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Standalone Books in Order
Below you'll find the complete list of Standalone books in publication order. This is generally the recommended reading order for the series.
Reading order verified: April 2026
Quick Answer
What order should I read the Standalone series? Start with "Williwaw" (1946) and follow publication order through all 25 books.
The complete Standalone reading order is listed below in publication sequence.
Publication Order
Williwaw
1946
In a Yellow Wood
1947
The City and the Pillar & Seven Early Stories
1948
The Season of Comfort
1949
A Search for the King
1950
Cry Shame!
1950
Dark Green, Bright Red
1950
Thieves Fall Out (As: Cameron Kay)
1953
The Judgment Of Paris
1953
Messiah
1954
Visit to a Small Planet and Other Television Plays
1957
Julian
1964
Two Sisters
1970
Kalki
1976
Creation
1981
Duluth
1983
Live from Golgotha
1992
The Smithsonian Institution
1998
The Best Man
1960
An Evening with Richard Nixon
1972
Gore Vidal's 'Caligula'
1979
A Thirsty Evil
1956
The Collected Mysteries of Edgar Box
1978
The Essential Gore Vidal
1999
Clouds and Eclipses
2006
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