Books On Board
series Reading Order

Communion Books in Order

6 Books
1984 – 2011 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start

For the best experience, you should begin with the landmark book that started the global phenomenon: Communion: A True Story (1987). This book lays the foundation for all of Whitley Strieber's subsequent accounts, introducing 'the visitors' and detailing the initial terrifying encounters at his cabin in upstate New York.

Publication Order of Communion Books

Following the publication order allows you to experience Strieber's evolving perspective, shifting from initial terror and confusion to deeper spiritual and philosophical investigation. Note the chronological anomaly regarding The Secret School detailed below:

  • Communion: A True Story (1987)
  • Transformation: The Breakthrough (1988)
  • Breakthrough: The Next Step (1995)
  • The Secret School: Preparation for Contact (1997 / listed as 1984 in some metadata systems)
  • Confirmation: The Hard Evidence of Aliens Among Us (1998)
  • Solving the Communion Enigma: What Is to Come (2011)

Understanding the "1984" Metadata Anomaly

In many book databases (including our local database records), The Secret School is listed with a publication date of 1984. However, this is a cataloging error resulting from recycled ISBN data or confusion with Strieber's 1984 fiction novels (such as Warday). In reality, The Secret School was published in 1997. While it functions as a thematic prequel by exploring Strieber's childhood memories from 1954, it is best read in its real-world sequence after Breakthrough.

Related Companion Works

If you finish the core six books and want to dive deeper into the visitor phenomenon, Strieber has written several highly relevant companion books:

  • The Key: A True Encounter (2001) – Details a sudden, profound late-night conversation Strieber had with a mysterious visitor in his hotel room in 1998.
  • A New World (2019) – A modern reflection on his decades of contact, discussing how his relationship with the phenomenon has evolved over time.

Frequently Asked

QWhere should I start reading the Communion series?

You should start with Communion: A True Story (1987). It introduces Whitley Strieber's core encounters and sets the stage for all subsequent books.

QWhy is The Secret School listed as published in 1984 in some databases?

This is a common metadata error caused by ISBN reuse or system confusion with Strieber's 1984 novels like Warday. In reality, The Secret School was published in 1997.

QAre the Communion books fiction or non-fiction?

Whitley Strieber presents the Communion series as non-fiction accounts of his personal, real-life experiences with unexplained entities he calls 'the visitors.'

QIs there a movie adaptation of Communion?

Yes, a film adaptation of Communion was released in 1989, starring Christopher Walken as Whitley Strieber.

QWhat other books are related to the Communion series?

Readers interested in the series should also check out The Key: A True Encounter (2001) and A New World (2019), which further explore Strieber's interactions with the visitors.

QHow many core books are in the Communion series?

There are six core books in the primary Communion sequence, starting with Communion (1987) and concluding with Solving the Communion Enigma (2011).