Chris Bunch Books in Order

Where to Start with Chris Bunch

Chris Bunch was a master of combining military realism, political rebellion, and fast-paced adventure. Because his work spans space opera, epic fantasy, historical fiction, and even television scripts, the best entry point depends on your genre preferences. However, most readers should start with his signature science fiction series, The Sten Chronicles, co-authored with Allan Cole. It is widely considered one of the finest military science fiction series ever written and serves as the perfect showcase for Bunch's signature style. If you prefer high fantasy, start with The Seer King or the dragon-riding action of Storm of Wings. For a quick, self-contained taste of his swashbuckling style, the standalone novel Corsair is an excellent choice.

The Sten Chronicles (With Allan Cole)

Co-written with his brother-in-law and long-time collaborator Allan Cole, this eight-book space opera remains Chris Bunch's most famous and beloved creation. The story follows Sten, a working-class kid who escapes the brutal factory world of Vulcan to become a covert operative and commander in the Eternal Emperor's elite forces. The series is celebrated for its anti-authoritarian streak, dark humor, and military authenticity, drawing directly from Bunch's own experiences as a Vietnam combat correspondent. The core series should be read in publication order:

• Sten (1982)
• The Wolf Worlds (1984)
• The Court of a Thousand Suns (1985)
• Fleet of the Damned (1988)
• Revenge of the Damned (1989)
• Return of the Emperor (1990)
• Vortex (1992)
• Empire's End (1993)

For modern readers, the series has been collected into three major omnibus editions that simplify the reading path:

• Battlecry (2010): Collects Books 1, 2, and 3 (Sten, The Wolf Worlds, and The Court of a Thousand Suns).
• Juggernaut (2012): Collects Books 4, 5, and 6 (Fleet of the Damned, Revenge of the Damned, and Return of the Emperor).
• Death Match (2012): Collects Books 7 and 8 (Vortex and Empire's End).

Years after the original series ended and following Bunch's death in 2005, Allan Cole continued the universe. These later books and stories are best enjoyed after completing the original eight-novel run:

• The Alex Kilgour Jokebook (2011): A companion collection of jokes and humor from Sten's iconic heavy-worlder sidekick.
• The Sten Cookbook (2011): A fun, culinary companion book written by Cole, featuring recipes inspired by the planets and alien cultures in the series.
• Sten and the Star Wanderers (2013): A standalone short novella.
• Sten and the Mutineers (2016): A full-length prequel novel focusing on Sten's early military missions.
• Sten and the Pirate Queen (2019): Another full-length novel expanding on Sten's adventures.

The Anteros Series (With Allan Cole)

If you want epic fantasy with the same gritty realism as the Sten series, the Anteros family saga is the place to go. Co-authored with Allan Cole, this series is a rich, award-nominated fantasy epic detailing the journeys of Amalric Antero as he seeks out magical, legendary kingdoms. The series should be read in publication order:

1. The Far Kingdoms (1993)
2. The Warrior's Tale (1994)
3. Kingdoms of the Night (1995)
4. The Warrior Returns (1996)

The Seer King Trilogy (Solo Fantasy)

Written entirely by Chris Bunch, this dark, epic fantasy trilogy focuses on the relationship between Damastes, a young military officer, and Tenedos, a powerful wizard who rises to become the Seer King. The trilogy is heavy on military tactics, political backstabbing, and the corrupting nature of absolute power. Read this trilogy in chronological publication order:

1. The Seer King (1997)
2. The Demon King (1998)
3. The Warrior King (1999)

The Dragonmaster Trilogy (Solo Fantasy)

This is a fast-paced fantasy trilogy that treats dragons not as magical, intelligent beasts, but as beasts of war—essentially the fighter jets of a fantasy realm. It follows Hal Kailas, a peasant boy who rises to become a legendary dragon-riding commander. It is highly recommended for fans of military fantasy. Read them in order:

1. Storm of Wings (2002)
2. Knighthood of the Dragon (2003)
3. The Last Battle (2004)

Chris Bunch's Solo Science Fiction Series

Bunch penned several other military science fiction series that capture the same high-action, gritty energy of the Sten Chronicles:

The Shadow Warrior Trilogy

This series blends space opera with telepathic alien threats. It follows Joshua Wolfe, known as the 'Shadow Warrior,' a veteran who is the only human capable of predicting the moves of the mind-killing Al'ar aliens. Read them in order:

1. The Wind After Time (1996)
2. Hunt the Heavens (1996)
3. The Darkness of God (1997)

The Last Legion Series

A classic military space opera about a group of soldiers stationed on the distant, forgotten frontier of a crumbling interstellar empire. When the empire stops responding, these soldiers must stand alone against hostile alien factions. Read them in order:

1. The Last Legion (1999)
2. Firemask (2000)
3. Storm Force (2000)
4. Homefall (2001)

The Star Risk Series

This series follows a band of mercenaries who form a corporate security and military contracting firm called Star Risk, Ltd. They take on dirty, high-risk missions across the galaxy for the right price. The fifth book, The Gangster Conspiracy, was completed posthumously by Dal Perry and Steve Perry after Bunch's death. Read them in order:

1. Star Risk Ltd. (2002)
2. The Scoundrel Worlds (2003)
3. The Doublecross Program (2004)
4. The Dog From Hell (2005)
5. The Gangster Conspiracy (2007)

Historical Fiction: The Shannon Saga

Bunch and Cole also ventured into historical fiction with the Shannon family saga, charting the military exploits of the Shannon family across American history. Crucially, the publication order of this trilogy differs significantly from the historical timeline. If you want to read them in the order they were published, follow this list:

• A Reckoning for Kings (1987) – Set during the Vietnam War, this gritty combat novel focuses on the Tet Offensive from both American and North Vietnamese viewpoints.
• A Daughter of Liberty (1993) – Set during the American Revolutionary War.
• The Wars Of The Shannons (2009) – Published posthumously, this book follows Patrick Shannon on the American frontier.

If you prefer a chronological historical reading order, you should start with A Daughter of Liberty (Revolutionary War), proceed to The Wars Of The Shannons (frontier expansion), and finish with A Reckoning for Kings (Vietnam War). Additionally, the standalone novel Freedom Bird (2009), co-authored by Bunch and Cole, is a Vietnam War era story set during the Summer of Love in 1967.

The Werewolf TV Scripts (2011)

In 1987, Chris Bunch and Allan Cole served as story editors and screenwriters for the cult horror TV show Werewolf. In 2011, Cole released their scripts and novelizations from the show in eBook format. These stories follow Eric Cord, a young man afflicted with the werewolf curse as he hunts the bloodline's originator. They are best read as standalone episodic stories:

• The Wolf Who Thought He Was A Man (2011)
• The Black Ship (2011)
• Let Us Prey (2011)
• Nightmare In Blue (2011)
• Wolfhunt (2011)
• Big Daddy (2011)
• King Of The Road (2011)
• A Material Girl (2011)
• Amazing Grace (2011)
• To Dream Of Wolves - Part 1 (2011)
• To Dream Of Wolves - Part 2 (2011)

Standalone Novels & Plays

For readers who want to experience Bunch's writing without committing to a series, he wrote several standalone projects and plays. The most notable standalone is Corsair (2001), a pirate adventure that blends traditional sailing ships with magical elements. Other standalones include The Empire Stone (2000), a high fantasy quest, and The Vampires of Malibu High (2006), a posthumously published collection. In his later years, Bunch also wrote several theatrical plays, including The Further Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (2012), The Last Green River (2012), Crosses (2012), and Arochuku (2013), which were published posthumously.