Where to Begin with E.E. Knight
E.E. Knight (the pen name of Eric Frisch) is best known for two highly acclaimed speculative fiction series that cater to very different tastes. Because these series are completely independent of one another, your starting point depends entirely on which genre you prefer:
- For Post-Apocalyptic Military Sci-Fi: Start with Way of the Wolf (originally published in 2001, widely released in 2003). This kicks off the 11-book Vampire Earth saga, following a human resistance fighter battling alien conquerors.
- For High Fantasy with a Twist: Start with Dragon Champion (2005). This begins the Age of Fire series, which is unique because it is told entirely from the perspective of dragon siblings rather than human heroes.
Below, we break down the reading orders, parallel timelines, and companion works for both of these major universes, along with his media tie-ins and spin-offs.
The Vampire Earth Series in Publication Order
The Vampire Earth series is set in a dystopian future where Earth has been conquered by the Kurians, a vampiric alien race that feeds on human life force. The story follows David Valentine, a young soldier who joins the resistance. The books follow a strict chronological timeline, meaning they should be read in publication order:
- Way of the Wolf (2001/2003) – Introduces David Valentine as he joins the Wolves, an elite guerrilla combat unit.
- Choice of the Cat (2004) – Valentine transitions to the Cats, specializing in stealth, recon, and infiltration.
- Tale of the Thunderbolt (2005) – The battle expands to the ruins of the Caribbean and Gulf Coast.
- Valentine's Rising (2005) – Valentine returns to the Ozarks for a massive climax against the Kurians.
- Valentine's Exile (2006) – Valentine is cast out of the military and undertakes a personal journey.
- Valentine's Resolve (2007) – Valentine works to unite various rebel factions.
- Fall with Honor (2008) – Valentine leads a hazardous expedition into the heart of Kurian-controlled territory.
- Winter Duty (2009) – Valentine faces political intrigue and harsh winter warfare in the Pacific Northwest.
- March in Country (2011) – The resistance seeks allies in the agricultural heartlands of the former United States.
- Appalachian Overthrow (2013) – Shifting focus slightly, this book highlights other key resistance leaders in the Appalachian sector.
- Baltic Gambit (2014) – Valentine travels across the Atlantic to aid European resistance forces, marking the latest novel in the series.
The Age of Fire Series: A Parallel Reading Order
The Age of Fire is a six-novel fantasy epic that follows three dragon siblings from the same clutch: AuRon (a rare, scaleless gray dragon), Wistala (a green female dragon), and the Copper (a crippled, red-golden dragon also known as RuGaard). Because the first three books occur simultaneously and depict the same timeline from different perspectives, they present a unique reading path:
The Concurrent Trilogy (Books 1–3)
The first three novels can theoretically be read in any order, as they focus on different siblings during the same years of struggle:
- Dragon Champion (2005) – Follows the journey of AuRon.
- Dragon Avenger (2006) – Follows the journey of Wistala.
- Dragon Outcast (2007) – Follows the journey of the Copper.
Recommendation: Even though they run parallel, it is highly recommended to read them in publication order. The world-building in Dragon Champion sets the stage perfectly, and reading them in sequence avoids minor chronological confusion.
The Convergent Books (Books 4–6)
Once the siblings' paths cross, the story shifts into a single, linear narrative. These must be read in order:
- Dragon Strike (2008) – The siblings are reunited on opposite sides of a brewing global conflict.
- Dragon Rule (2009) – The war intensifies as the dragon alliance faces off against human empires.
- Dragon Fate (2011) – The final volume resolving the fates of the dragon siblings and their world.
The Companion Novella
- Dragon Search (2013) – A prequel novella centering on Irelia, a young dragonelle who takes a vow to become a Firemaid. It is set before the main events of the saga and can be read either before starting Dragon Champion or as a companion piece after finishing the main series.
Dragoneer Academy: The Age of Fire Spin-off
Set in the same universe as the Age of Fire, the Dragoneer Academy series is a young adult spin-off focusing on the humans who train and ride dragons. Currently, the series remains unfinished due to publisher decisions, consisting of only two books:
- Novice Dragoneer (2019) – Follows Ileantha, an orphan who dreams of joining the elite Dragoneer Academy.
- Daughter of the Serpentine (2020) – Continues Ileantha's training and her bond with her dragon.
Note on Book 3: Knight completed draft work for a third book, but the publisher declined to publish it. While the author has expressed interest in self-publishing the conclusion to the trilogy, no release date has been set.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Tie-ins
In the early 2000s, E.E. Knight contributed to the official franchise novels set in the timeline of the classic Tomb Raider video games. While retail listings occasionally group these together under Knight's name, he only wrote one of them:
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Lost Cult (2004) – Written solely by E.E. Knight. Lara travels to Peru to investigate the murder of a colleague and uncover an ancient, mind-controlling cult.
The other books in the franchise during this era were written by different authors: Tomb Raider Tech Manual (2001) was written by Michael Jan Friedman, The Amulet of Power (2003) by Mike Resnick, and The Man of Bronze (2004) by James Alan Gardner. You do not need to read these other books to enjoy Knight's contribution, as The Lost Cult works perfectly as a standalone adventure.
Other Contributions
- Return of the Sword (2008) – An anthology of heroic adventure edited by Jason M. Waltz, featuring a short fantasy story by E.E. Knight.