The Best Place to Start Reading Brian Phillips
Because the name Brian Phillips belongs to multiple writers whose works are often combined in online databases, your starting point depends entirely on what genre you are looking to explore. You have three distinct paths to choose from:
- For Epic Fantasy Fans: Start with the novel A Necromancer's Apprentice (2018). This kicks off a dark magic trilogy that explores power, apprenticeships, and the dangerous secrets of the White Hand.
- For Fans of Creative Non-Fiction and Journalism: Start with the essay collection Impossible Owls (2018). This is a critically acclaimed journey through sports, history, subcultures, and nature, written by the former Grantland writer.
- For Political Philosophy and Economics Readers: Start with Individual Rights and Government Wrongs (2011), which lays the philosophical foundation for his critiques of government regulation and defense of property rights.
The Curious Case of the Multi-Author Catalog Conflation
Before diving into the lists, it is crucial to understand a major cataloging error that affects most book databases. The works credited to "Brian Phillips" are actually written by at least three, and possibly four, different individuals. When browsing book lists, you are looking at a blended library of authors:
- The Fantasy Novelist: This Brian Phillips writes the dark magic universe of the White Hand.
- The Essayist & Journalist: This Brian Phillips was a staff writer for Grantland and MTV News, whose debut collection Impossible Owls became a literary sensation.
- The Libertarian Thinker: Often publishing as J. Brian Phillips, this author writes extensively on individual liberties, zoning policies, and property rights.
- The Memoirist: The author of The Blue Pilled Man, a personal account of surviving narcissistic family environments.
By dividing these books into their proper categories, you can easily follow the sequence of each author's work without confusion.
The Order of the White Hand & Chronicles of the White Hand
Written by the fantasy author Brian Phillips, this fictional universe explores dark magic, necromancy, and ancient gods. The stories are divided into a main trilogy and a parallel companion novel.
The Order of the White Hand Trilogy (Publication Order)
This trilogy should be read in strict publication order. It follows a young apprentice named Miller as he navigates the complex, dangerous demands of his necromancer mistress and the secrets of their magic order.
- A Necromancer's Apprentice (2018) – Miller begins his training under a powerful mistress, struggling to survive the lethal politics of magic.
- Enemies Within (2019) – The conflict deepens as internal betrayals and external pressures threaten the stability of the order.
- Flaw in the Master's Ring (2019) – The trilogy concludes with a high-stakes struggle over the ultimate fate of their magical legacy.
Chronicles of the White Hand Companion Novels
Set in the same universe, this series expands the lore with standalone perspectives and new settings.
- Avatar of the Raven God (2019) – This novel shifts focus to a dying city of magic and ancient gods where captives are bribed by necromancers to loot the ruins. The story centers on a hardened swordswoman named Annah. It can be read after the main trilogy as a standalone companion piece.
The Acclaimed Essays: Impossible Owls
Written by the journalist and sports writer Brian Phillips, Impossible Owls (2018) is a celebrated collection of narrative non-fiction essays. The book explores everything from the Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska and Sumo wrestling in Japan to the legacy of the British royal family and the mystery of tigers in India. Because these are standalone pieces, they can be read in any order, though reading them from cover to cover showcases the incredible thematic flow of his prose.
Non-Fiction: Property Rights and Individual Freedom
Written by the political commentator J. Brian Phillips, this series of non-fiction books challenges both progressive and conservative views on the role of government. For readers interested in political philosophy, these works are best read in chronological order to watch his arguments evolve from local policy fights into broader philosophical statements.
Publication Order of Non-Fiction & Memoirs
- Individual Rights and Government Wrongs (2011) – Introduces the core argument against government intervention in everyday infrastructure like roads, energy, and land use.
- The Tragedy is the Commons (2013) – Focuses on property management and the differences between collective and individual property control.
- The Innovator Versus the Collective (2016) – Explores the tension between creative individuals and societal or state-enforced conformity.
- Principles and Property Rights (2018) – A deep dive into the moral framework underpinning private property.
- Cyberpunk Today (2019) – An analysis of modern technology and societal trends through the lens of individual rights.
- Making Money Online In 2019 (2019) – A practical guide focused on digital business and entrepreneurship.
- The Blue Pilled Man (2019) – Written by a survivor of narcissistic environments, this book departs from political theory to offer a deeply personal memoir of psychological healing.