Here's the Real Chronological Flow of the Full 'Outlander' Book Series

Outlander fans have had a lot to celebrate recently – the return of the fantastical romance tale in its sixth season on Starz, a brand new storyline out of series author Diana Gabaldon's newest tale, Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, and news that a new prequel series is on its way.

There's never been a better time to dive into the vast literary universe that makes up the Outlander series, either. Gabaldon confirmed earlier this year that's she's getting to work on the tenth, likely final, installment in the book's main series. If you're a fan of the Starz show but have yet to pick up any of the Outlander books, you may be surprised to hear there are more than a dozen published pieces that make up the world of the sci-fi-turned historical fiction tale. Canonically, however, there is a collection of main novels featuring series' mainstays Jamie and Claire Fraser — nine in total. As these novels are designed to be consumed all their own, many series fans have only read this collection of novels that have inspired the Outlander series as we know it.

But Gabaldon has released additional shorter novels and novellas outside this collection, which diehard fans will likely wish to consume as well. They concern Lord John Grey primarily, and the four existing novellas can be read after you've completed the main series. The author says that those who are starting anew in reading the main series may wish to work these shorter Lord Grey stories into their lineup, however. These shorter tales can "be read alone, without reference either to each other or to the [main series] — should you be in the mood for a light literary snack," Gabaldon shares on her official website.

While we're recapping each of the main series' novels in our guide to Outlander books below, here's how you can consume all of Gabaldon's offerings in tight chronological order:

1. Virgins, a novella
2. Outlander
3. The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel, a follow-up to the first novel
4. Dragonfly in Amber
5. A Fugitive Green, a novella pulled from Seven Stones to Stand or Fall
6. Voyager
7. The Lord John Series, which includes portions of Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, Lord John and the Hand of Devils, Lord John and the Private Matter, Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade and The Scottish Prisoner, amid others.
8. Drums of Autumn
9. The Fiery Cross
10. A Breath of Snow and Ashes
11. An Echo in the Bone
12. The Space Between, a novella
13. Written in My Own Heart’s Blood
14. A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows, which is set within the novel above
15. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone

Not sure if you're in for 15 different tales? Here's a recap of the main Outlander series books, with snippets of what occurs in each adventure.