Where Should You Start Reading Charles E. Gannon?
For most readers, the absolute best starting point is Fire with Fire (2013), the debut novel in Gannon's acclaimed Caine Riordan series (also known as the Tales of the Terran Republic). This book introduces readers to intelligence analyst Caine Riordan, blending hard science fiction, interstellar diplomacy, and first-contact military action. It won the Compton Crook Award and was nominated for a Nebula Award, making it the perfect showcase of Gannon's meticulous world-building.
Alternatively, if you prefer military sci-fi focusing on tactical ground combat and time-displaced soldiers, you can start with the subseries opener, Murphy's Lawless (2020). Set in the same universe, it follows a group of 20th-century soldiers revived in the 22nd century, providing a parallel entry point into the Terran Republic universe.
The Caineverse: Tales of the Terran Republic
Gannon's primary intellectual property is the Caine Riordan / Terran Republic universe. However, online listings and retail databases can sometimes be confusing because the series is split into two overlapping tracks: the core novels following Caine Riordan himself, and the spin-off novels/novellas focusing on Major Rodger Murphy's group. To get the complete picture, it is best to understand how these two tracks are organized.
Track 1: The Core Caine Riordan Novels
This mainline sequence follows Caine Riordan as he acts as an analyst, diplomat, and tactical leader navigating complex first-contact scenarios and interstellar conspiracies. Read these in chronological/publication order:
- Fire with Fire (2013)
- Trial by Fire (2014)
- Raising Caine (2015)
- Caine's Mutiny (2017)
- Marque of Caine (2019)
- Endangered Species (2023)
- Protected Species (2023)
Track 2: The Murphy's Lawless Subseries
This subseries is set in the same Terran Republic universe but focuses on Major Rodger Murphy and his "Lost Soldiers"—a group of 20th-century military personnel abducted by aliens, placed in cryo-sleep, and later rescued by humanity in the year 2125. The subseries began with a collection of collaborative novellas that were published individually in 2020 and subsequently compiled into a single anthology, followed by full-length novels:
- Murphy's Lawless Anthology (2020) — Collects the initial novellas including Shakes (by Mike Massa), Obligations (by Kevin Ikenberry & Gannon), Man-Eater (by Griffin Barber), Promises (by Kacey Ezell), Pearl (by Mark Wandrey & Gannon), and Waveoff (by Chris Kennedy).
- Watch the Skies (2021) — The second major book in the subseries.
- Mission Critical (2023) — The third book, continuing the team's high-stakes operations.
- Admiral and Commander (2024) — The fourth installment in the Murphy's Lawless track.
Vortex of Worlds: Gannon's Epic Fantasy
Beyond his science fiction space operas, Gannon has also penned an epic fantasy series titled Vortex of Worlds. This series represents a shift in genre but maintains his trademark attention to detail, complex politics, and world-building logic. The story follows a young military officer named Druadaen who discovers that the history, religion, and physical laws of his world are not what they seem. Read them in publication order:
- This Broken World (2021)
- Into the Vortex (2023)
Major Collaborative Universes
Gannon is highly regarded in the science fiction community for his collaborative efforts, often working alongside other heavyweights to expand existing universes or continue beloved series.
The Ring of Fire (1632) Universe
Originally created by the late Eric Flint, the Ring of Fire (alternate history) universe is a massive collaborative project. Gannon was a frequent co-author with Flint and, following Flint's passing, Gannon was officially named the series "showrunner" by Baen Books in late 2025. Gannon's primary novel-length contributions to the main series are:
- 1635: The Papal Stakes (2012) — Co-authored with Eric Flint.
- 1636: Commander Cantrell in the West Indies (2014) — Co-authored with Eric Flint.
- 1636: The Vatican Sanction (2017) — Co-authored with Eric Flint.
- 1637: No Peace Beyond the Line (2020) — Co-authored with Eric Flint.
- 1638: The Sovereign States (2023) — Co-authored with Eric Flint and published posthumously.
The Starfire Series
The Starfire series, originally created by David Weber and Steve White, is a military science fiction franchise based on a tactical board game. Gannon stepped in to co-author several books in this universe with Steve White:
- Extremis (2011)
- Imperative (2016)
- Oblivion (2018)
Black Tide Rising Series
Created by John Ringo, Black Tide Rising is a post-apocalyptic zombie survival series. Gannon has contributed two standalone novels that expand the lore of this global crisis, following survivors in different regions:
- At the End of the World (2020)
- At the End of the Journey (2021)
Other Shared Universes & Short Fiction
Gannon has made notable guest appearances in several other classic sci-fi universes. He contributed the short story "By the Book" to the 2013 anthology Beginnings (the sixth volume of the Worlds of Honor subseries in David Weber's Honorverse). He has also been a recurring contributor to Jerry Pournelle's classic War World universe (such as the anthology Invasion), which he notes was the home of his very first professional fiction sale. Additionally, he has contributed to the Four Horsemen universe (The Revelations Cycle) through forewords and anthology entries like those in A Fistful of Credits.