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series Reading Order

Colony (Michaelbrent Collings) Books in Order

7 Books
2013 – 2015 Published
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Reading order
01
Genesis
2013
Amazon
02
Renegades
Renegades
2013
Amazon
03
Descent
2013
Amazon
04
Velocity
Velocity
2014
Amazon
05
Shift
Shift
2014
Amazon
06
Buried
2015
Amazon
07
Reckoning
2015
Amazon

How to Read the Colony Series

The Colony series by Michaelbrent Collings is a linear, serialized narrative that follows high school teacher Ken Strickland's fight for survival. Because the story picks up right where the previous books leave off, you must read the series in publication order. There are no prequel novels, spin-offs, or co-authored entries to complicate the path.

Colony Books in Publication and Chronological Order

All seven primary novels were released between 2013 and 2015. Read them in this exact order:

  1. Genesis (2013) – The outbreak begins in Boise, Idaho, where 99.9% of humanity is transformed in minutes.
  2. Renegades (2013) – Ken reunites with his family but faces smarter, coordinated zombie packs.
  3. Descent (2013) – The struggle deepens as survivors seek safety beneath the surface.
  4. Velocity (2014) – The pace accelerates as the stakes reach a boiling point.
  5. Shift (2014) – Safe zones crumble and characters undergo dramatic changes.
  6. Buried (2015) – The penultimate chapter pushes the surviving cast to their absolute limits.
  7. Reckoning (2015) – The explosive and satisfying finale of the seven-book saga.

Omnibus and Box Set Collections

If you prefer purchasing your books in bundles, the series has been collected in a few different formats:

  • The Colony Omnibus I: Contains Books 1–3 (Genesis, Renegades, and Descent).
  • The Colony Omnibus II: Contains Books 4–7 (Velocity, Shift, Buried, and Reckoning).
  • The Complete Colony Saga: A single compilation containing all seven novels in one volume.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the recommended reading order for the Colony series?

You should read the Colony series in publication order, starting with Genesis and ending with Reckoning, as the books tell a continuous, chronological story.

QAre there any Colony spin-offs, prequels, or co-authored books?

No. The Colony series is a self-contained, seven-book saga written entirely by Michaelbrent Collings, with no official spin-offs or prequels.

QWhat makes the zombies in Collings' Colony series different?

Unlike traditional brain-dead zombies, these creatures evolve. They grow smarter, stronger, coordinate their attacks, and headshots do not easily kill them.

QIs the Colony series completed?

Yes, the main storyline concludes with the seventh book, Reckoning, which provides a definitive ending to Ken Strickland's journey.

QCan I read the Colony books as standalones?

No. The books are heavily serialized and build directly on the events of the prior installments, so they are not designed to be read out of order.

QAre there omnibus editions available for the Colony series?

Yes. You can find the series collected in Omnibus I (Books 1–3), Omnibus II (Books 4–7), or the single-volume Complete Colony Saga.