Where to Start with D. Rus
If you are new to D. Rus (the pen name of Dmitry Rus), there is only one place to begin: AlterWorld, the first book in the landmark Play to Live series. Published in 2013, this novel is widely credited with kickstarting the LitRPG genre's massive popularity both in Russia and internationally. It introduces the core concepts of the genre: detailed gaming status screens, level progression, and the concept of 'perma-playing' where players permanently upload their consciousness into a virtual reality game.
Because D. Rus's works are highly serialized and follow direct chronological arcs, reading them out of order will ruin the plot progression and character development. Start with the main series before looking into his spin-off short stories or his sci-fi side project, Squadcom-13.
Play to Live Series in Publication Order
The Play to Live series is D. Rus's signature achievement. It follows Max, a terminally ill young man who decides to upload his consciousness into the immersive fantasy MMORPG AlterWorld to escape physical death. Reborn as the dark elf Laith, he must quickly learn to navigate the complex socio-political landscape of a virtual world that is rapidly becoming all too real. Here is the recommended reading order for the main series:
- AlterWorld (2013) – Max enters the game as the dark elf Laith, learning the basics of survival and establishing his initial power base.
- The Clan (2014) – Laith starts building a community and navigating the complex politics between different in-game factions and real-world governments.
- The Duty (2014) – The stakes rise as virtual threats translate into real-world consequences, forcing Laith to defend his people and secure his territory.
- Inferno (2015) – The conflict expands into the dark and dangerous regions of AlterWorld, testing Laith's magical abilities and military strategy.
- The Battle (2015) – Massive alliances clash as Laith attempts to cement his faction's status as a major global power in the virtual landscape.
- The War (2015) – Real-world international tensions boil over directly into the game, threatening to destroy everything Laith has built.
- The Ultimation (2016) – Originally intended as the conclusion to the main arc, this installment sees Laith confronting the ultimate powers governing the digital universe.
- AlterWorld: A Newborn God (2022) – A long-awaited return to the universe that escalates the narrative to cosmic levels, exploring the consequences of achieving true godhood within the machine.
The Play to Live Companion Collections
In addition to the main novels, D. Rus published a companion collection that fleshes out the world and secondary characters of the series:
- Stories (2015) – A compilation of short stories set within the AlterWorld universe. Notable entries include The Three Bears and the Legion of Zombies and Call of Duty (which focuses on the popular character 'Doc').
When to read it: For the best experience, read Stories after finishing Book 3 (The Duty) or Book 4 (Inferno). The stories provide interesting context and side-narratives that enrich the world-building without interrupting the main narrative momentum of the later, war-focused books.
Squadcom-13 Series
In 2016, D. Rus branched out into a new universe with Squadcom-13 (known in Russian as Комэск-13). This series blends traditional space opera science fiction with LitRPG elements, taking place in a setting where humanity must adapt to alien technology and digital military training simulations.
- The Cadet (2016) – Follows the protagonist, Paul, and his friends as they are swept into 'Kubinka-Digital', a virtual training facility for space fighter pilots.
- Lieutenant (Russian: Комэск-13. Лейтенант) – The Russian-language sequel. Note that while this exists in Russian, a official English translation has not been widely released or distributed on major retail platforms.
Reading Advice: Treat Squadcom-13 as a standalone sci-fi diversion. You can read it at any time, but be prepared for a cliffhanger ending at the close of The Cadet, as the English translation for the sequel remains unavailable.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into D. Rus's catalog, keep these practical reading points in mind:
- The LitRPG Style: D. Rus's books contain heavy gaming elements, including explicit notifications, stat increases, inventory lists, and combat damage logs. If you aren't familiar with MMORPG mechanics, it might take a few chapters to get used to the formatting.
- Shift in Tone: The first three books focus heavily on survival, base-building, and localized fantasy adventures. Starting around Book 4, the scale shifts significantly toward global geopolitics, national rivalries, and eventually cosmic power struggles. Some readers prefer the smaller, personal stakes of the early books.
- Translation Nuances: Because the books were translated from Russian, readers occasionally note minor inconsistencies in phrasing, character names, or terminology between the early and later books. Audio versions narrated by Michael Goldstream are highly regarded and can help smooth over these transitions.