Books On Board

Ed Nelson Books in Order

  • 23 Books
  • 2019 – 2024 Published

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Reading order
3 of 3 reading orders shown

The Ultimate Guide to Ed Nelson's Universes

Ed Nelson (also known as Earl "Ed" Nelson) was a prolific storyteller who turned to writing later in life. Blending his fifty-year career in quality control and international travel with an love for history and science fiction, Nelson created two highly popular alternate history series: The Richard Jackson Saga and Cast in Time. If you love stories about modern ingenuity transforming the past, or tongue-in-cheek coming-of-age adventures set in the mid-20th century, Nelson's bibliography is a goldmine.

Because both of his major series rely on tight, chronological continuity and character development, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order. Below is the complete roadmap to his series, standalones, and spin-offs.

Cast in Time Reading Order

This series is a classic "isekai" or portal fantasy scenario with a hard science-fiction twist. The story follows a dying 92-year-old retired Lieutenant General and former head of the US Army Corps of Engineers who wakes up in the year 715 A.D. in Cornwall. Reborn in the body of a young baron, he uses his massive modern engineering knowledge to build a sanitation system, improve metallurgy, and jumpstart medieval technology—all while desperately trying to avoid being burned at the stake for witchcraft. You should read these books in exact publication order:

  1. Baron (2023)
  2. Baron of the Middle Counties (2023)
  3. Count (2023)
  4. Earl (2023)
  5. Earl of the Marches (2024)
  6. Duke (2025)
  7. Duke of the West (2025)
  8. Archduke (2025)

Where to Start Cast in Time

Start strictly with Baron. The series relies on the progressive build-up of technology and political relationships, and reading them out of order will ruin the fun of seeing the protagonist introduce modern inventions step-by-step.

The Richard Jackson Saga Reading Order

Set starting in the late 1950s, this series is a playful, lighthearted alternate history and coming-of-age adventure. It follows Richard "Rick" Jackson, a regular American teenager who has an extraordinary knack for being at the right place at the right time. Rick climbs from hitchhiker to Hollywood star, eventually building an industrial empire, inventing major technologies, and dodging international threats with the help of his powerful godparents, Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Here is the publication order of the main series, including the key sister companion story:

  1. The Beginning (2019)
  2. School Days (2019)
  3. Hollywood (2019)
  4. In the Movies (2019)
  5. Star to Deckhand (2019)
  6. Surfing Dude (2019)
  7. Third Time is a Charm (2019)
  8. Mary, Mary (2019) — Companion/Book 7.5
  9. Oxford University (2019)
  10. Cold War (2020)
  11. Taking Care of Business (2021)
  12. Interesting Times (2021)
  13. Escape From Siberia (2021)
  14. Regicide (2021)
  15. What's Under? Down Under (2021)
  16. The Lunar Kingdom (2022)
  17. First Steps (2022)

How to Handle the Mary, Mary Companion Story

Mary, Mary is a spin-off co-authored with Carol Nelson that focuses on Rick's younger sister, Mary, who is a child prodigy capable of solving differential equations and dreaming up her own inventions at age five. It fits perfectly between Book 7 (Third Time is a Charm) and Book 8 (Oxford University). It is often published as Mary, Mary and More Mary Mary Combined in physical collections.

Standalone Novels

If you want to experience Ed Nelson's writing style in a self-contained story, he has one standalone novel:

  • Ever and Always: Immortality and the Apocalypse (2019)

Co-authored with Carol Nelson, this story centers on Rick King, a Vietnam veteran suffering from severe Alzheimer's who wakes up in an indigent care facility only to discover he is growing physically younger. He teams up with a woman in the same situation named Marsha Wren to reclaim their lives, outrun government scientists, and prepare for an impending apocalypse.

What to Know Before You Start

Ed Nelson's books are designed for pure escapism and entertainment. The tone is casual, witty, and filled with humorous situations. While the engineering and building aspects of Cast in Time appeal to fans of hard science fiction, the story remains highly readable and accessible. In contrast, The Richard Jackson Saga features a lot of lighthearted wish-fulfillment and historical name-dropping, making it a fast and comforting read. Because the author sadly passed away in June 2026, these completed series represent the full legacy of his late-career creative bloom.

Frequently Asked

Where should I start reading Ed Nelson?

If you prefer historical engineering projects and survival, start with Baron, the first book of the Cast in Time series. If you prefer lighthearted, nostalgic 1950s adventures, start with The Beginning, the first book of The Richard Jackson Saga.

Can the Cast in Time books be read as standalones?

No, they cannot. The series follows a continuous technological and political timeline where the protagonist builds a civilization step-by-step. Reading them out of order will make the plot very confusing.

Where does Mary, Mary fit in the Richard Jackson Saga?

It is best read as Book 7.5, immediately after Third Time is a Charm and before Oxford University. It tells the story of Rick's genius younger sister, Mary.

Are Ed Nelson's books based on his real life?

While they are alternate history fiction, Nelson often joked that he threw in "a lie or two" from his own global travels and adventures during his fifty-year career as a quality control expert.

Did Ed Nelson write any standalone books?

Yes. He co-authored Ever and Always: Immortality and the Apocalypse (2019) with Carol Nelson, which is a standalone sci-fi and fantasy novel about characters growing younger before an apocalypse.