Author guide
C. J. Cherryh Books in Order
C. J. Cherryh is the pen name of Carolyn Janice Cherry, an American author whose career began in 1976. Her major bodies of work include the Alliance-Union universe, the Foreigner series, the Chanur novels, and numerous fantasy cycles. She has also written collaborative novels, edited shared-world anthologies, translated science fiction from French, and published nonfiction about writing. Her honors include Hugo Awards for Downbelow Station and Cyteen, a Hugo Award for the short story Cassandra, the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and a Locus Award for Cyteen.
science fictionfantasynonfiction
C. J. Cherryh's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Downbelow Station
The foundational Alliance-Union novel and a Hugo Award winner.
The Pride of Chanur
A self-contained, character-driven entry into Cherryh's space opera.
Foreigner
The opening volume of her longest major series.
Gate of Ivrel
The first Morgaine novel and an accessible introduction to her fantasy.
Read in order
Books by series
universe · ongoing
Alliance-Union Universe
A far-future science-fiction future history encompassing the Company Wars, merchanter societies, alien civilizations, and related historical eras.
- 1
Alliance RisingAmazon ↗Book 1 · novel · 2019
- 2 Alliance UnboundAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novel · 2024
- 3
Heavy TimeAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1991
- 4
HellburnerAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 1992
- 5 Downbelow StationAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novel · 1981
- 6
Merchanter's LuckAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 1982
- 7
RimrunnersAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 1989
- 8
TripointAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 1994
- 9
Finity's EndAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 1997
- 10 The Pride of ChanurAmazon ↗
Book 10 · novel · 1982
- 11
Chanur's VentureAmazon ↗Book 11 · novel · 1984
- 12
The Kif Strike BackAmazon ↗Book 12 · novel · 1985
- 13
Chanur's HomecomingAmazon ↗Book 13 · novel · 1986
- 14
Chanur's LegacyAmazon ↗Book 14 · novel · 1992
- 15
Forty Thousand in GehennaAmazon ↗Book 15 · novel · 1983
- 16 CyteenAmazon ↗
Book 16 · novel · 1988
- 17
RegenesisAmazon ↗Book 17 · novel · 2009
- 18
Port EternityAmazon ↗Book 18 · novel · 1982
- 19
Voyager in NightAmazon ↗Book 19 · novel · 1984
- 20
Cuckoo's EggAmazon ↗Book 20 · novel · 1985
- 21 The Faded Sun: KesrithAmazon ↗
Book 21 · novel · 1977
- 22 The Faded Sun: Shon'jirAmazon ↗
Book 22 · novel · 1978
- 23 The Faded Sun: KutathAmazon ↗
Book 23 · novel · 1979
- 24
Serpent's ReachAmazon ↗Book 24 · novel · 1980
- 25
Wave Without a ShoreAmazon ↗Book 25 · novel · 1981
- 26 Brothers of EarthAmazon ↗
Book 26 · novel · 1976
- 27
Hunter of WorldsAmazon ↗Book 27 · novel · 1976
- 28
Angel with the SwordAmazon ↗Book 28 · novel · 1985
- 29 Festival MoonAmazon ↗
Book 29 · anthology · 1987
- 30 Fever SeasonAmazon ↗
Book 30 · anthology · 1987
- 31 Troubled WatersAmazon ↗
Book 31 · anthology · 1988
- 32 Smuggler's GoldAmazon ↗
Book 32 · anthology · 1988
- 33 Divine RightAmazon ↗
Book 33 · anthology · 1989
- 34 Flood TideAmazon ↗
Book 34 · anthology · 1990
- 35 EndgameAmazon ↗
Book 35 · anthology · 1991
series · ongoing
The Hinder Stars
A prequel series about the early merchanter alliance and the founding era of the Alliance-Union setting.
series · complete
The Company Wars
Alliance-Union novels centered on Earth Company expansion, the Company Wars, and their aftermath.
- 1 Heavy TimeAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1991
- 2 HellburnerAmazon ↗
Book 2 · novel · 1992
- 3 Downbelow StationAmazon ↗
Book 3 · novel · 1981
- 4 Merchanter's LuckAmazon ↗
Book 4 · novel · 1982
- 5 RimrunnersAmazon ↗
Book 5 · novel · 1989
- 6 TripointAmazon ↗
Book 6 · novel · 1994
- 7 Finity's EndAmazon ↗
Book 7 · novel · 1997
series · complete
Chanur
Space-opera novels about the hani captain Pyanfar Chanur and the interspecies Compact.
series · complete
Unionside
Alliance-Union novels focused on the Union, genetic engineering, and the long consequences of Cyteen.
series · complete
Age of Exploration
A group of thematically related Alliance-Union novels about exploration, contact, and alien cultures.
trilogy · complete
The Faded Sun
The Mri Wars trilogy about a human soldier and the endangered Mri civilization.
series · complete
Era of Rapprochement
Alliance-Union novels exploring contact and cultural encounter across distant human and alien societies.
series · complete
The Hanan Rebellion
Two distant-future novels concerning human conflict, cultural change, and contact with predatory alien societies.
anthology-series · complete
Merovingen Nights
A shared-world anthology sequence set in Merovin, preceded by Angel with the Sword.
- 1 Angel with the SwordAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1985
- 2 Festival MoonAmazon ↗
Book 2 · anthology · 1987
- 3 Fever SeasonAmazon ↗
Book 3 · anthology · 1987
- 4 Troubled WatersAmazon ↗
Book 4 · anthology · 1988
- 5 Smuggler's GoldAmazon ↗
Book 5 · anthology · 1988
- 6 Divine RightAmazon ↗
Book 6 · anthology · 1989
- 7 Flood TideAmazon ↗
Book 7 · anthology · 1990
- 8 EndgameAmazon ↗
Book 8 · anthology · 1991
cycle · complete
The Morgaine Cycle
Fantasy novels about Morgaine and Vanye crossing worlds through ancient gates.
- 1 Gate of IvrelAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1976
- 2
Well of ShiuanAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1978
- 3
Fires of AzerothAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1979
- 4
Exile's GateAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 1988
- 5 Gate of Ivrel: Claiming RitesAmazon ↗
Book adaptation-1 · graphic-novel · 1987 Optional
- 6 Gate of Ivrel: Fever DreamsAmazon ↗
Book adaptation-2 · graphic-novel · 1988 Optional
series · ongoing
Foreigner
A long-running science-fiction series following Bren Cameron as interpreter and intermediary between humans and the atevi.
- 1 ForeignerAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1994
- 2
InvaderAmazon ↗Book 2 · novel · 1995
- 3
InheritorAmazon ↗Book 3 · novel · 1996
- 4
PrecursorAmazon ↗Book 4 · novel · 1999
- 5
DefenderAmazon ↗Book 5 · novel · 2001
- 6
ExplorerAmazon ↗Book 6 · novel · 2003
- 7
DestroyerAmazon ↗Book 7 · novel · 2005
- 8
PretenderAmazon ↗Book 8 · novel · 2006
- 9
DelivererAmazon ↗Book 9 · novel · 2007
- 10
ConspiratorAmazon ↗Book 10 · novel · 2009
- 11
DeceiverAmazon ↗Book 11 · novel · 2010
- 12
BetrayerAmazon ↗Book 12 · novel · 2011
- 13
IntruderAmazon ↗Book 13 · novel · 2012
- 14
ProtectorAmazon ↗Book 14 · novel · 2013
- 15
PeacemakerAmazon ↗Book 15 · novel · 2014
- 16
TrackerAmazon ↗Book 16 · novel · 2015
- 17
VisitorAmazon ↗Book 17 · novel · 2016
- 18
ConvergenceAmazon ↗Book 18 · novel · 2017
- 19
EmergenceAmazon ↗Book 19 · novel · 2018
- 20
ResurgenceAmazon ↗Book 20 · novel · 2020
- 21
DivergenceAmazon ↗Book 21 · novel · 2020
- 22
DefianceAmazon ↗Book 22 · novel · 2023
duology · complete
Finisterre
A science-fiction duology set on a dangerous world where riders and sentient nighthorses help human settlements survive.
series · complete
Gene Wars
A science-fiction series about nanotechnology, terraforming, and the aftermath of an interstellar conflict.
series · complete
Arafel
Faery novels concerning the elf Arafel and the retreat of the elves from human lands.
trilogy · complete
The Russian Stories
Fantasy novels drawing on Russian folklore and the legends of the rusalka.
series · complete
Heroes in Hell
Collaborative fantasy novels set in the shared Heroes in Hell universe.
series · complete
Fortress
A five-volume fantasy series about Tristen, a young man shaped by ancient magic and political conflict.
shared-world · complete
Thieves' World
A shared-world fantasy setting in which Cherryh collaborated on one standalone novel.
- 1 Soul of the CityAmazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 1986
Outside the series
