Where to Start Reading Devon C. Ford
For readers new to Devon C. Ford's work, the absolute best place to start is with his flagship post-apocalyptic series, After It Happened, starting with the first book, Survival. This series established his reputation for writing realistic, gritty, and character-driven survival stories set against a uniquely British backdrop. It showcases his signature style: drawing from his real-world experiences in public service to create believable characters facing extraordinary circumstances.
If you prefer military science fiction rather than post-apocalyptic settings, your best starting point is The Expansion series, beginning with Recon. For readers who enjoy a mix of military action and supernatural elements, the urban fantasy trilogy Nocturnus, starting with Enemy Below, offers a fast-paced thriller experience.
After It Happened Series
This is Ford's most famous and longest-running series. It tells the story of survival and societal reconstruction in the UK following a devastating global virus. The series is best read in publication order, as it follows a continuous chronological timeline.
A common point of confusion for readers is the inclusion of The Leah Chronicles. The books Andorra and Piracy are officially subtitled as part of The Leah Chronicles, focusing on a specific character's journey. However, they are not standalone spin-offs; they serve as Books 7 and 8 of the main storyline and are crucial to understanding the events that lead into Book 9 (Home) and Book 10 (Warlord).
- Survival (2016)
- Humanity (2016)
- Society (2016)
- Hope (2016)
- Sanctuary (2016)
- Rebellion (2017)
- Andorra (2018) (The Leah Chronicles Book 1 / Main Series Book 7)
- Piracy (2019) (The Leah Chronicles Book 2 / Main Series Book 8)
- Home (2020) (Main Series Book 9)
- Warlord (2025) (Main Series Book 10)
The Expansion Series
In this high-stakes military sci-fi series, Ford explores interstellar conflict, politics, and the consequences of humanity's leap into faster-than-light travel. These books should be read in order:
- Recon (2018)
- Contact (2020)
- Conflict (2020)
- War (2020)
- Alliance (2020)
Toy Soldiers Series
A fast-paced post-apocalyptic series featuring a zombie outbreak. It should be read in chronological order of publication:
- Apocalypse (2018)
- Aftermath (2018)
- Abandoned (2019)
- Adversity (2019)
- Adaptation (2019)
- Annihilation (2020)
Nocturnus Trilogy
A gritty military urban fantasy trilogy following Troy Odell, a Marine Raider fighting a hidden subterranean war against demons. Read the trilogy in order:
- Enemy Below (2024)
- Enemy Within (2024)
- Enemy's End (2024)
Commune Series (with Joshua Gayou)
The popular post-apocalyptic Commune series was originally created and written by Joshua Gayou (Books 1-4). Devon C. Ford joined as a co-author starting with Book 5, helping to expand the series with a focus on political and societal rebuilding. To get the full story of the commune's struggle to survive, you must read the entire series in order:
- Commune (2017) - Written by Joshua Gayou
- Commune 2 (2017) - Written by Joshua Gayou
- Commune 3 (2018) - Written by Joshua Gayou
- Commune 4 (2019) - Written by Joshua Gayou
- Commune 5: The Battle of D.C. (2022) - Co-authored with Joshua Gayou
- Commune 6: The Slavers of Grand Saline (2023) - Co-authored with Joshua Gayou
- Commune 7: Bloody Sun (2025) - Co-authored with Joshua Gayou
Other Post-Apocalyptic and Sci-Fi Series
Wasteland Series
A gritty post-apocalyptic trilogy following survivors navigating a dangerous wasteland environment:
- Hunter (2021)
- Traitor (2021)
- Fugitive (2022)
Lights Out Series
This series examines a world plunged into darkness and survival in the immediate aftermath:
- After the Silence (2022)
- After The Noise (2022)
- After the Sickness (2022)
Defiance Series
A dystopian sci-fi series focused on resistance and survival against oppressive forces:
- Genesis (2017)
- Erebus (2020)
- Phoenix (2020)
Territory Wars Series
A military sci-fi trilogy featuring interstellar conflicts and territory disputes:
- Scourge (2021)
- Hades (2021)
- Odin (2021)
Co-authored and Collaborative Series
Rise Series (with Nathan Hystad)
A collaborative sci-fi series detailing an alien occupation and the fight for human liberation:
- Occupation (2020)
- Salvation (2020)
- Reclamation (2020)
New Earth Series (with Chris Harris)
A sci-fi series focused on humanity's journey to colonize and adapt to a new home planet:
- Arc (2018)
- Swarm (2020)
- Echo (2023)
Tranquility Series (with Josh Hayes)
A collaborative military sci-fi series exploring space-based operations and tactical combat:
- Blood and Steel (2021)
- Battle Lines (2021)
Shortyverse Series (with Scott Moon)
A collaborative space opera universe where Ford co-authored the final installment of the main sequence:
- Shorty (2018) - Written by Scott Moon
- Kill Me Now (2018) - Written by Scott Moon
- Ground Pounder (2019) - Written by Scott Moon
- Shorty and the Brits (2019) - Co-authored with Devon C. Ford
Burning Skies Series
A collaborative post-apocalyptic series featuring contributions from multiple authors, launched by Ford's books:
- The Fall (2018)
- Fallout (2018)
- Uprising (2019)