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Shadowrun — Multiple Authors

Never Deal With a Dragon

  • Description:
    The Shadowrun series can be read in any order, though starting with Never Deal with a Dragon provides the clearest introduction to the setting and recurring characters. In a dystopian future where magic has returned to the world, shadowrunners — mercenaries who operate outside the law — take high-risk jobs for megacorporations, criminal syndicates, and other powerful clients in this cyberpunk-fantasy series.
  • # of Titles:
    42
  • First Book:
    Never Deal With a Dragon (December 1990)
  • Latest Book:
    The Burning Time (Book 40) (August 2001)
  • Genres:
    Urban Fantasy
  • Series Rating:
  • Reading Order:

    🟡 Mostly Standalone · Start Anywhere

  • Connect:
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The Shadowrun Books in Order (53 Books)

Order Author Book Date Rating
1 5
2 3
3 4
4 5
5 4
5 4
6 4
6 4
7 0


8 0
9 0
10 0
11 4
12 5
13 0
14 0
15 5
16 0
17 5
18 3
19 0
20 3
21 4
22 0
23 4
24 4
25 4
26 4
27 4


28 0
29 0
30 5
31 0
32 4
33 4
34 3
35 4
36 3
37 2
38 0
39 0
40 0
4
0
0
4
0
2
0


0
0
0
0

Series Premise

The Shadowrun series follows teams of shadowrunners as they execute dangerous missions involving corporate espionage, magical threats, and underworld intrigue. Each book presents a self-contained story centered on a specific run or conflict within the Sixth World, a setting where advanced technology and magic coexist.

The Shadowrun Series Reading Order

🟡 Mostly Standalone · Start Anywhere

Mostly standalone stories with recurring characters in a shared setting.

The Shadowrun books in order are not required for enjoyment. Each book tells a complete story with its own central conflict and resolution. Continuity is limited to recurring characters and the shared Sixth World setting. Reading out of order does not cause confusion, as each novel works independently while offering background familiarity with the world and its common elements.

Explanation of reading order types



The Shadowrun Series Characters

Most books feature different teams of shadowrunners, including hackers (deckers), combat specialists, mages, and street samurai. Recurring or notable characters across the series include figures like Harry the Ork, the dragon Ghostwalker, and various shadowrunner teams that appear in multiple stories.

Setting of the The Shadowrun Series

The series is set in the Sixth World, an alternate 21st-century Earth where magic returned in 2011. Major locations include the sprawls of Seattle, Denver, and other megacities dominated by powerful corporations, with a mix of high-tech neon districts and dangerous magical zones.

Tone & Themes of the The Shadowrun Series

The books deliver gritty cyberpunk action combined with fantasy elements and dark humor. Central themes include corporate greed, the struggle between technology and magic, personal honor in a corrupt world, and the blurred line between right and wrong.

Is the The Shadowrun Series Worth Reading?

This series appeals to readers who enjoy cyberpunk stories with magic, heist-style plots, and immersive world-building. It suits fans of Shadowrun RPG players, readers of authors like William Gibson or Neal Stephenson, or anyone who likes stories blending high technology with urban fantasy.

Content Warnings and Heat Level

The series includes strong violence, drug use, sexual content, and mature language consistent with its gritty cyberpunk tone. The heat level varies by book but is generally moderate to high.

The Shadowrun series offers a wide range of self-contained stories set in one of the richest shared universes in speculative fiction. Readers can start with any book and still enjoy the mix of cyberpunk action and magic. Its detailed world and morally complex characters have made it a long-running favorite among fans of blended genre fiction.



Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

There are 53 books in the Shadowrun series.

The Shadowrun series does not have a new book coming out soon. The latest book, The Burning Time (Book 40), was published in August 2001.

The first book in the Shadowrun series, Never Deal With a Dragon, was published in December 1990.

The Shadowrun series primarily falls into the Urban Fantasy genre.