Author guide
William T. Vollmann Books in Order
William T. Vollmann (born 1959) is an American writer whose work spans novels, short stories, memoir, travel and war reportage, essays, social and moral philosophy, literary criticism, poetry, photography, and artist's books. His major projects include the Seven Dreams cycle, the seven-volume Rising Up and Rising Down, and the Carbon Ideologies investigation. His novel Europe Central won the 2005 National Book Award for Fiction.
William T. Vollmann's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
The Ice-Shirt
The opening published volume of the Seven Dreams cycle.
The Rainbow Stories
A representative entry point into Vollmann's short fiction.
Europe Central
His National Book Award-winning historical novel and a major standalone work.
Poor People
A concise entry point into his nonfiction and social inquiry.
Read in order
Books by series
novel cycle · ongoing
Seven Dreams: A Book of North American Landscapes
A planned seven-volume cycle of historical novels about the colonization and settlement of North America and encounters between Indigenous peoples and European newcomers.
trilogy · complete
Prostitution Trilogy
Three linked novels centered on prostitution, desire, marginality, and urban life.
nonfiction series · complete
Carbon Ideologies
A two-volume nonfiction investigation of energy production, fossil fuels, climate change, and the human ideologies surrounding them.
photography and art series · complete
Shadows of Love, Shadows of Loneliness
A two-volume retrospective of Vollmann's photography and visual art, accompanied by essays and commentary.
novel · ongoing
A Table for Fortune
A four-part novel depicting the last half-century of American politics, war, and life; the first part was published in 2026.
- 1 A Table for Fortune 1Amazon ↗
Book 1 · novel · 2026
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Novels (10)
-
You Bright and Risen AngelsAmazon ↗novel · 1987
- Rising Up and Rising Down: Some Thoughts on Violence, Freedom and Urgent MeansAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2003
- Europe CentralAmazon ↗
novel · 2005
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Uncentering the Earth: Copernicus and the Revolutions of the Heavenly SpheresAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2006
- Poor PeopleAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2007
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Riding Toward EverywhereAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2008
- ImperialAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2009
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Kissing the Mask: Beauty, Understatement, and Femininity in Japanese Noh TheaterAmazon ↗nonfiction · 2010
- Into the Forbidden Zone: A Trip Through Hell and High Water in Post-Earthquake JapanAmazon ↗
nonfiction · 2011
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The Lucky StarAmazon ↗novel · 2020
Nonfiction (1)
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An Afghanistan Picture Show: Or, How I Saved the WorldAmazon ↗memoir · 1992
