Adam Christopher Books in Order

Where to Start Reading Adam Christopher

Adam Christopher is a master of blending genres, combining elements of hardboiled detective noir, classic science fiction, cosmic horror, and superhero epics. Because his books span distinct universes, the best place to start depends on what flavor of story you prefer:

• For retro-futuristic detective noir: Start with Made to Kill. It introduces Raymond Electromatic, a robot detective who functions as a hitman in a stylized 1960s Los Angeles.
• For action-packed space opera with horror elements: Start with The Burning Dark, the first novel in the Spider Wars trilogy.
• For superhero noir and parallel dimensions: Start with his award-winning debut, Empire State.
• For media tie-ins: Dive straight into Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith or Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town, both of which are canonical entries in their respective franchises.

The Raymond Electromatic Mysteries (Robot Noir)

This series reimagines 1960s Hollywood through the eyes of Raymond Electromatic, the world's last remaining robot. Ray operates as a private investigator and assassin under the instruction of Ada, a supercomputer who manages his daily schedule. Because Ray's memory tape only holds 24 hours of data, his memory is erased every night, making for a fascinating narrative mechanic.

The recommended reading order is to read the main novels in publication order, using the prequel novella to expand the lore:

1. Made to Kill (2015) – The first full-length novel in the series. Ray is hired to find a missing actress, only to stumble into a massive conspiracy.
2. Brisk Money (2014) – A prequel novella set before the events of the first book. It can be read first or as a companion piece after the first novel.
3. Killing is My Business (2017) – The second novel. Ray is hired to protect a target, but the job quickly turns deadly.
4. Standard Hollywood Depravity (2017) – The third novel. A glamorous starlet hires Ray, pulling him into the dark underbelly of the city.
5. I Only Killed Him Once (2018) – The fourth novel. Ray deals with a bizarre case involving a client who has already been killed.

The Spider Wars Trilogy

The Spider Wars is a space opera series that mixes military sci-fi with dark, atmospheric horror. The plot centers on humanity's struggle against the "Spiders"—mysterious, planet-consuming entities. While the series includes a short prequel, we recommend starting with the first full novel to establish the tension.

1. The Burning Dark (2014) – The first novel. Capt. Abraham Idaho is reassigned to a remote surveillance station, where he begins hearing mysterious signals from the deep dark of space.
2. Cold War (2014) – A companion prequel novelette that provides early background on the universe. You can read this first or immediately after The Burning Dark.
3. The Machine Awakes (2015) – The second novel. The war escalates as a new recruit discovers a hidden threat within the human ranks.
4. The Dead Stars (2018) – The climactic third novel. The remnants of humanity must make a final stand in a dying solar system.

The Empire State Series

Adam Christopher's debut novel, Empire State, is a superhero-noir story set in a parallel, retro-futuristic Prohibition-era version of New York City. The series consists of two books and should be read in chronological order:

1. Empire State (2011)
2. The Age Atomic (2013)

These books are tightly plotted and should be read sequentially to understand the complex world-building and character arcs.

Official Media Tie-ins (Stranger Things, Dishonored & Elementary)

Adam Christopher has written extensively for established media franchises. While publishers group these works into larger franchise lists, Christopher's contributions are self-contained stories that can be read independently if you are a fan of the franchise:

Stranger Things

Christopher wrote one of the key canonical novels for the hit Netflix series. While there are other books in the franchise by different authors, Christopher's contribution is a standalone story:

• Darkness on the Edge of Town (2019) – This novel is a prequel focusing on Chief Jim Hopper's past as a homicide detective in New York City in 1977.

Dishonored

Based on the popular stealth action video games, Christopher wrote a trilogy of novels that bridge the stories between the games. They should be read in publication order:

1. The Corroded Man (2016) – Set between the events of Dishonored and Dishonored 2.
2. The Return of Daud (2018) – Focuses on the legendary assassin Daud during his search for the mythical twin-bladed knife.
3. The Veiled Terror (2018) – Takes place after the events of Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, dealing with the aftermath of the void's collapse.

Elementary

Christopher penned two official tie-in novels for the CBS television series Elementary, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu as Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson:

1. Elementary: The Ghost Line (2015)
2. Elementary: Blood and Ink (2016)

Star Wars Novels & Short Stories

While the broader Star Wars universe features dozens of stand-alone novels, Adam Christopher is the author of one major New York Times bestselling novel, as well as several notable short stories:

• Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith (2022) – A critical canon novel set between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. It follows Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian as they search for Exegol and try to protect a young Rey and her parents.
• Star Wars: Master of Evil (2025) – An upcoming canon novel detailing Darth Vader's early years as a Sith Lord.
• Short Stories (From a Certain Point of View) – Christopher is one of the few authors to contribute to all three anniversary anthologies, writing "End of Watch" (for A New Hope), "The Witness" (for The Empire Strikes Back), and "The Steadfast Soldier" (for Return of the Jedi).
• Note on The Mandalorian: A canon tie-in novel by Adam Christopher was officially announced in 2020 but was cancelled by the publisher in 2021 before release.

Standalone Novels & Comics

In addition to his series and licensed work, Christopher has written several standalone books and graphic novels:

• Seven Wonders (2012) – A standalone superhero novel set in a world where superheroes are real but highly commercialized.
• Earth 2 (2012) – An original standalone science fiction novel. (Note: This is unrelated to the DC Comics series of the same name).
• Hang Wire (2014) – A modern urban fantasy thriller set in San Francisco, involving ancient mythology and a serial killer.
• The Shield (2015–2016) – A comic series co-written with Chuck Wendig for Dark Circle Comics, collected in The Shield, Vol. 1: Daughter of the Revolution.

What to Know Before You Start

When starting with Adam Christopher's books, keep in mind his love for pastiche. The Raymond Electromatic books are heavy on Chandleresque detective tropes, but they are firmly rooted in science fiction. The Spider Wars trilogy starts with a slow-burn horror mystery in The Burning Dark before expanding into full military space combat in the sequels. If you are reading his media tie-ins, you do not need to read other authors' novels in those franchises first, as Christopher's books are designed to stand comfortably on their own within their respective canon.