How to Read Drew Magary’s Books
Drew Magary is a writer who refuses to be pinned down to a single style. Known to sports fans as a co-founder of Defector Media and a former Deadspin columnist, he has successfully transitioned into a celebrated novelist and memoirist. Because Magary does not write long-running, interconnected series, approaching his bibliography is incredibly simple: every single one of his fiction and non-fiction books can be read as a standalone work.
However, because his books vary wildly in tone—ranging from dark near-future science fiction to surreal portal fantasy and deeply personal memoirs—knowing where to start makes all the difference. Below, we break down his recommended reading paths, detail his publication history, and explain what you should know before picking up your first Magary book.
The Recommended Starting Points
Since you do not need to worry about chronological timeline continuity or returning character arcs, your choice of starting point depends entirely on what kind of story you are looking for:
- For Dystopian and Sci-Fi Fans: Start with The Postmortal (2011). It is a thrilling, thought-provoking, and darkly funny examination of a world that has successfully cured aging, only to watch society buckle under the weight of population growth, resource depletion, and existential dread.
- For Fantasy and Adventure Seekers: Start with The Hike (2016). Widely considered Magary's masterpiece by fiction readers, this book follows a suburban businessman who takes a quick hike behind a hotel and gets pulled into a bizarre, folklore-inspired, video-game-like landscape where he must survive talking crabs, giants, and nightmare entities.
- For Memoir and Personal Story Lovers: Start with The Night the Lights Went Out (2021). This raw, humorous, and deeply moving memoir details Magary’s recovery from a sudden near-fatal brain hemorrhage in 2018. It is an honest look at physical therapy, parenting with a brain injury, and finding gratitude in survival.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
If you prefer to see how Magary’s voice and themes have evolved over time, reading his fiction in order of publication is a highly rewarding experience. His novels show a clear progression from near-future satire to surreal epic adventure, and finally to high-concept sci-fi coming-of-age storytelling.
- The Postmortal (2011) – Published as The End Specialist in some regions (such as the UK), this debut novel follows a divorce lawyer who obtains a medical cure for aging. The narrative spans several decades, showing the gradual collapse of society as humans realize that ending aging is not the same thing as ending death.
- The Hike (2016) – A genre-bending adventure that mixes elements of surrealism, fantasy, horror, and classic fairy tales. It centers on Ben, a family man who must walk a mysterious path in rural Pennsylvania to find his way back home, encountering strange challenges that test his sanity and resolve.
- Point B (2020) – A sci-fi novel set in a world where cheap, instant teleportation has replaced traditional transportation. The story focuses on a young girl named Portia who goes to a private academy, dealing with corporate espionage, coming-of-age trials, and the social upheaval caused by a post-travel society.
Short Stories and Novellas
For a quick taste of Magary's speculative fiction style, he has also written shorter fiction that can easily be read in a single sitting.
- The Rover (2014) – A science fiction novella originally released as a Kindle Single. The story follows a suburban man who finds a bizarre, silent alien robot stranded in his yard and attempts to keep it hidden from both his neighbors and the authorities.
Non-Fiction and Memoirs
Long before he was publishing novels, Magary built a dedicated readership through online sports commentary, parenting essays, and humor columns. His non-fiction books show the transition from his early, high-energy blog style to a mature, reflective writer.
- Men with Balls: The Professional Athlete's Handbook (2008) – A satirical, profanity-laced look at the excess, egos, and absurdities of modern professional sports, echoing his early writing for Kissing Suzy Kolber and Deadspin.
- Someone Could Get Hurt: A Memoir of Twenty-First-Century Parenthood (2013) – A collection of honest, humorous essays about the realities of modern fatherhood. Note: In the United Kingdom and select international markets, this book was published under the alternative title "F**king Up the Buttons on a Babygrow" in late 2013.
- The Night the Lights Went Out: A Memoir of Life with Brain Damage (2021) – Magary's most personal work to date. It chronicles the night he collapsed at a Deadspin staff event, his days in a coma, and his long journey through cognitive and physical therapy to adapt to permanent changes in his hearing, smell, and balance.
What to Know Before You Start
Drew Magary's writing style is heavily influenced by his background as a digital columnist. As a result, his prose is conversational, direct, and frequently uses profanity and self-deprecating humor. He is excellent at keeping readers engaged with fast pacing, but he is not afraid to explore dark or disturbing concepts—especially in the dystopian scenarios of The Postmortal or the surreal survival trials of The Hike.
Additionally, keep an eye out for regional title changes. Because The Postmortal and Someone Could Get Hurt were retitled in European markets, you may accidentally buy the same book twice if you are not careful with international editions.