Book Series Guide
James S. A. Corey

Author guide

James S. A. Corey Books in Order

James S. A. Corey is the shared pen name of American authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Their collaboration includes the nine-novel space-opera series The Expanse, its separately published short fiction, the Star Wars novel Honor Among Thieves, and The Captive's War series.

science fictionspace operamilitary science fictiontie-in fiction

Catalog record updated .

James S. A. Corey's Newest Book

Cover of The Faith of Beasts

The Faith of Beasts

novel · First published 2026

The monstrous Carryx empire was built by subjugation and war. Thousands of species are bound to their Sovran’s command in an endless, blood-soaked test: be useful in the eternal conflict or be slaughtered. Dafyd Alkhor, highest among their human captives, is feared and despised by the very people he champions. Ruthless in carving out his niche in the eternal war machine of the empire, he will reshape human nature itself as a tool for their alien masters’ use. But Dafyd’s loyalty is not what it seems. The Swarm, an agent of the Carryx’s deathless enemy, has been smuggled into the Carryx world-palace along with the human slaves. Its mission: discover a way to bring down the empire’s eternal reign. But the longer it lives among and within humanity, the more it forgets that it is a weapon. As the human captives spread through the battlefronts of empire, the awesome power of the Carryx becomes clear. And with it, a desperate plan for their destruction. But empires hide secrets, and even the deathless enemy may not be what it appears…

Not sure where to begin?

Start with one of these

Cover of Leviathan Wakes

Leviathan Wakes

The first novel and primary entry point to The Expanse.

Cover of The Mercy of Gods

The Mercy of Gods

The first novel and entry point to The Captive's War.

Read in order

Books by series

novel series · complete

The Expanse

A completed science-fiction space-opera series comprising nine novels and separately published short fiction.

Series guide →
  1. 1
    The Butcher of Anderson Station

    Book prequel · novelette · 2011

    A novelette set in the hard-scrabble world of James S. A. Corey's NYT-bestselling Expanse series, The Butcher of Anderson Station deepens the story of Colonel Fred Johnson's past as seen on the fifth episode of Season 1 of The Expanse.…

  2. 2
    Leviathan Wakes

    Book 1 · novel · 2011

    Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach. Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When…

  3. 3
    Drive

    Book prequel · short_story · 2012

    A novella set in the universe of James S. A. Corey's New York Times bestselling Expanse series, now a Prime Original series. This story will be available in the complete Expanse story collection, Memory's Legion. HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR…

  4. 4
    Caliban's War

    Book 2 · novel · 2012

    We are not alone. On Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered by a monstrous supersoldier. On Earth, a high-level politician struggles to prevent interplanetary war from…

  5. 5
    Gods of Risk

    Book 2.5 · novella · 2012

    A novella set in the hard-scrabble world of James S. A. Corey's NYT-bestselling Expanse series, Gods of Risk tells the story of Bobbie Draper following the events of Caliban's War. This story will be available in the complete Expanse…

  6. 6
    Abaddon's Gate

    Book 3 · novel · 2013

    The third book in the NYT bestselling Expanse series, Abaddon's Gate opens the door to the ruins of an alien gate network, and the crew of the Rocinante may hold the key to unlocking its secrets. Now a Prime Original series. For…

  7. 7
    The Churn

    Book prequel · novella · 2014

    A novella set in the hard-scrabble world of James S. A. Corey's NYT-bestselling Expanse series, The Churn takes the bestselling sci-fi series to the dark world of organized crime, drugs, secrets, and murder that shaped the Rocinante's…

  8. 8
    Cibola Burn

    Book 4 · novel · 2014

    The fourth book in the NYT bestselling Expanse series, Cibola Burn sees the crew of the Rocinante on a new frontier, as the rush to colonize the new planets threatens to outrun law and order and give way to war and chaos. Now a Prime…

  9. 9
    The Vital Abyss

    Book 5.5 · novella · 2015

    A novella set in the hard-scrabble world of James S. A. Corey's NYT-bestselling Expanse series, The Vital Abyss is the secret history of the cataclysmic events that occurred on Eros station, and the revelation of what came after. . . Now…

  10. 10
    Nemesis Games

    Book 5 · novel · 2015

    The fifth book in the NYT bestselling Expanse series, Nemesis Games drives the crew of the Rocinante apart, and as they struggle to survive, the inner planets fall victim to an enemy's catastrophic plan. Now a Prime Original series. A…

  11. 11
    Babylon's Ashes

    Book 6 · novel · 2016

    A revolution brewing for generations has begun in fire. It will end in blood. The Free Navy - a violent group of Belters in black-market military ships - has crippled the Earth and begun a campaign of piracy and violence among the outer…

  12. 12
    Strange Dogs

    Book 6.5 · novella · 2017

    Strange Dogs is a novella that expands the world of James S. A. Corey's New York Times bestselling Expanse series - now a Prime Original TV series. Like many before them, Cara and her family ventured through the gates as scientists and…

  13. 13
    Persepolis Rising

    Book 7 · novel · 2017

    "The seventh novel in James S.A. Corey's New York Times bestselling Expanse series--now a major television series. AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS In the thousand-sun network of humanity's expansion, new colony worlds are struggling to find their…

  14. 14
    Auberon

    Book 7.5 · novella · 2019

    Auberon explores a new and alien world and the age-old dangers that humanity has carried with it to the stars. Now a Prime Original series. This story will be available in the complete Expanse story collection, Memory’s Legion. Hugo Award…

  15. 15
    Tiamat's Wrath

    Book 8 · novel · 2019

    Thirteen hundred gates have opened to solar systems around the galaxy. But as humanity builds its interstellar empire in the alien ruins, the mysteries and threats grow deeper. In the dead systems where gates lead to stranger things than…

  16. 16
    Leviathan Falls

    Book 9 · novel · 2021

    The Laconian Empire has fallen, setting the thirteen hundred solar systems free from the rule of Winston Duarte. But the ancient enemy that killed the gate builders is awake, and the war against our universe has begun again. In the dead…

  17. 17
    The Sins of Our Fathers

    Book 9.5 · novella · 2022

    Through one of the gates, a colony stands alone. Their supplies are low. Their defenses, weak. The leadership is uncertain, and the community fragile. Huge alien beasts threaten the little they have left. But the worst monsters are human,…

  18. 18
    Memory's Legion

    Book collection · collection · 2022 Optional

trilogy · ongoing

The Captive's War

An ongoing space-opera trilogy about humanity's struggle against the alien Carryx empire, with related novellas.

Series guide →
  1. 1
    The Mercy of Gods

    Book 1 · novel · 2024

    "The Carryx – part empire, part hive – have waged wars of conquest for centuries, destroying or enslaving species across the galaxy. Now, they are facing a great and deathless enemy. The key to their survival may rest with the humans of…

  2. 2
    Livesuit

    Book 1.5 · novella · 2024

    The first novella set in the universe of James S. A. Corey's epic Captive's War series. Humanity's war is eternal, spread across the galaxy and the ages. Humanity's best hope to end the endless slaughter is the Livesuit forces. Soldiers…

  3. 3
    The Faith of Beasts

    Book 2 · novel · 2026

    The monstrous Carryx empire was built by subjugation and war. Thousands of species are bound to their Sovran’s command in an endless, blood-soaked test: be useful in the eternal conflict or be slaughtered. Dafyd Alkhor, highest among…

tie in series · complete

Star Wars: Empire and Rebellion

A completed Star Wars tie-in series; Honor Among Thieves is its second volume.

Series guide →
  1. 2
    Honor Among Thieves

    Book 2 · novel · 2014

    Nebula and Hugo Award nominees Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck—writing as James S. A. Corey—make their Star Wars debut in this brand-new epic adventure featuring Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia Organa. The action begins after the…

Frequently asked questions about James S. A. Corey

Who is James S. A. Corey, and is it a real person?

James S. A. Corey is the shared pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who collaborate on science fiction.

Source: jamessacorey.com (opens in a new tab)

How did Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck begin writing together?

They met through mutual friends in Albuquerque. Franck’s role-playing-game world inspired Abraham to suggest turning it into a novel, beginning their collaboration.

Source: publishersweekly.com (opens in a new tab)

What influenced James S. A. Corey’s writing?

Their work draws on Cold War political tension, the rise and decline of empires, noir mystery, and the film Alien; The Expanse also grew from Franck’s role-playing-game worldbuilding.

Sources: publishersweekly.com (opens in a new tab)lightspeedmagazine.com (opens in a new tab)

What major award has James S. A. Corey’s work won?

The Expanse won the 2020 Hugo Award for Best Series.

Source: thehugoawards.org (opens in a new tab)

How did James S. A. Corey help bring The Expanse to television?

Abraham and Franck wrote and produced the television adaptation of The Expanse, extending their work beyond the novels.

Sources: hachette.co.uk (opens in a new tab)loc.gov (opens in a new tab)