The Tale of Two Atlantias
If you are searching for the reading order of Atlantia, you might be looking for one of two completely different book series that share the same name. Due to a common database mix-up, the standalone dystopian young adult novel by Ally Condie is often blended with the five-book military science fiction series by Dean Crawford (published under the pen name D.C. Ford). Here is how to navigate and read both versions of Atlantia.
1. Atlantia by Ally Condie (Dystopian Standalone)
Published in October 2014, Ally Condie's Atlantia is a standalone young adult fantasy and science fiction novel. Condie, best known for her bestselling Matched trilogy, wrote this book to be a completely self-contained story. There are no prequels, sequels, or companion novels associated with it, making it the perfect choice if you want a complete, single-volume story.
Where to Start
Since it is a standalone work, you only need to read the single novel:
- Atlantia (2014) – Rio, a girl living in the underwater city of Atlantia, has always dreamed of the sky and sand Above. When her twin sister Bay unexpectedly chooses to leave the city during the Divide ceremony, Rio is left stranded Below. Armed with a dangerous secret—a forbidden siren voice—Rio must embark on a treacherous journey to uncover the truth about her mother's death and the corruption that divides their world.
2. The Atlantia Series by Dean Crawford (Space Opera)
If you are looking for a high-stakes, action-adventure space opera, you want the Atlantia series by British author Dean Crawford, written under his pen name D.C. Ford. Published between 2014 and 2015, this series follows the crew of the Atlantia—a decommissioned military frigate turned prison transport—fleeing across the galaxy to survive an apocalyptic entity consuming entire worlds.
Publication & Chronological Reading Order
Unlike Condie's standalone book, this is a serialized story. You should read Dean Crawford's series in publication order, which matches the chronological progression of the narrative:
- Survivor (2014) – As an unstoppable cosmic wave threatens to destroy their system, the crew and prisoners aboard the Atlantia must work together to escape.
- Retaliator (2014) – Facing mechanical failures and mysterious alien structures, the survivors push deeper into the unknown.
- Aggressor (2014) – Internal conflicts rise among the remaining remnants of humanity as they struggle to maintain their fragile alliance.
- Endeavour (2014) – The crew risks everything on an exploration mission to discover the source of the galaxy-consuming anomaly.
- Defiance (2015) – The final stand of humanity's remnants against the apocalyptic force chasing them.