    2024 · Tad Williams

    The latest saga in the New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard concludes in the fourth and final Last King of Osten Ard novel. The Hayholt is…

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Standalone books

  1. Cover of The dragons of Ordinary Farm
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Frequently asked questions

How many books has Tad Williams written?

We list 21 books by Tad Williams across 5 series, published between 1988–2024 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Tad Williams's books?

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

Where can I buy Tad Williams'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.