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Warlock of Gramarye Books in Order

13 Books
1969 – 2004 Published
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How to Read the Warlock of Gramarye Series

Christopher Stasheff’s Warlock of Gramarye series is a foundational classic of science fantasy, blending interstellar space travel and advanced technology with a feudal medieval society populated by witches, elves, and ghosts. Because the series was written over several decades and includes a prequel, readers generally choose between two primary reading orders: Publication Order and Chronological Order.

1. The Chronological Reading Order (Recommended)

Reading chronologically allows you to follow the history of the universe from the origins of the totalitarian threats to the establishment of the Gramarye colony, before jumping into the main adventures of Rod Gallowglass and his family. In this order, the prequel is read first:

  1. Escape Velocity (1983) – A prequel set generations before the main series, introducing the telepaths Dar Mandra and Samantha Bine fleeing the prison world of Wolmar.
  2. The Warlock in Spite of Himself (1969) – The official start of Rod Gallowglass’s adventures on Gramarye.
  3. King Kobold (1971) / King Kobold Revived (1984) – Rod faces a threat from Neanderthal-like espers.
  4. The Warlock Unlocked (1982) – Rod and his family are trapped in an alternate universe where magic actually works.
  5. The Warlock Enraged (1985) – Rod deals with the political fallout of his high warlock status.
  6. The Warlock Is Missing (1986) – Rod’s children must step up when their parents vanish.
  7. The Warlock Wandering (1986) – Rod travels through space and time to trace the roots of Gramarye's colonists.
  8. The Warlock Heretical (1987) – The church challenges the powers and role of the warlock on Gramarye.
  9. The Warlock's Companion (1988) – Focuses on the backstory and perspective of Fess, Rod’s robotic horse.
  10. The Warlock Insane (1989) – Rod is pushed to his psychological limits by telepathic manipulation.
  11. The Warlock Rock (1990) – Mysterious singing stones disrupt the youth of Gramarye in a magical take on rock music.
  12. Warlock and Son (1991) – Rod teams up with his growing eldest son, Magnus.
  13. The Warlock's Last Ride (2004) – The final conclusion to Rod Gallowglass's long journey.

2. The Publication Order

If you prefer to experience the series exactly as original readers did in the 1970s and '80s, you should start with the core book and insert the prequel later. Under this path, read The Warlock in Spite of Himself (1969) first, followed by King Kobold (1971) and The Warlock Unlocked (1982), before doubling back to read the prequel Escape Velocity (1983) as a flashback before resuming with The Warlock Enraged (1985).

The Core Spin-offs and Sequel Series

Once you finish Rod Gallowglass’s main story, the universe (known to fans as the DDT-verse, named after the interstellar Decentralized Democratic Tribunal) branches out into two major sequels focusing on his children.

The Rogue Wizard Series

This series follows Rod’s eldest son, Magnus d'Armand (using the alias Gar Pike), a powerful telepath and telekinetic who leaves Gramarye to travel the galaxy. Like his father, Magnus works for SCENT to help oppressed populations overthrow local tyrants and establish democracy. While the first book published was actually A Wizard in Bedlam (1979), the official chronological order of this subseries is:

  • A Wizard in Absentia (1993)
  • A Wizard in Mind (1995)
  • A Wizard in Bedlam (1979)
  • A Wizard in War (1995)
  • A Wizard in Peace (1996)
  • A Wizard in Chaos (1997)
  • A Wizard in Midgard (1998)
  • A Wizard and a Warlord (2000)
  • A Wizard in the Way (2000)
  • A Wizard in a Feud (2001)

The Warlock's Heirs Series

This subseries stays on the planet Gramarye and follows Rod's other children—Cordelia, Geoffrey, and Gregory—as they grow into their own powerful psychic abilities and navigate romance, politics, and ancient threats. The order for this series is straightforward:

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  • M'lady Witch (1994) – Focuses on the fiery Cordelia Gallowglass.
  • Quicksilver's Knight (1995) – Focuses on Geoffrey Gallowglass.
  • The Spell-bound Scholar (1999) – Focuses on the youngest son, Gregory Gallowglass.
  • Here Be Monsters (2001) – Brings the siblings together to face a threat and features a triple wedding.

    • Broader DDT-Verse Connections

    For readers who want to explore every corner of Christopher Stasheff's shared universe, several other series share the same continuity:

    • Starship Troupers: Consisting of A Company of Stars (1991), We Open on Venus (1993), and A Slight Detour (1994), this series features a 23rd-century theatrical troupe traveling through space during the early history of the Terran Sphere.
    • Saint Vidicon: Featuring the patron saint of high-tech and electronics (Saint Vidicon of Cathode), these stories (such as Saint Vidicon to the Rescue) deal with the troubles of maintaining high technology in a complex universe.
    • G.R.I.P.E. Series: Centered on time travelers defending intellectual property rights across history.

    Note that Stasheff's popular A Wizard in Rhyme series is a completely separate high fantasy universe and is not connected to the Warlock of Gramarye or the DDT-verse.

    What to Know Before You Start

    Gramarye is a lost colony planet populated by the descendants of romanticists who fled a highly centralized Terran government to recreate a idealized, feudal medieval England. Over generations, the radiation and environment of Gramarye mutated the human colonists, awakening latent psychic abilities (such as telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation) which the medieval population interprets as magic, witchcraft, and miracle-working. Rod Gallowglass arrives armed with science, logic, and his faithful robotic horse companion Fess, only to realize he must play along with their supernatural framing to survive and achieve his mission.

    Frequently Asked

    QWhere is the best place to start reading the Warlock of Gramarye series?

    The best starting point is The Warlock in Spite of Himself (1969), which introduces Rod Gallowglass and the planet of Gramarye. Alternatively, you can start with the prequel Escape Velocity (1983) if you want to read in chronological order.

    QIs Escape Velocity necessary to understand the main series?

    No, Escape Velocity is not strictly necessary. It functions as a prequel, detailing the backstory of the DDT-verse and the ancestors of the main characters. You can safely read it after the first few core novels.

    QWhat is the relation between the Warlock series and the Rogue Wizard series?

    The Rogue Wizard series is a direct spin-off sequel that follows Rod Gallowglass's eldest son, Magnus d'Armand, as he leaves Gramarye to help other planets fight totalitarianism.

    QWho is Fess in the Warlock of Gramarye series?

    Fess (Faithful Cybernetic Companion) is a highly advanced, slightly glitchy AI housed inside a robotic horse. He acts as Rod Gallowglass's loyal sidekick and scientific confidant.

    QAre the Warlock's Heirs books standalones?

    While each of the first three Warlock's Heirs books focuses on a different Gallowglass sibling (Cordelia, Geoffrey, and Gregory) and can be enjoyed individually, they build a continuous narrative that concludes in the fourth book, Here Be Monsters.

    QIs Christopher Stasheff's A Wizard in Rhyme series connected to Gramarye?

    No. A Wizard in Rhyme is a separate, traditional high fantasy series set in an alternate medieval Europe where poetry acts as magic. It is not part of the Warlock of Gramarye universe.