TheRivers of Londonseries, by Ben Aaronovitch, was one of the first long fiction series I indulged in when I was younger, and it made me feel like magic was as real as physics. If you’re ready to embark on your journey, then you’ll need to know the proper reading order.
Reading orders of Rivers of London
TheRivers of Londonseriesconsists of novels, novellas, a short story collection, and graphic novels. The novels tell the main story, with the novellas providing context and world-building. The graphic novels and short story collections provide extra stories and hijinx into the world.
The graphic novels and short story collection don’t really add too much to the main storyline, although they add color and context to the world and its characters, as well as being great reads in their own right. You could always read all of the mainline novels and novellas and then visit the graphic novels after if you wish, to satiate your Rivers of London cravings until more installments are published.
Note that theRivers of Londonseriesis not finished. More of everything is planned, including a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG).
Mainline Rivers of London publication reading order
Excluding the graphic novels but including the novels, novellas, and short story collection, this reading order goes over the main story ofRivers of London, with the novellas adding context and appropriate world-building.
As far as the main entries are concerned, the publication is the chronological order of events, aside from certain novellas. This means there are minimal benefits to messing around the with the reading order, and no one has come forward with a unique reading order for us to consider.
This is the reading order I’m currently following, and is the most straightforward way to take in the wonderfully confusing plot:
Reading the novellas alongside the novels in publication order is simpler, even ifWhat Abigail Did That Summeris a little out of synchronization. But if you really want to enjoyRivers of Londonin timeline order, alongside all the graphic novels, then read on.
Full Rivers of London and graphic novels chronological order
The following reading order is the ultimate reading guide forRivers of Londonin timeline order. Reading the story in this way isn’t really recommended, and after I’ll tell you how I’d recommend you enjoy the chronological reading order ofRivers of London.
The short story collection forRivers of London,Tales from the Folly, is dissected among this list, so its various stories are placed alongside the other titles in chronological order.
There we have it! All 37 entries into theRivers of London series.
Although it may make sense to start reading it in chronological order right away, I would hold off doing that immediately. I’d strongly recommend you readRivers of Londonfirst. This will introduce the characters and themes and preserve the mystery and the unknown that really pedals the enjoyment of that entry.
After readingRivers of London, you can then go back and read all the entries in chronological order if that’s how you’ll enjoy the series. You can read as many of the mainline stories until you decide you’re comfortable to start reading all the graphic novels and the short story collection to expand the world even further.
With this knowledge at hand, I’d suggest you pick an order you’re comfortable with and get reading. Because once you start to get wrapped up in the Rivers of London world, there’ll be no stopping you.
