Author guide
Jeffrey Ford Books in Order
Jeffrey Ford is an American writer whose fiction blends literary storytelling with fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery, surrealism, and myth. He is the author of novels, novellas, and award-winning short-story collections, including the Well-Built City trilogy, The Shadow Year, The Drowned Life, and A Natural History of Hell.
literary fictionfantasyhorrorscience fictionmysterysurrealism
Jeffrey Ford's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Physiognomy
The opening volume of Ford's Well-Built City trilogy and his World Fantasy Award-winning breakthrough novel.
The Fantasy Writer's Assistant
A representative early short-story collection showcasing Ford's literary fantasy.
The Shadow Year
A standalone novel that combines family drama, mystery, and the fantastic.
Read in order
Books by series
trilogy · complete
Well-Built City trilogy
A trilogy following Cley through the Well-Built City and the worlds beyond it.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (8)
- VanitasAmazon ↗
novel · 1988
-
The Portrait of Mrs. CharbuqueAmazon ↗novel · 2002
- The Girl in the GlassAmazon ↗
novel · 2005
- The Cosmology of the Wider WorldAmazon ↗
novella · 2005
- The Shadow YearAmazon ↗
novel · 2008
-
The Twilight PariahAmazon ↗novella · 2017
- Ahab's Return, or The Last VoyageAmazon ↗
novel · 2018
-
Out of BodyAmazon ↗novella · 2020
Short fiction (8)
- The Fantasy Writer's AssistantAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2002
-
The Empire of Ice CreamAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2005
-
The Drowned LifeAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2008
-
Crackpot PalaceAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2012
-
A Natural History of HellAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2016
-
The Best of Jeffrey FordAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2020
-
Big Dark HoleAmazon ↗short-story collection · 2021
- Pandemonium WaltzAmazon ↗
short-story collection · 2026