David VanDyke Books in Order

Where Should You Start Reading David VanDyke?

For most readers, the absolute best place to start is with The Eden Plague, the first book in his massive Plague Wars universe. This series is VanDyke's signature work, showcasing his trademark blend of military precision, bio-technological thriller elements, and gritty character development. Starting here lets you witness the outbreak of the Eden Plague from the very beginning and watch as it gradually reshapes human society and projects humanity into the stars.

If you prefer massive space opera with fleet battles and power armor, you can also start with Starship Liberator, the opening novel of the Galactic Liberation series, which can be read completely independently of his other universes.

The Plague Wars Universe: Two Ways to Read

The Plague Wars universe is a sprawling saga that transitions from a modern-day conspiracy thriller to an apocalyptic alien invasion, and eventually into a space-faring military sci-fi epic. Because the books were written and released in a non-linear fashion, fans generally debate two main paths: Chronological Order and Publication Order.

Option 1: The Chronological Order (Recommended)

Reading chronologically is widely considered the best experience because it keeps the narrative flow logical. The story is divided into three distinct arcs. The first arc, Decade One, details the initial years of the plague on Earth. The second arc, Alien Invasion, deals with the extraterrestrial threat. The third arc, Stellar Conquest, takes place a century later in deep space. Here is how to read them chronologically:

Arc 1: Plague Wars: Decade One

• The Eden Plague (2013) – Book 0: The virus is introduced, healing the sick but altering humanity and triggering a global conflict.
• Reaper's Run (2013) – Book 1: Focuses on Marine Jill Repeth as she fights for survival against those who want to exploit her genetic upgrades.
• Skull's Shadows (2014) – Book 2: Continues the early-stage struggles of the Plague Wars.
• Eden's Exodus (2015) – Book 3: Explores the growing divide and conflicts among the modified and unmodified humans.
• Apocalypse Austin (2015) – Book 4: Follows the localized survival battles in the ruins of Texas.
• Nearest Night (2016) – Book 5: The final chapter of the Decade One pre-invasion era.

Arc 2: Plague Wars: Alien Invasion

• The Demon Plagues (2013) – Book 6: The threat escalates as humanity faces direct alien intervention.
• The Reaper Plague (2013) – Book 7: Earth fights back against overwhelming extraterrestrial forces.
• The Orion Plague (2013) – Book 8: The struggle spreads beyond Earth's immediate orbit.
• Cyborg Strike (2013) – Book 9: Cybernetic enhancements become key to human survival.
• Comes the Destroyer (2014) – Book 10: The dramatic climax of the initial alien invasion conflict.

Arc 3: Stellar Conquest (Set 100 Years Later)

• First Conquest / Starship Conquest (2013) – Book 11: Humanity launches EarthFleet into deep space to take the fight to the stars.
• Desolator (2013) – Book 12: The crew of the Conquest faces new alien adversaries.
• Tactics of Conquest (2014) – Book 13: Tactical fleet battles decide the fate of outer colonies.
• Conquest of Earth (2014) – Book 14: Earth itself comes under threat from deep-space enemies.
• Conquest and Empire (2015) – Book 15: The final expansion of Earth's interstellar dominance.

Option 2: The Publication Order

If you prefer to read the books as they were released, you will notice that VanDyke wrote the Alien Invasion arc and the start of the Stellar Conquest series before returning to fill in the middle years of the Decade One timeline. The publication sequence is:

1. The Eden Plague (2013)
2. Reaper's Run (2013)
3. The Demon Plagues (2013)
4. The Reaper Plague (2013)
5. The Orion Plague (2013)
6. Cyborg Strike (2013)
7. First Conquest / Starship Conquest (2013)
8. Desolator (2013)
9. Comes the Destroyer (2014)
10. Tactics of Conquest (2014)
11. Conquest of Earth (2014)
12. Skull's Shadows (2014)
13. Eden's Exodus (2015)
14. Apocalypse Austin (2015)
15. Conquest and Empire (2015)
16. Nearest Night (2016)

Note: Read chronologically if you want a seamless timeline, but choose publication order if you want to experience the mystery of the invasion before learning the historical details of how Earth prepared for it.

Galactic Liberation Series

Co-authored with fellow sci-fi heavyweight B.V. Larson, the Galactic Liberation series is a separate, military space opera series. It follows Captain Straker and the crew of the Liberator as they battle oppressive alien empires. These books should be read in publication order:

1. Starship Liberator (2017)
2. Battleship Indomitable (2017)
3. Flagship Victory (2018)
4. Hive War (2018)
5. Straker's Breakers (2019)
6. Hell's Reach (2019)

Star Force (Cody Riggs Arc)

David VanDyke collaborated with B.V. Larson on the highly popular Star Force universe. The main series was created and written by Larson, but VanDyke co-authored a specific three-book spin-off arc focusing on the character Cody Riggs. Depending on how the publisher lists them, they are numbered either as books 10–12 or books 11–13 (if Larson's solo book The Dead Sun is counted as book 10). The co-authored trilogy includes:

• Outcast (2014)
• Exile (2014)
• Demon Star (2015)

While these books can technically be read as a standalone trilogy, you will enjoy them much more if you have already read B.V. Larson's first nine Star Force books, which establish the rules, alien species, and history of the universe.

Knightsbridge Canyon / Supernatural Siblings

Stepping away from military science fiction, VanDyke also co-authored a paranormal urban fantasy series with Drew VanDyke. The series centers on Ashlee Scott, a travel writer and werewolf who returns to her hometown. Note that MoonRise (2013) is a prequel/alternate title closely related to SwitchBack. The reading order is:

1. SwitchBack / MoonRise (2015)
2. MoonFall (2016)
3. BloodMoon (2016)