Alan Burt Akers Books in Order

The Ultimate Dray Prescot Reading Path

If you are ready to plunge into one of the most expansive and detailed Sword and Planet universes ever conceived, you need a plan. Written by the incredibly prolific British science fiction author Kenneth Bulmer under the pseudonym Alan Burt Akers, the Dray Prescot saga spans a staggering 52 novels published between 1972 and 1998. It is a monumental achievement of pulp storytelling that captures the swashbuckling spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs's Barsoom while building a world uniquely its own.

Because the overarching story follows a single protagonist—Dray Prescot, an Earthman and former British sailor teleported to the planet Kregen orbiting Antares—the recommended reading path is simple: read the books in numerical, chronological order. The narrative builds directly from one volume to the next, tracking Prescot's promotions, his personal alliances, his relationship with Princess Delia of Vallia, and his ongoing conflicts with the mysterious Star Lords and their rivals, the Savanti. Reading them out of order will spoil major plot developments, political shifts, and changes to the geography of Kregen itself.

The 11 Narrative Cycles of Kregen

To make this massive library digestible, the series is structured into eleven distinct narrative cycles. Each cycle represents a specific era in Prescot's life, usually centered on a particular geographical region of Kregen or a specific quest. Here is how the cycles break down:

1. The Delian Cycle (Books 1–5)

This is where your journey begins. The Delian Cycle introduces Dray Prescot, his arrival on Kregen, and his fateful meeting with Delia of Vallia. You will follow his initial struggle to survive Kregen's hostile fauna, rival empires, and the whims of the Star Lords who manipulate him. Books in this cycle include:

• Transit to Scorpio (1972)
• Warrior Of Scorpio (1973)
• Swordships of Scorpio (1973)
• The Suns of Scorpio (1973)
• Prince of Scorpio (1974)

2. The Havilfar Cycle (Books 6–11)

In this block, the action shifts to the massive continent of Havilfar. Prescot must adapt to new cultures, face terrifying beasts, and participate in grand-scale military conflicts. The cycle consists of:

• Manhounds of Antares (1974)
• Arena of Antares (1974)
• Bladesman of Antares (1975)
• Avenger of Antares (1975)
• Fliers of Antares (1975)
• The Tides of Kregen (1976)

3. The Krozair Cycle (Books 12–14)

Focused on the elite, religious warrior order known as the Krozairs of Zy, this cycle details Prescot's training, trials, and ultimate initiation. This is a fan-favorite arc that features high-stakes maritime and desert warfare. The books are:

• Renegade of Kregen (1976)
• Armada of Antares (1976)
• Krozair of Kregen (1977)

4. The Vallian Cycle (Books 15–18)

Prescot returns to the empire of Vallia, fighting to protect the realm of his beloved Delia from internal treason and external invasion. This cycle includes:

• Secret Scorpio (1977)
• Savage Scorpio (1978)
• Captive Scorpio (1978)
• Golden Scorpio (1978)

5. The Jikaida Cycle (Books 19–22)

Named after Kregen's complex, chess-like live combat game, this cycle sees Prescot forced to play as a literal pawn on a massive, deadly board. It is one of the most unique concepts in the series. The books are:

• A Life for Kregen (1979)
• A Sword for Kregen (1979)
• A Fortune for Kregen (1979)
• Beasts of Antares (1980)

6. The Spikatur Cycle (Books 23–26)

This cycle focuses on the struggle against the Spikatur, highlighting Prescot's efforts to form alliances and build resistance groups across different regions. It includes:

• Rebel of Antares (1980)
• A Victory for Kregen (1980)
• Legions of Antares (1981)
• Allies of Antares (1981)

7. The Pandahem Cycle (Books 27–32)

This cycle focuses on the island continent of Pandahem, featuring intense naval battles, political intrigue, and companion-focused spin-offs. Books in this cycle include:

• Mazes of Scorpio (1982)
• Delia of Vallia (1982)
• Fires of Scorpio (1983)
• Talons of Scorpio (1983)
• Masks of Scorpio (1984)
• Seg the Bowman (1984)

8. The Witch War Cycle (Books 33–37)

Prescot gets caught in a mystical conflict involving the Witches of Kregen, shifting the tone of the series toward dark fantasy. The novels are:

• Werewolves of Kregen (1985)
• Witches of Kregen (1985)
• Storm Over Vallia (1985)
• The Omens of Kregen (1985)
• Warlord of Antares (1988)

9. The Lohvian Cycle (Books 38–43)

Named after the mysterious Lohvians, this arc expands the cosmic lore of Kregen. The books include:

• Scorpio Ablaze (1992)
• Scorpio Drums (1992)
• Challenge of Antares (1995)
• Shadows over Kregen (1996)
• The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Delian Cycle (2007)
• Scorpio Reborn (2008)

10. The Balintol Cycle (Books 44–50)

Set in the subcontinent of Balintol, this cycle centers on Prescot's struggle to liberate the enslaved populations and build a united front against his enemies. Books in this cycle include:

• Wrath of Antares (1996)
• Intrigue of Antares (2008)
• Scorpio Triumph (2008)
• Gangs of Antares (2008)
• Spikatur Cycle (2010)
• The Lohvian Cycle I (2011)
• The Pandahem Cycle I (2011)

11. The Spectre / Phantom Cycle (Books 51–52)

The final completed cycle in the series deals with the threat of the Spectre, bringing the long-running storyline to its ultimate climax. The books are:

• The Saga of Dray Prescot: The Pandahem Cycle II (2011)
• Demons of Antares (2014)
• Scourge of Antares (2014)
• Turmoil on Kregen (2014)
• Murder on Kregen (2014)

Standalones, Side Characters, and Spin-offs

While the vast majority of the series is narrated in the first person by Dray Prescot, Kenneth Bulmer occasionally experimented by shifting the spotlight to key companion characters. These books are technically part of the main numbered sequence but focus on other viewpoints:

• Delia of Vallia (Book 28): This novel steps away from Prescot's perspective to follow Princess Delia. It offers crucial insight into her experiences, her role as the leader of the Sisters of the Rose, and the political struggles of Vallia. It fits right between Mazes of Scorpio and Fires of Scorpio.
• Seg the Bowman (Book 32): This book centers on Seg, one of Prescot's most loyal and skilled fighting companions. It follows his solo adventures as a knight-protector, expanding the lore of the world outside of Prescot's immediate activities. It should be read after Masks of Scorpio.

These books should not be skipped, as they contain important plot points and character developments that affect the main narrative line.

Publication History & translation Trivia

The publication history of the Dray Prescot series is famously complex. The first 37 novels were published in the United States by DAW Books in paperback editions from 1972 to 1988, featuring gorgeous cover art by legendary fantasy artists like Ken Kelly and Michael Whelan. However, DAW canceled the series due to declining sales in the U.S. market.

Because the series remained incredibly popular in Germany, the German publisher Wilhelm Heyne Verlag commissioned Bulmer to continue writing the series. As a result, books 38 through 52 were originally published only in German translation during the 1990s. For years, English-speaking fans were left in the dark, unable to read the conclusion of Prescot's adventures. Fortunately, Mushroom eBooks eventually acquired the rights and released the complete series in English as digital ebooks, finally allowing global readers to finish the epic saga.

Bulmer was working on a 53rd book, tentatively titled Betrayal on Kregen, when he suffered a stroke in 1997. He passed away in 2005, leaving the book as an unfinished fragment and the series without a final, closed ending.

What to Know Before You Start

Before you take your first steps on Kregen, keep these tips in mind:

• The Tapes Framing Device: The books are presented as transcription logs. The fictional editor, Alan Burt Akers, claims to have received a series of audio tapes recorded by Dray Prescot, which he merely transcribes for Earth readers. This meta-narrative is a fun nod to the framing devices used by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
• Themes of Liberation: Unlike some other pulp fantasy series of the era (such as John Norman's Gor books), the Dray Prescot series has strong anti-slavery themes. Prescot frequently fights against slave traders and works to liberate oppressed peoples throughout Kregen.
• Sword and Planet Staples: Expect a heavy dose of fantastic beasts, complex cultures, telepathic wildlife, airships, and intense melee combat. It is pure escapist science-fantasy at its finest.